title: Lipopolysaccharide-induced sickness behavior in lactating rats decreases ultrasonic vocalizations and exacerbates immune system activity in male offspring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study analyzed the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on maternal behavior during lactation and possible correlations with changes in emotional and immune responses in offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lactating rats received 100 μg/kg LPS, and the control group received saline solution on lactation day (LD) 3. Maternal general activity and maternal behavior were observed on LD5 (i.e. the day that the peak of fever occurred). In male pups, hematological parameters and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were assessed on LD5. At weaning, an additional dose of LPS (50 µg/kg, i.p.) was administered in male pups, and open-field behavior, oxidative burst and phagocytosis were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A reduction in the time in which dams retrieved the pups was observed, whereas no effects on maternal aggressive behavior were found. On LD5, a reduction of the frequency of USVs was observed in pups, but no signs of inflammation were found. At weaning, an increase in immune system activity was observed, but no differences in open-field behavior were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that inflammation in lactating mothers disrupted mother/pup interactions and may have produced short- and long-term effects on pup behavior as well as biological pathways that modulate inflammatory responses to bacterial endotoxin challenge in pups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Glaucie Jussilane
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Cristina O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Massoco
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teodorov
authors.forename: Luciano F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Felicio
authors.forename: Maria Martha
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bernardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D055809:Illness Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides