title: N-acetyl-cysteine prevents pyramidal cell disarray and reelin-immunoreactive neuron deficiency in CA3 after prenatal immune challenge in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prenatal infection is a major risk factor for the occurrence of neuropsychiatric disorders. These have been associated with hippocampal neuroanatomical and functional abnormalities. In the present study, we evaluated the occurrence of pyramidal cell disarray and reelin neuronal deficit in the hippocampus, and the protective role of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in a rodent experimental model of prenatal immune challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats received either 500 μg/kg of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) or 2 ml/kg of isotonic saline by i.p. injection on day 19 of gestation. After LPS injection, rats were or were not maintained on a preventive treatment of NAC (5 g/l in tap water), up to delivery. The pyramidal cell orientation and the number and type of reelin-expressing neurons were determined in male offspring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prenatal LPS challenge led to permanent pyramidal cell disarray and to an early and transient decreased density of reelin-immunoreactive neurons. These disorders, more pronounced in the CA3 area, were prevented by NAC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hippocampal cytoarchitectural alterations and reelin deficiency may be involved in the development of remote cognitive impairments in this model. The antioxidant NAC is an efficient neuroprotective drug that underlines the role of oxidative stress in prenatal infection and associated neurodevelopmental damage.
authors.affiliation: Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), Unité Mixte de Recherches 5247 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Université Montpellier 1-Université Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rideau Batista Novais
authors.forename: Janique
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guiramand
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cohen-Solal
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crouzin
authors.forename: Marie Céleste
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Jesus Ferreira
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vignes
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbanel
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cambonie
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D056654:CA3 Region, Hippocampal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000091042:Reelin Protein; C000717129:Reln protein, rat; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D000111:Acetylcysteine