Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Korrina A. Duffy, Mary D. Sammel, Rachel L. Johnson, Deborah R. Kim, Eileen Y. Wang, Grace Ewing, Liisa Hantsoo, Sara L. Kornfield, Tracy L. Bale, C. Neill Epperson
Summary: This study found that high maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACE) were associated with fetal adrenal development, but only in males. This observation extends preclinical research and suggests that gestational stress may have dysmasculinizing effects on offspring outcomes.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Chaselyn Ruffaner-Hanson, Shahani Noor, Melody S. Sun, Elizabeth Solomon, Lidia Enriquez Marquez, Dominique E. Rodriguez, Andrea M. Allan, Kevin K. Caldwell, Ludmila N. Bakhireva, Erin D. Milligan
Summary: This review explores the physiological, cellular, and molecular factors that are involved in the alteration of the developing fetal brain stress circuits and responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis caused by maternal stress and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). The role of the placenta in these processes is emphasized. Alterations in the fetal HPA axis can lead to long-term dysregulation of the brain stress-response system. The review also addresses the reciprocal interactions between the neuroimmune and neuroendocrine systems during fetal development, as well as the impact of maternal stress and PAE on later-life stress responses and mood dysregulation.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Moriah E. Thomason, Jasmine L. Hect, Rebecca Waller, Paul Curtin
Summary: Maternal prenatal stress is associated with variations in fetal brain functional connectivity, with stronger effects observed in women with better health behaviors, positive interpersonal support, and lower overall stress. Additionally, the differences in neural connectivity due to stress are marginally correlated with younger gestational age at delivery. This study provides the first evidence of how negative affect and stress during pregnancy can impact fetal brain programming.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Suqi Wu, Ketong Liu, Bingyan Zhou, Suwen Wu
Summary: Placenta, as a medium connecting pregnant women, environment, and fetus, plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and maintaining cellular homeostasis through powerful and delicate epigenetic processes. N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A), the most prevalent RNA modification, shows dynamic reversibility and sensitivity to environmental stimuli, suggesting its significance in placental development and maternal-fetal crosstalk. Disturbance in proper m(6)A modifications due to environmental factors can lead to abnormal placentation, compromised function, and potential consequences of gestational diseases, fetal growth, and adult disease susceptibility.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Brahmdeep S. Saini, Robin Ducas, Jack R. T. Darby, Davide Marini, Liqun Sun, Christopher K. Macgowan, Rory Windrim, John C. Kingdom, Rachel M. Wald, Janna L. Morrison, Mike Seed
Summary: Late gestational supine positioning affects maternal cardiac output and oxygen delivery, but not oxygen consumption in the gravid uterus, fetus, placenta, and lower limbs. Supine mothers have lower cardiac output and oxygen delivery compared to lateral positions, but higher collateral venous return.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Michelle Romijn, Luca J. L. van Tilburg, Jonneke J. Hollanders, Bibian van der Voorn, Paul de Goede, Koert M. Dolman, Annemieke C. Heijboer, Birit F. P. Broekman, Joost Rotteveel, Martijn J. J. Finken
Summary: The study compared the diurnal rhythmicity of breast milk glucocorticoids (GCs) between pregnant women seeking consultation for psychological distress and control mothers. Results showed no group differences in GC rhythms, but the total amount of milk cortisol was lower in the group with psychological distress. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of vertical transmission of breast milk GCs.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ki-Wook Kwon, Young-Hyeon Lee, Min-Ho Yeo, Sang-Hyun Park, Hye-Ran Kim, Hye-Sook Kim, Kyung-Soo Chang
Summary: 90% of vitamin D is synthesized in the skin through sunlight, while 10% comes from food. Vitamin D is crucial for skeletal growth, cell proliferation and differentiation, and immune function. This study found that maternal vitamin D concentration had no significant effect on hematological and serological changes, but it was inversely proportional to sexually transmitted infection rates. Additionally, vitamin D concentration influenced fetal bone growth, specifically in humerus and femur lengths. Preventing vitamin D deficiency and promoting outdoor activities or supplementation are recommended.
Article
Biology
Cedric Girard-Buttoz, Patrick J. Tkaczynski, Liran Samuni, Pawel Fedurek, Cristina Gomes, Therese Lohrich, Virgile Manin, Anna Preis, Prince F. Vale, Tobias Deschner, Roman M. Wittig, Catherine Crockford
Summary: The study revealed that maternal loss had short-term impacts on the HPA axis functioning of young chimpanzees in the wild, but these effects were not consistent in mature males, suggesting stronger support for the adaptive calibration model over the biological embedding model.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Maisam Wahbah, Raghad Al Sakaji, Kiyoe Funamoto, Anita Krishnan, Yoshitaka Kimura, Ahsan H. Khandoker
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal-fetal heart rate coupling parameters and fetal development, as well as to estimate fetal gestational age using these parameters. By considering heart rate coupling strength and variability across different recording lengths, the study found that a multivariate model incorporating various parameters can more reliably estimate fetal gestational age.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Emily J. Camm, Isabella Inzani, Miles J. De Blasio, Katie L. Davies, India R. Lloyd, F. B. Peter Wooding, Dominique Blache, Abigail L. Fowden, Alison J. Forhead
Summary: The study revealed that in hypothyroid fetuses, plasma concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were decreased. Additionally, the mass of corticotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland of thyroid-deficient fetuses was unexpectedly increased, while the mass of the adrenal zones was decreased. These structural changes were associated with lower expression of key steroidogenic enzymes and growth factors in the adrenal glands.
Article
Psychology, Applied
Yucehan Yilmaz, Cihat Ucar, Sedat Yildiz
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of post-traumatic stress caused by a strong earthquake on the HPA axis and ANS activity. The results showed that salivary cortisol levels were higher 1 week after the earthquake compared to 6 weeks later, suggesting the long-term effects of the HPA axis. There were no significant changes in ANS activity between 1 week and 6 weeks after the earthquake, indicating that the ANS is unlikely to be responsible for the long-term effects of a strong earthquake.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
David Ramiro-Cortijo, Maria de la Calle, Vanesa Benitez, Andrea Gila-Diaz, Bernardo Moreno-Jimenez, Silvia M. Arribas, Eva Garrosa
Summary: The study suggests that psychological factors influence pregnancy outcomes in association with changes in melatonin and cortisol levels. High maternal melatonin and life satisfaction levels may act as potential protective factors against maternal complications during pregnancy. Low anxiety and cortisol levels, as well as reduced work-life conflicts, could help prevent fetal complications.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zuleyha Karaca, Ashley Grossman, Fahrettin Kelestimur
Summary: The HPA axis is essential for maintaining normal physiological events and survival, with cortisol playing a key role. While a correct diagnosis of AI can often be made with basal cortisol levels, more complicated tests may be necessary for SAI cases. Numerous studies have been published on assessing the HPA axis, with detailed discussions and recommendations for diagnosing secondary AI or investigating suspected HPA axis insufficiency.
REVIEWS IN ENDOCRINE & METABOLIC DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Xiaohong Huang, Zhendong Feng, Heng-wei Cheng
Summary: Tryptophan is crucial for neurodevelopment and immunomodulation as it is the sole precursor of serotonin. Fluctuation in maternal tryptophan levels during pregnancy may impact the transmission of neuroembryogenesis to the fetus, leading to long-lasting effects on psychological development. However, it is still unclear how this fluctuation regulates the neuroendocrine development and gut microbiota composition in offspring.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengxi Lu, Xia He, Zhexiao Jiao, Zewen Hu, Zijing Guo, Shiyun Dai, Hui Wang, Dan Xu
Summary: Prenatal caffeine exposure can induce hypersensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in offspring rats, and hippocampal dysfunction might be involved in this process.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)