孕期接触细菌脂多糖对成年子代种属行为、探索性活动及焦虑行为的影响

Objective] Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intrauterine infection has been associated with neurodevelopmental injury in rodents. The purpose of the present study was to explore the effects of prenatal LPS exposure on species-typical behavior and exploration and anxiety activities in adult mice. [Methods] The pregnant mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with LPS (8μg/kg) daily from gestational day (gd) 8 to gd 15. A battery of neurobehavioral tasks was performed in mice at ages of 2 and 6 month old. [Results] Species-typical behavior examination showed that prenatal LPS exposure markedly increased weight burrowed in 2-month-old male offspring and significantly reduced weight hoarded in 6-month-old female offspring. Open field test showed that the number of squares crossed and peripheral time, markers of anxiety and exploration activity, were markedly increased in 6-month-old female mice following prenatal LPS exposure. Interestingly, latency to the first grid crossing was markedly decreased in 6-month-old female mice whose mothers were exposed to LPS during pregnancy. [Conclusion] Prenatal LPS exposure impairs species-typical behaviors, exploration and anxiety activities of female mice at adulthood in an age-dependent manner.