Background: Offspring of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral disorders compared to offspring from non-affected pregnancies. Using rodent models of Preeclampsia (PreE; new onset of hypertension after 20 weeks gestation) and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets), we studied the behavioral outcome of their offspring in adolescence.
Methods: A subset of dams received Orencia, a T-cell activation inhibitor, as T cells have been associated with the induction of hypertension and inflammation during pregnancy. We hypothesized that offspring from hypertensive dams would experience adverse behavioral outcomes in social, cognitive, locomotor, and anxiety tests, and offspring from dams treated with Orencia would demonstrate less adverse behaviors.
Results: Male offspring of PreE + Orencia dams (p < 0.05) and female offspring from HELLP + Orencia dams (p < 0.05) spent more time playing compared to normal pregnant offspring. All offspring from hypertensive and Orencia-treated dams performed worse on the Barnes Maze test compared to normal pregnant. We also measured adult (postnatal day > 60) myelin basic protein (MBP) and NeuN expression in both the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. In the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, there was no difference in expression of either MBP or NeuN in all groups regardless of sex.
Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that offspring of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have behavioral changes, specifically cognitive differences. This study has shown that there is a sex dependent difference in offspring neurobehavioral development, influenced in part by the type of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, and alterations in the maternal immune system.
Keywords: ADHD; HELLP syndrome; Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; Neurodevelopment; Offspring behavior; Preeclampsia; Sex differences; sFlt-1.
Children of pregnancies that are complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) such as Preeclampsia and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome have an increased risk of having behavioral deficits and changes in brain development. Both Preeclampsia and HELLP have been shown to activate the immune and inflammation systems in the body of the mother. In this study, we used offspring of rat models of Preeclampsia and HELLP to study their behavior including anxiety-like behaviors and memory deficits. We also compared offspring of rat models of Preeclampsia and HELLP that were given Orencia, which minimizes immune responses by blocking the activation of T cells. We also studied two regions of the brain (prefrontal cortex and hippocampus) to measure two proteins (myelin basic protein (MBP) and NeuN) involved in brain function. Our study found that offspring from dams that were treated with Orencia during pregnancy with HDP had sex differences in time playing. All offspring, regardless of the HDP dam being treated with or without Orencia, had evidence of spatial learning deficits. When sexes and groups were compared there was no difference in MBP or NeuN expression in the prefrontal cortex or hippocampus.
© 2024. The Author(s).