Sex-dependent behavioral deficits and neuropathology in a maternal immune activation model of autism

Obelia Haida, Tareq Al Sagheer, Anais Balbous, Maureen Francheteau, Emmanuel Matas, Federico Soria, Pierre Olivier Fernagut, Mohamed Jaber
Transl Psychiatry. 2019-03-28; 9(1): 124
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0457-y

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1. Transl Psychiatry. 2019 Mar 28;9(1):124. doi: 10.1038/s41398-019-0457-y.

Sex-dependent behavioral deficits and neuropathology in a maternal immune activation model of autism.

Haida O(1), Al Sagheer T(1), Balbous A(1)(2), Francheteau M(1), Matas E(1), Soria F(3), Fernagut PO(1)(3), Jaber M(4)(5).

Author information:
(1)Université de Poitiers, INSERM, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France.
(2)CHU Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
(3)Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France.
(4)Université de Poitiers, INSERM, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques, Poitiers, France. .
(5)CHU Poitiers, Poitiers, France. .

Infections during gestation and the consequent maternal immune activation (MIA)
increase the risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders in infants and
throughout life, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). ASD is a
neurodevelopmental disorder that affects three times more males than females and
is mainly characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted
interests. Consistent findings also indicate that ASD patients suffer from
movement disorders, although these symptoms are not yet considered as diagnosis
criteria. Here we used the double-stranded RNA analog polyinosinic:polycytidylic
acid (poly I:C) MIA animal model of ASD in mice and explored its effects in males
and females on social and motor behavior. We then investigated brain areas
implicated in controlling and coordinating movements, namely the nigro-striatal
pathway, motor cortex and cerebellum. We show that male mice are more affected by
this treatment than females as they show reduced social interactions as well as
motor development and coordination deficits. Reduced numbers of Purkinje cells in
the cerebellum was found more widespread and within distinct lobules in males
than in females. Moreover, a reduced number of neurons was found in the motor
cortex of males only. These results suggest that females are better protected
against developmental insults leading to ASD symptoms in mice. They also point to
brain areas that may be targeted to better manage social and motor consequences
of ASD.

DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0457-y
PMCID: PMC6438965
PMID: 30923308

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus