Maternal immune activation with high molecular weight poly(I:C) in Wistar rats leads to elevated immune cell chemoattractants.

ABSTRACT

Maternal immune activation (MIA) with poly(IC) is a preclinical paradigm for schizophrenia and autism research. Methodological variations, including poly(IC) molecular weight, contribute to inconsistencies in behavioural and molecular outcomes. We established in Wistar rats that 4 mg/kg high molecular weight (HMW)-poly(IC) on GD19 induces maternal sickness, smaller litters and maternal elevations of serum cytokines, including increases in monocyte chemoattractants. In adult offspring, we found that males have higher serum cytokines than females, and MIA did not alter peripheral cytokines in either sex. Our study will contribute to the effective use of the MIA model to elucidate the neurobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.