Viral infections during pregnancy affect maternal care behavior

There is ample data from studies in mouse models demonstrating that viral infections during pregnancy can affect the developing brain of the young in utero (in the womb) with lifelong consequences for brain function and behaviour.

A preclinical study has now shown, for the first time, that a viral-like immune activation during pregnancy also affects the maternal brain and significantly disrupts maternal care behaviour after the birth. These results are published by a research group led by behavioural biologist Daniela D. Pollak from the Division of Neurophysiology and Pharmacology at MedUni Vienna's Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, working together with colleagues from the Division of Molecular Neurosciences at MedUni Vienna's Center for Brain Research and from Columbia University (USA).

In this preclinical study the researchers used a chemical substance that activates the same receptor pathways as viruses, to trigger the immune system of the mother during pregnancy in a manner that is comparable to the typical course of a viral infection. Once the young had been born, the maternal care behaviour of the dams was behaviourally tested.

"Dams who had experienced a viral-like immune activation were less caring towards their young than animals in the control group," says Daniela D. Pollak, describing the results. "The naturally strong drive to take care of one's own offspring and to keep them safe from harm was much less pronounced corresponding to a significant decline in attachment behaviour."