Table 1.
Prenatal inflammation—study designs.
| References | Species | Environmental Enrichment | LPS Injection(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Age and Timing of Evaluations) | Type of Enrichment | Subjects and Duration | (Time and Dose) | ||
| EE on dams | Schander et al., 2020 [84] | BALB/c mice Dams: 6 weeks (Effects on: mothers (pregnancy)) |
Large cage (640 × 420 × 200 mm) with running wheels and objects (toys, tunnels, shelters, and stairs) of different shapes, textures, and colors changed once a week. Every 3–4 days, one object removed, moved, or added. Ten animals per cage. |
On dams: EE for 6 weeks; mating (regular cages); EE until G15. | On dams: G15, two i.p. injections of LPS (1°—0.13 mg/kg; 2°—0.39 mg/kg). (LPS after EE protocol) |
| Schander et al., 2021 [85] | BALB/c mice Dams: 6 weeks (Effects on: mothers (pregnancy); offspring (P 1–P 22) |
Large cage (640 × 420 × 200 mm) with running wheels and objects (toys, tunnels, shelters and stairs) of different shapes, textures, and colors changed once a week. Every 3–4 days, one object removed, moved or added. Ten animals per cage. |
On dams: EE for 6 weeks; mating (regular cages); EE until G15. | On dams: G15, two i.p. injections of LPS (1°—0.13 mg/kg; 2°—0.39 mg/kg). (LPS after EE protocol) |
|
| Zhuang et al., 2021 [86] | CD-1 mice Dams: 7/8 weeks (Effects on: mothers (after pregnancy)) |
Large cage (52 × 40 × 20 cm3) with toys (running wheels, tunnels, poplar wood block toys, and rings). Ten to fifteen animals per cage. |
On dams: EE from weaning of pups until about 6 or 18 months of age of the mothers. | On dams: G15–17, daily i.p. injection of LPS (50 μg/kg). (LPS before EE protocol) |
|
| EE on offspring | Connors et al., 2014 [87] | Sprague–Dawley rats Dams: age not specified (Effects on: offspring (P 36–P 40)) |
Multi-level cage with toys changed two times weekly, tubes, chew bone, Nestlets©, and ramps. Pair-housed animals. |
On dams: EE for about 2 months. On pups: EE from P 1 to P 40. |
On dams: G11, i.p. injection of LPS (100 μg/kg). (LPS during EE protocol) |
| Rajesh et al., 2016 [88] | Wistar rats Dams: 3 months (Effects on: male offspring (P 61–P 66)) |
EE: Large cage (120 × 100 × 100 cm) with plastic tunnels, raised platform with ladder, various size metal balls, toys, and steel swing. Objects were changed on alternate days. Treadmill running exercise: 1.5 m/min–10.9 m/min; 15 min/day. Number of animals per cage not specified. |
On pups: EE (4 h/day) or/and treadmill from P 15 to P 60. | On dams: From G14 till parturition on alternate days i.p. injection of LPS (0.5 mg/Kg). | |
| Rajesh et al., 2018 [89] | Wistar rats Dams: 3 months (Effects on: male offspring (P 67)) |
EE: Large cage (120 × 100 × 100 cm) with plastic tunnels, raised platform with ladder, various size metal balls, toys, and steel swing. Objects were changed on alternate days. Treadmill running exercise: 1.5 m/min -10.9 m/min; 15 min/day. Number of animals per cage not specified. |
On pups: EE (4 h/day) or/and treadmill from P 15 to P 60. | On dams: From G14 till parturition on alternate days i.p. injection of LPS (0.5 mg/Kg). | |
| Bakos et al., 2004 [90] | Wistar rats Dams: 8th day-pregnant—age not specified (Effects on: male offspring (~P 83)) |
Large cage (1 m × 0.5 m × 0.5 m) with bedding changed once a week, running wheels, wooden swings, plastic tubes, and beams changed three times a week. Occasionally added pieces of food (nuts, apples). Six animals per cage. |
On pups: EE after weaning, for 2 months. | On dams: G15–19, daily subcutaneous injection of LPS in increasing doses of 20, 20, 40, 40, 80 μg/kg/mL. | |
| Kentner et al., 2016 [91] | Sprague-Dawley rats Dams: 12th day- pregnant—age not specified (Effects on: male offspring (~P 92)). |
Communal nesting: larger-style one-level cage with tube, chew bone, and Nestlets©. Four animals per cage. EE: multi-level cage with chew bone, Nestlets©, ramps, novel toys, and tubes. Toys and tubes changed twice a week. Four animals per cage. |
On pups: EE from P 50, for 6 weeks. | On dams: G15 i.p. injection of LPS (100 μg/kg). | |
| Wu et al., 2020 [92] | CD-1 mice Dams: 8 weeks (Effects on: male offspring (3 months old; 15 months old)) |
Large cage with pipes, plastic running wheels, balls, and toys changed every week. Number of animals per cage not specified. |
On pups: EE from 2 months of age until 3 or 15 months of age. | On dams: G15–17, daily i.p. injection of LPS (50 μg/kg). | |
| Zhang et al., 2022 [93] | CD-1 mice Dams: 6/8 weeks (Effects on: male offspring (3 months old; 15 months old)) |
Large cage (36 × 23 × 18 cm) with climbing ladders, running wheel, ball, plastic and wooden objects suspended from the cage top, paper, cardboard boxes, nesting material, and toys (changed every 1–2 days). Eight animals per cage. |
On pups: EE after weaning until 3 or 15 months of age. | On dams: G15–17, daily i.p. injection of LPS (50 μg/kg). | |
| Zhao et al., 2020 [94] | Sprague-Dawley rats Dams: 12th day- pregnant—age not specified (Effects on: female offspring (~P 92)) |
Communal nesting: larger-style one-level cage with tube, chew bone, and Nestlets©. Four animals per cage. EE: multi-level cage with chew bone, Nestlets©, ramps, novel toys, and tubes. Toys and tubes changed twice a week. Four animals per cage. |
On pups: EE from P 50, for 6 weeks. | On dams: G15 i.p. injection of LPS (100 μg/kg). | |
| Zeraati et al., 2021 [95] | NMRI mice Dams: 70–80 days (Effects on: offspring—(P 121–P 142)) |
Cage (58 × 38 × 20 cm) with one running wheel, two plastic shelters, four tunnels, and two cotton nestlets replaced once a week. Four animals per cage. |
On pups: EE from P 21 to P 120. | On dams: G17, i.p. injection of LPS (300 μg/kg/100 μL). | |
EE: environmental enrichment; G: gestational day; i.p.: intraperitoneal; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; P: postnatal day.