Background: ProstaglandinE2 (PGE2) is a lipid signalling molecule involved in healthy neurodevelopment. Abnormal PGE2 levels due to genetic or environmental factors are linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Our lab has shown that maternal PGE2 exposure results in differential developmental gene expression, and autism-like behaviours in offspring, including social deficits, and repetitive and anxious behaviours. Our goal was to examine the sex-dependent effect of prenatal PGE2 exposure on cerebellar dendritic morphology and related motor coordination. Methods: Cerebellums of PGE2 and Saline-injected C57BL/6 (WT) offspring at postnatal day 30 were stained with the GOLGI-COX method to measure dendrite length, branching, and the odds of observing dendritic loops. We also examined cerebellar-related motor function using adhesive sticker, grid walking, and cylinder tests. Results: PGE2 mice (males and females) had greater dendritic arborization closer to the soma and higher odds of observing dendritic loops than WT controls. Dendrite length was greater in WT Females (WTF) than in Males (WTM) with no significant differences observed in PGE2 Males (PGE2M) and Females (PGE2F). In the adhesive sticker test, we saw no significant differences in first sticker removal attempt times but more attempts per second in PGE2M. In the grid walking test, PGE2M slipped through the grid more than PGE2F, despite no WT sex differences. While WTM escaped faster than WTF, PGE2M escaped slower than PGE2F. In the cylinder test sex differences in rearing and wall touching in WT mice were lost in PGE2 mice. We saw a reduction in steps in PGE2M compared to WTM. We show that prenatal PGE2 signalling disruptions result in sex-dependent abnormalities in cerebellar development and behaviour.

Prenatal PGE2 exposure causes abnormal cerebellar dendritic morphology and cerebellar related motor coordination in mice

Background: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a bioactive lipid molecule involved in healthy brain development, including neuronal differentiation, migration and plasticity. Exposure to various environmental factors during pregnancy such as infections, inflammation, acetaminophen or misoprostol leads to abnormal PGE2 levels and has been linked to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We have previously determined that maternal exposure to PGE2 results in differential expression of developmental genes and associated autism-like behaviours, including social and motor deficits, repetitive and anxious behaviours. This study investigates sex-dependent effects of a maternal PGE2-exposure at embryonic day 11 (E11) on the morphology of dendrites of C57bl/6 mice offspring. Methods: The hippocampi of PGE2 and Saline-injected wildtype (WT) male and female offspring at postnatal day 30 were stained using the Golgi-Cox method, followed by confocal microscopy to examine dendritic arborization, length, branch order and the odds of observing dendritic loops. Results: We show that compared to matched WT controls PGE2-exposed males and females (PGE2M and PGE2F) had a statistically greater dendritic arborization closer to the soma, had greater primary branching and increased odds of observing dendritic loops. Also, dendrite length was greater only in PGE2M, compared to the controls. Overall, this study provides new evidence that single maternal PGE2 exposure during the critical time in prenatal development contributes to sex-dependent changes in dendritic architecture in the hippocampus of offspring.

Maternal exposure to prostaglandin E2 affects hippocampal dendritic morphology in C57bl/6 mice offspring - link to autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

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Colleagues and Friends:

I am very happy to welcome you to the 14th annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, and to the first virtual edition of our meeting. I want to highlight the important work the CAN meeting chair, **Roger Thompson** and co-chair, **Alyson Fournier**, did to put together the great program we are offering this year. Moving to a virtual format required a complete re-design of the program, and both Roger and Alyson did a splendid job in providing us with an appealing and well adapted program for our first virtual event. I wish to thank them for this very important effort.

Highlights of this year’s scientific meeting include invited speakers **Michael Hausser, Franck Polleux, Gwyneth Card, Magdalena Götz**and Brain Prize winner **Huda Zoghbi**. Plenary and parallel symposia, proposed by our members complete our diverse [scientific program.](https://can-acn.org/meeting-2021/program-2021/)

The 2021 Advocacy session, chaired and organized by CAN advocacy committee chair **Karun Singh**, will feature a special lecture and question period with Member of Parliament and past Science Minister **Kirsty Duncan**. This will be followed by a short overview of CAN’s advocacy activities over the last year. We invite you to participate in this session for insight from Dr. Duncan on the workings of Parliament Hill, and to learn more about what CAN has been doing to promote neuroscience research in Canada.

We are also excited to host **Lisa Willis** in the Equity Diversity and Inclusion session, organized by EDI committee chair **Jibran Khokhar**.

A special highlight of our meeting will be the lectures by award-winning young neuroscientists. We are please to host the CAN 2020 Young Investigator Award winner **Mihaela Iordanova**, and CAN 2021 Young Investigator Award winners **Aaron Phillips** and **Tabrez Siddiqui**. Highlights will also include presentation by the top three winners of the CAN-CIHR-INMHA Brain Star Award winners, **Claire Gizowski, Nuria Daviu Abant** and **Lukas Tamayo-Orrego**.

Independently organized satellite symposia complement and complete this exciting program, check them out here: https://can-acn.org/meeting-2021/2021-satellite-symposia/

Some of the most engaging sessions are always the poster sessions featuring the work of our trainees, so make sure to log in to Gather Town during the poster sessions to chat with the presenters.
We hope you enjoy this program, and look forward to welcoming you, virtually.

Shernaz Bamji

President of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience

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Ashby Kissoondoyal

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Prenatal PGE2 exposure causes abnormal cerebellar dendritic morphology and cerebellar related motor coordination in mice

Maternal exposure to prostaglandin E2 affects hippocampal dendritic morphology in C57bl/6 mice offspring - link to autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

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