Effects of prenatal air pollution and maternal stress on the adolescent social brain: modulation by gut microbiota and dopamine

The adolescent period is one during which peer social interactions are of paramount importance. Difficulty with social interactions is also characteristic of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, and ASD. Studies suggest that prenatal exposure to immune activating stimuli—including environmental pollutants and psychosocial stress—negatively impact the development of the social brain. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the sculpting of social circuits. However, little is known about the biological mechanisms by which environmental exposures impact the gut microbiome and social behavior during development. Using a mouse model of prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) and maternal stress (MS), we found male-specific deficits in social behavior, changes in the gut microbiome, and reduced dopaminergic tone in offspring during adolescence. Here, we aim to investigate the causal links between the microbiome, brain, and social outcomes.