Maternal Immune Activation Induces Cortical Catecholaminergic Hypofunction and Cognitive Impairments in Offspring.

Background: Impairment of specific cognitive domains in schizophrenia has been associated with prefrontal cortex (PFC) catecholaminergic deficits. Among other factors, prenatal exposure to infections represents an environmental risk factor for schizophrenia development in adulthood. However, it remains largely unknown whether the prenatal infection-induced changes in the brain may be associated with concrete switches in a particular neurochemical circuit, and therefore, if they could alter behavioral functions.

Methods: In vitro and in vivo neurochemical evaluation of the PFC catecholaminergic systems was performed in offspring from mice undergoing maternal immune activation (MIA). The cognitive status was also evaluated. Prenatal viral infection was mimicked by polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) administration to pregnant dams (7.5 mg/kg i.p., gestational day 9.5) and consequences were evaluated in adult offspring.

Results: MIA-treated offspring showed disrupted recognition memory in the novel object recognition task (t = 2.30, p = 0.031). This poly(I:C)-based group displayed decreased extracellular dopamine (DA) concentrations compared to controls (t = 3.17, p = 0.0068). Potassium-evoked release of DA and noradrenaline (NA) were impaired in the poly(I:C) group (DA: F_t[10,90] = 43.33, p < 0.0001; F_tr[1,90] = 1.224, p = 0.2972; F_i[10,90] = 5.916, p < 0.0001; n = 11); (NA: F_t[10,90] = 36.27, p < 0.0001; F_tr[1,90] = 1.841, p = 0.208; F_i[10,90] = 8.686, p < 0.0001; n = 11). In the same way, amphetamine-evoked release of DA and NA were also impaired in the poly(I:C) group (DA: F_t[8,328] = 22.01, p < 0.0001; F_tr[1,328] = 4.507, p = 0.040; F_i[8,328] = 2.319, p = 0.020; n = 43); (NA: F_t[8,328] = 52.07; p < 0.0001; F_tr[1,328] = 4.322; p = 0.044; F_i[8,398] = 5.727; p < 0.0001; n = 43). This catecholamine imbalance was accompanied by increased dopamine D₁ and D₂ receptor expression (t = 2.64, p = 0.011 and t = 3.55, p = 0.0009; respectively), whereas tyrosine hydroxylase, DA and NA tissue content, DA and NA transporter (DAT/NET) expression and function were unaltered.

Conclusions: MIA induces in offspring a presynaptic catecholaminergic hypofunction in PFC with cognitive impairment. This poly(I:C)-based model reproduces catecholamine phenotypes reported in schizophrenia and represents an opportunity for the study of cognitive impairment associated to this disorder.