The Effects of Maternal Helminths on Neuroinflammation in Offspring
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Sophomore
Major
Neuroscience
Institution
Northern Kentucky University
Department
Neuroscience/ Biology
Abstract
Developed countries have populations of citizens shown to have more incidences of autoimmunity and allergic responses. A possible reason for this increase is the absence of commensal organisms in the macro-biome of the gut. This experiment seeks to find out the anti-inflammatory effects of helminths in rat mothers on their offspring, and how they might prevent cognitive impairment caused by early-life infection. We have orally inoculated rat dams with 4 helminths or saline control. We will be assessing fear conditioning memory on a separate group of adult males. After this we will be harvesting tissue samples from pups, including brain and blood serum. Results are forthcoming.
The Effects of Maternal Helminths on Neuroinflammation in Offspring
Developed countries have populations of citizens shown to have more incidences of autoimmunity and allergic responses. A possible reason for this increase is the absence of commensal organisms in the macro-biome of the gut. This experiment seeks to find out the anti-inflammatory effects of helminths in rat mothers on their offspring, and how they might prevent cognitive impairment caused by early-life infection. We have orally inoculated rat dams with 4 helminths or saline control. We will be assessing fear conditioning memory on a separate group of adult males. After this we will be harvesting tissue samples from pups, including brain and blood serum. Results are forthcoming.