How brain immune cells and serotonin interact during early development
Microglial-serotonin interactions in the developing brain.
This project looks at how immune cells in the developing brain interact with serotonin and how those interactions after a mother's high-fat diet can change behavior later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11263685 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use mouse models where mothers eat a high saturated-fat diet during pregnancy to see how that exposure changes serotonin levels in the fetal brain and later behavior. They measure serotonin in offspring brains, observe microglia (the brain's immune cells) eating serotonin-producing neurons in the dorsal raphe, and follow behavioral outcomes into adulthood. The team tests whether giving the mother extra tryptophan (a serotonin precursor) or genetically altering microglial immune receptors can prevent the serotonin loss and behavioral changes, and they look for sex-specific effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although the experiments are in mice, the findings are most relevant to people concerned about effects of maternal high-fat diets on offspring brain development, particularly families with male children showing mood or social difficulties.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments for adult depression or unrelated conditions should not expect direct or immediate benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or reduce neurodevelopmental problems linked to maternal diet by targeting maternal nutrition or microglial-serotonin interactions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have linked maternal diet and serotonin signaling to offspring behavior, but the specific role of microglial removal of serotonin neurons as a mechanistic link is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bilbo, Staci D — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Bilbo, Staci D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.