Maternal immune activation increases goal-tracking, impairs decision-making, and lowers preference for ethanol over an alternative reward in rats
Natalia De las Heras-Martínez, Jairo Acosta-Vargas, Alberto Marcos, Ana Belén Sanz-Martos, Nuria Del Olmo, Marcos Ucha, Alejandro Higuera-Matas · FENS Forum 2024
Maternal exposure to viruses and related immunogens can have deleterious effects on neurodevelopment and lead to an increased risk of several psychopathologies, such as schizophrenia. Alcohol use disorder is more prevalent among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. Here, we exposed pregnant rats to the viral analogue poly IC and studied several features of alcohol use disorder in the offspring, including increased motivation, compulsivity, and preference for ethanol over an alternative reward (saccharine). Prior to these
ePoster · Neuroscience