Impact of Maternal Immune Activation and Sex on Placental and Fetal Brain Cytokine and Gene Expression Profiles in a Preclinical Model of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Maternal inflammation during gestation is associated with a later diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the specific impact of maternal immune activation (MIA) on placental and fetal brain development remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MIA by analyzing placental and brain tissues obtained from the offspring of pregnant dams exposed to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) on embryonic day 12.5. Cytokine and mRNA content in the placenta and brain tissues were assessed using multiplex cytokine assays and bulk-RNA sequencing on embryonic day 17.5. Bulk-RNA sequencing was performed on placenta and brain tissues on embryonic day 17.5.