Animal study · Research · 3 Nov 2026
In pregnant mice, immune activation at day 12.5 lined up with placental injury and autism-like traits in male fetuses only
Source: ScienceDaily
What the research found
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory researchers reported in Science Advances that a virus-like immune stimulus in pregnant mice at day 12.5 was followed, within 24 hours, by developmental abnormalities in about one-third of fetuses. Across their experiments the autism-like traits showed up in male fetuses, while female fetuses kept developing. Affected males also had damage in spongiotrophoblasts, placental cells that help the mother tolerate the fetus. Lucas Cheadle said the mouse work points to maternal immune activation and the placenta as an early gateway in this model. It does not show that the same sequence causes autism in people. DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aeg0779. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Animal study. Results in animals or cells often don't carry over to people.
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