Maternal infection during pregnancy can trigger inflammation that allows inflammatory molecules to reach the fetal brain and potentially alter synaptic pruning, a process by which immune cells shape developing neural circuits by removing excess neuronal connections.
high
process
Biological mechanism linking maternal immune activation to altered fetal brain circuit formation.
Animal experiments show that experimentally triggered inflammation in pregnant mice often leads to offspring changes in brain cell growth and connectivity that can alter learning and behavior.
high
experimental
Preclinical evidence supporting a causal pathway from maternal inflammation to altered neurodevelopment in offspring.