Maternal infection regulates BDNF and NGF expression in fetal and neonatal brain and maternal-fetal unit of the rat.
Maternal infection during pregnancy is associated with increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline was administered to rats to model maternal infection, and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in maternal plasma, placenta, amniotic fluid, fetal liver/spleen, fetal brain, and cerebral cortex after birth were determined by ELISA or semiquantitative Western blot analysis. BDNF expression was significantly increased in the fetal brain (p=0.039); NGF expression was significantly increased in neonatal cortex (p=0.0009). Neurotrophic factor expression was also altered in other tissues of the maternal-fetal unit. Abnormal expression of neurotrophic factors represents a potential mechanism through which maternal infection increases risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Department of Psychiatry, CB #7160, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA. jgilmore@med.unc.edu
John H
JH
Gilmore
L Fredrik
LF
Jarskog
Swarooparani
S
Vadlamudi
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor