Prenatal LPS exposure reduces olfactory perception in neonatal and adult rats

Author(s)

Kirsten, Thiago Berti ^[1] ; Chaves, Gabriela Pena ^[2] ; Taricano, Marina ^[1] ; Martins, Daniel Oliveira ^[2] ; Florio, Jorge Camilo ^[1] ; Giorgetti de Britto, Luiz Roberto ^[2] ; Torrao, Andrea da Silva ^[2] ; Palermo-Neto, Joao ^[1] ; Bernardi, Maria Martha ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med, Dept Pathol, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Paulista, Hlth Sci Inst, BR-04026002 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Physiology & Behavior; v. 104, n. 3, p. 417-422, SEP 1 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 16

Abstract

Prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure causes reproductive, behavioral and neurochemical defects in both dams and pups. The present study evaluated male rats prenatally treated with LPS for behavioral and neurological effects related to the olfactory system, which is the main sensorial path in rodents. Pregnant Wistar rats received 100 mu g/kg of LPS intraperitoneally (i.p.) on gestational day (GD) 9.5, and maternal behavior was evaluated. Pups were evaluated for (1) maternal odor preference, (2) aversion to cat odor, (3) monoamine levels and turnover in the olfactory bulb (OB) and (4) protein expression (via immunoblotting) within the OB dopaminergic system and glial cells. Results showed that prenatal LPS exposure impaired maternal preference and cat odor aversion and decreased dopamine (DA) levels in the OB. This dopaminergic impairment may have been due to defects in another brain area given that protein expression of the first enzyme in the DA biosynthetic pathway was unchanged in the OB. Moreover, there was no change in the protein expression of the DA receptors. The fact that the number of astrocytes and microglia was not increased suggests that prenatal LPS did not induce neuroinflammation in the OB. Furthermore, given that maternal care was not impaired, abnormalities in the offspring were not the result of reduced maternal care. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/53861-5 - Behavioral, immune and molecular effects of prenatal administration of lipopolysaccharide to male offspring of rats
• Grantee: Thiago Berti Kirsten
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate