Maternal Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection Up-regulates Expression of Genes Associated with Long-Term Potentiation in Perinatal Brains of Uninfected Developing Pups.

ABSTRACT: Establishment of neural networks critical for memory and cognition begins during the perinatal period but studies on the impact of maternal infection are limited. Using a nematode parasite that remains in the maternal intestine, we tested our hypothesis that maternal infection during pregnancy and early lactation would alter perinatal brain gene expression, and that the anti-inflammatory nature of this parasite would promote synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation. Brain gene expression was largely unaffected two days after birth, but in seven-day old pups, long-term potentiation and four related pathways essential for the development of synaptic plasticity, cognition and memory were up-regulated in pups of infected dams. Interestingly, our data suggest that a lowering of Th1 inflammatory processes may underscore the apparent beneficial impact of maternal intestinal infection on long-term potentiation.

SUBMITTER: Haque M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6414690 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature