title: Stress in puberty unmasks latent neuropathological consequences of prenatal immune activation in mice.
abstract: Prenatal infection and exposure to traumatizing experiences during peripuberty have each been associated with increased risk for neuropsychiatric disorders. Evidence is lacking for the cumulative impact of such prenatal and postnatal environmental challenges on brain functions and vulnerability to psychiatric disease. Here, we show in a translational mouse model that combined exposure to prenatal immune challenge and peripubertal stress induces synergistic pathological effects on adult behavioral functions and neurochemistry. We further demonstrate that the prenatal insult markedly increases the vulnerability of the pubescent offspring to brain immune changes in response to stress. Our findings reveal interactions between two adverse environmental factors that have individually been associated with neuropsychiatric disease and support theories that mental illnesses with delayed onsets involve multiple environmental hits.
authors: Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Giovanoli
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Engler
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Engler
authors: Juliet
authors: J
authors: Richetto
authors: Mareike
authors: M
authors: Voget
authors: Roman
authors: R
authors: Willi
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Winter
authors: Marco A
authors: MA
authors: Riva
authors: Preben B
authors: PB
authors: Mortensen
authors: Joram
authors: J
authors: Feldon
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Schedlowski
authors: Urs
authors: U
authors: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D011627:Puberty / Q000276:immunology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011070:Poly I-C