The impact of maternal immune activation on GABAergic interneuron development, and potential recovery with 7-8 DHF and Selenium.

Infections in pregnancy are a risk factor for the unborn child to develop autism and schizophrenia later in life. In this thesis, we investigated how infections in pregnancy impact brain development by treating pregnant mice with a drug that mimics infection. Mice that were prenatally exposed to this drug exhibited a range of changes in their behaviour and brains that were similar to schizophrenia and autism. We also investigated if giving the pregnant mice two experimental supplements, 7,8-DHF or selenium, protected them from these changes. While both supplements normalised some of the effects created by the drug that mimicked infection , they also led to other behavioural and brain changes that may indicate issues with their widespread use in pregnancy.