Maternal immune activation in mice delays myelination and axonal development in the hippocampus of the offspring

Manabu Makinodan, Kouko Tatsumi, Takayuki Manabe, Takahira Yamauchi, Eri Makinodan, Hiroko Matsuyoshi, Shigero Shimoda, Yoshinobu Noriyama, Toshifumi Kishinioto, Akio Wanaka

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

112 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Epidemiological data suggest a relationship between maternal infection and a high incidence of schizophrenia in offspring. An animal model based on this hypothesis was made by injecting double-stranded RNA, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly-I:C), into early pregnant mice, and their offspring were examined for biochemical and histological abnormalities. Mouse brains were examined with special reference to oligodendrocytes, which have been implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders. We detected a significant decrease of myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA and protein at early postnatal periods in poly-I:C mice. MBP immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy revealed that the hippocampus of juvenile poly-I:C mice was less myelinated than in PBS mice, with no significant loss of oligodendrocytes. In addition, axonal diameters were significantly smaller in juvenile poly-I:C mice than in control mice. These abnormalities reverted to normal levels when the animals reached the adult stage. These findings suggest that retarded myelination and axonal abnormalities in early postnatal stages caused by maternal immune activation could be related to schizophrenia-related behaviors in adulthood.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2190-2200
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Research
Volume86
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01-08-2008
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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