Microglia and microbiota as organizers of social brain circuits following prenatal toxicant exposures

Caroline J. Smith examines how prenatal environmental exposures affect the development of social brain circuits through immune and gut–brain mechanisms. In a mouse model, gestational exposure to air pollution combined with maternal psychosocial stress produces persistent social-behaviour impairments alongside changes in neuroimmune signalling and gut microbial composition. The talk considers evidence that microglia and microbiota are points of convergence for these exposures, and discusses future experiments and their potential relevance as therapeutic targets.