Effects of Maternal Immune System Status on Neonate’s Immune System

This study evaluated the effects of the maternal immune system stimulation or suppression during the pregnancy on the development of the neonate’s immune system.

A total of 20 female rats were divided into four groups. The groups were treated using Leishmania major, Salmonella typhimurium, Tacrolimus, and sterilized normal saline. The animals were mated after 3-time treatments. The neonate’s humoral immune response, total body, thymus, liver, spleen weight, and histology were determined in this study.

The spleen’s mean weight of the two-month-old samples showed a significant reduction in the Salmonella group; in addition, the Tacrolimus group had a significant reduction in liver mean weight. The Salmonella and Tacrolimus groups showed a significant reduction (P≤0.05) in the anti-sheep red blood cells antibody titer.

Stimulation or suppression of the immune responses during the pregnancy has significant effects on the neonate’s immune responses, spleen, liver, and thymus development.