Prenatal activation of microglia induces delayed impairment of glutamatergic synaptic function.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epidemiological studies have linked maternal infection during pregnancy to later development of neuropsychiatric disorders in the offspring. In mice, experimental inflammation during embryonic development impairs behavioral and cognitive performances in adulthood. Synaptic dysfunctions may be at the origin of cognitive impairments, however the link between prenatal inflammation and synaptic defects remains to be established.

Methodology/principal findings

In this study, we show that prenatal alteration of microglial function, including inflammation, induces delayed synaptic dysfunction in the adult. DAP12 is a microglial signaling protein expressed around birth, mutations of which in the human induces the Nasu-Hakola disease, characterized by early dementia. We pr

SUBMITTER: Roumier A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2440505 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature