Mild #SARS-CoV-2 #maternal #infection in mice induces transient offspring #neurodevelopmental aberrance
Significance The rising global numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infections highlight the need to assess potential neurodevelopmental and psychiatric impact in children born to infected mothers. Human cohorts have provided conflicting conclusions , while mouse studies have focused on moderate-to-severe infection despite most infections in pregnant women being mild or asymptomatic. Our study shows that mild, respiratory tract–restricted SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant mice was sufficient to cause placental inflammation and transient changes in offspring brain gene expression , without altering gross brain structure or behavior under our experimental conditions. These findings suggest that soluble factors induced by maternal respiratory infection mediate placental inflammation and changes in offspring brain gene expression during the fetal and neonatal periods, which resolve in later childhood. Abstract Maternal viral infection during pregnancy has been identified as a risk factor for psychia...