Based on the above in vitro and in vivo interventional experiments of AHR, we demonstrated that the AHR/NF-κB signaling mediated the hippocampal microglia hyperactivation, synapse over-pruning, and synapse impairment in the PCE-induced IUGR rats, which ultimately led to ASD susceptibility. Here, NFKB1 is linked to fetal growth restriction.