Fig 1. Experimental design.

On gestation day (GD) 15, 16 and 17, pregnant mice were subcutaneously injected with 25, 25 and 50 μg/Kg of LPS, respectively. Pregnant control mice were injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The open field test (OFT), light/dark box (LDB), wire hanging (WH) and elevated plus maze (EPM) behavioral tests were conducted when the offspring were 5 weeks old, 6 weeks old, 8 weeks old and 9 weeks old, respectively. Brains were dissected from fetuses on GD18, adolescent mice at 5 weeks old and adult mice at 8 weeks old. mRNA expression, immunohistochemistry and neurotransmitter levels (5-HT [serotonin] and DA [dopamine]) were examined.