Exposure to prenatal LPS (lipopolysaccharide) and postnatal LL (constant light) during critical developmental periods affect neurobiological and behavioral patterns by altering gene expression. This study examined the individual and combined effects of these interventions on circadian rhythms and gene expression in rat tissues at postnatal day 30.
Both prenatal LPS and postnatal LL significantly changed gene expression. However, their combination often mitigated individual effects, bringing many parameters closer to control levels. Notably, genes like Nr1d1, Aanat, and Tph1 showed increased amplitude in the pineal gland and spleen, and kynurenine enzymes developed rhythmicity in the adrenal glands only after combined exposure. These findings suggest prenatal immunological challenges may help the circadian clock adapt later in life.
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