The influence of LPS and zinc on interaction between mother and offspring
Authors: Nascimento Amanda , Singh Baljit , Kirychuk Shelley , Bernardi Maria Matha , Felicio Luciano 
Published: June 2021

Introduction

The maternal behavior consists of a set of behavioral and physiological changes in adults, performed around the reproductively immature individuals, ensuring their survival and propagation of the species. Offsprings give signal to be collected when separated from their mother through olfactory, visual and sound signals. Infection and its influence in the context of the interaction between mother and offspring is poorly investigated. The classic disease model, which is widely used, involves the treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component of the cell wall of Gram‐negative bacteria. The infections can activate a chain of nonspecific host responses, including the immune response and levels of zinc.

Objective

To investigate the behavioral and neuroimmunological adaptations of rats and their offspring resulting from experimental inflammation produced by LPS and the possible influence of zinc treatment on these adaptations.

Methods

In this study, virgin, pregnant and lactating female rats received LPS (100 μg/kg, ip) and then were treated with zinc (2 mg/kg, sc). Temperature, body weight, water and food consumption were measured for ninety‐six hours, starting two hours after LPS administration. On the fifth day of lactation, maternal behavior, the overall activity in the open field and ultrasonic vocalization in offsprings were observed. On the day of weaning, pups of these females received a challenge with LPS (50 μg/kg, ip) and two hours after administration were observed for general activity in the open field. The burst and phagocytosis of leukocytes in the blood of pups was also studied.

Results

1) in virgin, pregnant and lactating rats, the exposure to LPS and the treatment with zinc modified the temperature, body weight, water and food consumption, and the general activity observed in the open field. Virgin, pregnant or lactating rats responded differently to this treatment. 2) In the lactation period the latency to search the first pup was reduced. 3) In the offspring, a change in the pattern of vocalization of the offspring, changes in general activity observed in the open field and changes in the burst and phagocytosis of leukocytes on the twenty‐first day of lactation after challenge with endotoxin were detected.

Conclusion

the results indicate that administration of LPS and treatment with zinc have effects modulated according to the physiological stage of the female. These effects interfere with the interaction between a mother and her offspring, resulting in short and long term effects in offspring's behavior. Exposure of mothers to bacterial endotoxin modulates the effects caused by zinc and programs the inflammatory responses in the offspring.

Support or Funding Information

Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA)

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.