Maternal stress and effects of prenatal air pollution on offspring mental health outcomes in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Low socioeconomic status is consistently associated with reduced physical and mental health, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Increased levels of urban air pollutants interacting with parental stress have been proposed to explain health disparities in respiratory disease, but the impact of such interactions on mental health is unknown.

Objectives

We aimed to determine whether prenatal air pollution exposure and stress during pregnancy act synergistically on offspring to induce a neuroinflammatory response and subsequent neurocognitive disorders in adulthood.

Methods

Mouse dams were intermittently exposed via oropharyngeal aspiration to diesel exhaust particles (DEP; 50 μg × 6 doses) or vehicle throughout gestation. This exposure was combined with standard

SUBMITTER: Bolton JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3764088 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature