2023 Spring Seminar Series Presents

Dr. Jari Willing

Assistant Professor
Dept. of: Neural & Cognitive Sciences
Bowling Green State University

WHEN:  March 3, 2023, at Noon
WHERE:   Seminar will be presented via Zoom and in person in the North Classroom,
Room 1207.

Everyone is welcome to join the seminar, please email jacki.craig@ucdenver.edu to receive the Zoom link. Requests can be submitted any time before the seminar but not after 10:00am the day of the seminar.

Interactive effects of maternal infection and an environmentally relevant phthalate mixture on development of the medial prefrontal cortex

During the perinatal period, the brain is especially sensitive to environmental influences. While the effects of environmental factors are typically studied in isolation, combinations of these factors can lead to synergistic actions on the developing brain. Both maternal infection and endocrine disrupting phthalates alter the development of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a region critical for executive functioning. Previous work suggests that these two factors may interact to cause more substantial effects on the brain than either in isolation. In the present study, one group of pregnant Long Evans rats was treated with prenatally lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates during the pre- and early neonatal period. Effects on reproductive success, neuron number in the mPFC and other neuroanatomical endpoints will be discussed. These results may provide insight into how common environmental factors can alter the developmental trajectory of the mPFC and potentially contribute to psychiatric disorders.