Work

Impacts of prenatal resiquimod exposure during late gestation on rat offspring development and behavior

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Maternal stress during pregnancy affects offspring development and health. Data from the project show that maternal immune stress induced by resiquimod during late gestation in rats attenuated maternal weight gain and delayed female pubertal onset, increased anxiety-like behavior after puberty, and lessened weight gain over time in offspring. These results highlight puberty as critical for exposing the effects of prenatal stress and underscore the importance of tracking outcomes across development.

Source: American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology

DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00287.2025

Authors: Monique Martinez, Stuart A. Tobet, Taben M. Hale

Institutions: University of Arizona College of Medicine- Phoenix, Massachusetts General Hospital, Colorado State University

Language: English

Topic: Birth, Development, and Health

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, Office of Research on Women's Health