Fig. 1: Deficient maternal behavior after gestational Poly I:C injection (MIA).

A Schematic depiction of the experimental timeline. B–G MIA is not affecting B mothers’ weight gain during pregnancy (N = 16 animals/group), C food (N = 10–11 animals/group) and D water (N = 12–13 animals/group) access during lactation. No effect of MIA on E litter size (N = 16–17 litters/group), F average weight of pups at PD4 (N = 17 litters/group), G sex ratio per litter (N = 6 litters/group). H Cumulative retrieval in control versus Poly I:C-treated mothers indicating the time point of statistical analysis was conducted (U = 64.5; Ρ = 0.015; Ν = 16 animals/group). I Latency to retrieve all pups (t_(20.290) = −2.891; Ρ = 0.009; Ν = 16 animals/group). J MIA is not affecting the number of sniffs. Number of sniffs was measured in the first 30 s after the dam was introduced in the cage. K MIA affects retrieval accuracy. Ka Relative failure index is higher in MIA dams compared to controls (t₍₂₉₎=−2.192; Ρ = 0.037; Ν = 15–16 animals/group). Kb Retrieval time significantly correlates with relative failure index (r_s = 0.897; Ρ < 0.001; Ν = 32 animals). L Increased exploratory behavior in MIA mothers, represented by number of rearings in the first minute after the mother was introduced in the cage: La Number of rearings is higher in Poly I:C-treated than control dams (t_(19.858) = −2.392; Ρ = 0.027; Ν = 15 animals/group) and Lb number of rearings correlates with retrieval time (r_s = 0.593; Ρ = 0.001; Ν = 30 animals). All data are presented as mean ± SEM, *Ρ  <  0.05, **Ρ < 0.01.