Different outcomes of neonatal and adult Zika virus infection on startle reflex and prepulse inhibition in mice

• Published in: Behavioural brain research Vol. 451; p. 114519
• Main Authors: Souza, Isis N.O., Andrade, Brenda S., Frost, Paula S., Neris, Romulo L.S., Gavino-Leopoldino, Daniel, Da Poian, Andrea T., Assunção-Miranda, Iranaia, Figueiredo, Claudia P., Clarke, Julia R., Neves, Gilda A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.08.2023
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Animals; Arboviral; CNS viral diseases; Female; Flavivirus; Male; Mice; Neurodevelopment; Neuromotor function; Prepulse Inhibition; Reflex, Startle - physiology; Sensorimotor gating; Viral infection; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection - complications; PND; PPI; Flavivirus; Viral infection; S.E.M; CNS viral diseases; Arboviral; ZIKV; Sensorimotor gating; SG; ANOVA; Neuromotor function; Neurodevelopment; dpi
• ISSN: 0166-4328; 1872-7549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114519

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection causes severe neurological consequences in both gestationally-exposed infants and adults. Sensorial gating deficits strongly correlate to the motor, sensorial and cognitive impairments observed in ZIKV-infected patients. However, no startle response or prepulse inhibition (PPI) assessment has been made in patients or animal models. In this study, we identified different outcomes according to the age of infection and sex in mice: neonatally infected animals presented an increase in PPI and delayed startle latency. However, adult-infected male mice presented lower startle amplitude, while a PPI impairment was observed 14 days after infection in both sexes. Our data further the understanding of the functional impacts of ZIKV on the developing and mature nervous system, which could help explain other behavioral and cognitive alterations caused by the virus. With this study, we support the startle reflex testing in ZIKV-exposed patients, especially infants, allowing for early detection of functional neuromotor damage and early intervention. •ZIKV-infection changes startle response differently according to age and sex.•ZIKV increases startle latency in neonatally infected mice of both sexes.•ZIKV acutely reduces startle amplitude in adult-infected male mice.•ZIKV transiently impair PPI in adult-infected male mice.