Prenatal lipopolysaccharide reduces motor activity after an immune challenge in adult male offspring

Author(s)

Kirsten, Thiago Berti ^[1] ; Taricano, Marina ^[1] ; Florio, Jorge Camilo ^[1] ; Palermo-Neto, Joao ^[1] ; Bernardi, Maria Martha ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Neuroimmunomodulat Res Grp, Dept Pathol, Sch Vet Med, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Behavioural Brain Research; v. 211, n. 1, p. 77-82, JUL 29 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 44

Abstract

Prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure causes reproductive, behavioral and neurochemical injuries in both the mother and pups. Previous investigations by our group showed that prenatal LPS administration (100 mu g/kg, i.p.) on gestational day 9.5 impaired the male offspring's social behavior in infancy and adulthood. In the present study, we investigated whether these social behavioral changes were associated with motor activity impairment. Male rat pups treated prenatally with LPS or not were tested for reflexological development and open field general activity during infancy. In adulthood, animals were tested for open field general activity, haloperidol-induced catalepsy and apomorphine-induced stereotypy; striatal dopamine levels and turnover were also measured. Moreover, LPS-treated or untreated control pups were challenged with LPS in adulthood and observed for general activity in the open field. In relation to the control group, the motor behavior of prenatally treated male pups was unaffected at basal levels, both in infancy and in adulthood, but decreased general activity was observed in adulthood after an immune challenge. Also, striatal dopamine and metabolite levels were decreased in adulthood. In conclusion, prenatal LPS exposure disrupted the dopaminergic system involved with motor function, but this neurochemical effect was not accompanied by behavioral impairment, probably due to adaptive plasticity processes. Notwithstanding, behavioral impairment was revealed when animals were challenged with LPS, resulting in enhanced sickness behavior. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/54587-9 - Effects of prenatal administration of LPS on the dopaminergic and serotonergic central systems of male rat offspring
• Grantee: Thiago Berti Kirsten
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 04/14128-0 - Neuroimmunomodulation: effects of drugs, stress and cytocines on central nervous and immune systems bidirectional relationships
• Grantee: João Palermo Neto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants