Maternal mood in pregnancy: fetal origins of child neurodevelopment

Author(s):  
Vivette Glover ◽  
Thomas G. O’Connor ◽  
Kieran O’Donnell

Women experience as many symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress during pregnancy as in the postnatal period. This can affect not only the woman herself but also the development of her fetus, and have long-term effects on several different outcomes including the cognitive ability and behaviour of her child, although most children are not affected. The particular outcomes affected may depend on the timing of the exposure, specific genetic vulnerabilities, and the quality of postnatal care provided. Recent research has shown that increased maternal anxiety is associated with altered placental function, and a greater association between maternal and fetal cortisol. This interrelationship of hormonal associations during the fetal stage could potentially impact on fetal/infant outcomes, and supports the need for continuing research in the field. Chapter 3 covers studies on maternal mood in pregnancy and explores the underlying mechanisms and types of stress.

Author(s):  
Kendrick Lee ◽  
Steven R. Laviolette ◽  
Daniel B. Hardy

Abstract Background Cannabis use in pregnancy leads to fetal growth restriction (FGR), but the long-term effects on cardiac function in the offspring are unknown, despite the fact that fetal growth deficits are associated with an increased risk of developing postnatal cardiovascular disease. We hypothesize that maternal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) during pregnancy will impair fetal development, leading to cardiac dysfunction in the offspring. Methods Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly selected and administered 3 mg/kg of Δ9-THC or saline as a vehicle daily via intraperitoneal injection from gestational days 6 to 22, followed by echocardiogram analysis of cardiac function on offspring at postnatal days 1 and 21. Heart tissue was harvested from the offspring at 3 weeks for molecular analysis of cardiac remodelling. Results Exposure to Δ9-THC during pregnancy led to FGR with a significant decrease in heart-to-body weight ratios at birth. By 3 weeks, pups exhibited catch-up growth associated with significantly greater left ventricle anterior wall thickness with a decrease in cardiac output. Moreover, these Δ9-THC-exposed offsprings exhibited increased expression of collagen I and III, decreased matrix metallopeptidase-2 expression, and increased inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, all associated with cardiac remodelling. Conclusions Collectively, these data suggest that Δ9-THC-exposed FGR offspring undergo postnatal catch-up growth concomitant with cardiac remodelling and impaired cardiac function early in life. Impact To date, the long-term effects of perinatal Δ9-THC (the main psychoactive component) exposure on the cardiac function in the offspring remain unknown. We demonstrated, for the first time, that exposure to Δ9-THC alone during rat pregnancy results in significantly smaller hearts relative to body weight. These Δ9-THC-exposed offsprings exhibited postnatal catch-up growth concomitant with cardiac remodelling and impaired cardiac function. Given the increased popularity of cannabis use in pregnancy along with rising Δ9-THC concentrations, this study, for the first time, identifies the risk of perinatal Δ9-THC exposure on early postnatal cardiovascular health.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (05) ◽  
pp. 405-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleazar Soto ◽  
Ray Bahado-Singh ◽  
Carl Christensen ◽  
Suneet Chauhan ◽  
Baha Sibai ◽  
...  

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 853
Author(s):  
Marina de Oliveira Rodrigues Barbosa ◽  
Maria Eliza F. do Val de Paulo ◽  
Ana Leonor Abrahão Nencioni

Few data are available in the literature describing the long-term effects of envenoming in the perinatal period. In this study, the relationship between envenoming of lactating rats and possible behavioral changes in the mother and in her offspring were investigated. Lactating Wistar rats received a single dose of T. serrulatus crude venom on postnatal days 2 (V2), 10 (V10) or 16 (V16), and had their maternal behavior evaluated. The seizure threshold was evaluated in adulthood offspring. A decrease in maternal care during envenoming was observed in V2 and V10 groups. The retrieval behavior was absent in the V2 group, and a lower seizure threshold in the adult offspring of all groups was observed. During envenoming, mothers stayed away from their offspring for a relatively long time. Maternal deprivation during the early postnatal period is one of the most potent stressors for pups and could be responsible, at least in part, for the decrease in the convulsive threshold of the offspring since stress is pointed to as a risk factor for epileptogenesis. Furthermore, the scorpionic accident generates an intense immune response, and inflammation in neonates increases the susceptibility to seizures in adulthood. Therefore, maternal envenoming during lactation can have adverse effects on offspring in adulthood.


Author(s):  
Orla Moriarty ◽  
Suellen M. Walker

Nociceptive pathways are functional following birth, and acute responses to noxious stimuli have been documented from early in development in clinical and laboratory studies. The ability of noxious afferent input to alter the level of sensitivity of nociceptive pathways in the adult nervous system, with, for example, the development of central sensitization, is well established. However, the developing nervous system has additional susceptibilities to alterations in neural activity, and pain in early life may produce effects not seen following the same input at older ages. As a result, early tissue injury may lead to persistent changes in somatosensory processing and altered sensitivity to future noxious stimuli. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that neonatal pain can result in long-term changes in cognitive and affective behavior. Effects of pain in early life are superimposed on a highly plastic developing system, and long-term outcomes vary depending on the type and severity of the injury, and on the evaluation methods used. Laboratory studies allow evaluation of different injuries, potential confounding factors, underlying mechanisms, and potential analgesic modulation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 153473541882209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lundt ◽  
Elisabeth Jentschke

Background: Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and cancer-related fatigue are commonly associated with cancer. Cancer patients increasingly use complementary and alternative treatments, such as yoga, to cope with psychological and physical impairments. In the present article, long-term changes of anxiety, depression, and fatigue in cancer are examined 6 months after a yoga intervention. Method: We used an observational design based on a randomized controlled study in cancer patients with mixed diagnoses to evaluate long-term changes of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue 6 months after the end of yoga therapy. We measured anxiety symptoms with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire–2 (PHQ-2), and fatigue with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire–Fatigue Scale (EORTC QLQ-FA13). Yoga therapy was provided in yoga classes of 60 minutes each once a week for 8 weeks in total. The exercises provided contained both body and breathing activities as well as meditation. Results: A total of 58 patients participated in the study. Six months after the end of yoga therapy, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue were significantly reduced compared with baseline. However, symptoms of anxiety and fatigue slightly increased during the follow-up period, whereas symptoms of depression remained stable. Conclusion: Our results are promising and support the integration of yoga interventions in supportive cancer treatment concepts but should be confirmed by randomized controlled trials. Long-term effects of yoga therapy on cancer patients should be the subject of further research.


1980 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter de Chateau

In a randomized, prospective study the long-term effects of early post-partum skin-toskin and suckling contact was studied. In follow-up studies 36 hours, 3 and 12 months after delivery maternal behaviour, infant behaviour, the duration of breast feeding and certain attitudes towards child rearing procedures were shown to develop differently in a group of mothers and infants with early post-natal contacts as compared to a control group. Three years after delivery parents with early contact appreciated their children's language development to be faster; the number of siblings born in these families was greater than in controls. In the discussion, the relative importance of the immediate postnatal period is emphasized, a more family oriented development seems to occur in the presence of early post-delivery interaction.


2008 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 1133-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie G. Parsons ◽  
Shao J. Zhou ◽  
Nicola J. Spurrier ◽  
Maria Makrides

Although routine Fe supplementation in pregnancy is a common practice, its clinical benefits or risks are uncertain. Children born to mothers in the Fe group in a trial of Fe supplementation in pregnancy have been found to have a significantly higher risk of abnormal behaviour at 4 years of age than those born to mothers in the placebo group. The objective of the present study therefore was to determine whether Fe supplementation in pregnancy influences child behaviour at early school age. The study was a follow-up of children at 6–8 years of age after women (n 430) were randomly allocated to receive a daily Fe supplement (20 mg) or placebo from 20 weeks gestation until delivery. The supplement reduced the incidence of Fe-deficiency anaemia at delivery from 9 % to 1 %. Child behaviour and temperament were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Short Temperament Scale for Children. Of the children, 264 (61 %) participated in the follow-up. Mean behaviour and temperament scores and the proportion of parent-rated and teacher-rated abnormal total difficulties scores did not differ between the Fe and placebo groups. However, the incidence of children with an abnormal teacher-rated peer problems subscale score was higher in the Fe group (eleven of 112 subjects; 8 %) than in the placebo group (three of 113 subjects; 2 %); the relative risk was 3·70 (95 % CI 1·06, 12·91; P = 0·026). We conclude that prenatal Fe supplementation had no consistent effect on child behaviour at early school age in this study population. Further investigation regarding the long-term effects of this common practice is warranted.


2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarbattama Sen ◽  
Arielle H. Carpenter ◽  
Jessica Hochstadt ◽  
Juli Y. Huddleston ◽  
Vladimir Kustanovich ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 459 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Gatford ◽  
C. T. Roberts ◽  
K. L. Kind ◽  
P. I. Hynd

Animal producers are well aware that a low-birthweight animal is more likely to die in the first few days of life, and, if it survives, it is likely to perform poorly. We are now coming to appreciate that early life events can permanently change an animal’s developmental trajectory, also often referred to as developmental programming. This is an area of current interest in biomedicine, where the concept is known as the ‘developmental origins of health and disease’ (DOHaD). Current gaps in understanding include many of the underlying mechanisms, and whether and how we might intervene and restore the potential for healthy and productive development. This review introduces the biomedical perspective of developmental programming, reviews some of the evidence for long-term effects of early life exposures on welfare and productivity in animal production, with a focus on prenatal growth and maternal stress in pig production, and discusses options for intervening to improve long-term outcomes.


2008 ◽  
pp. S79-S88
Author(s):  
R Rokyta ◽  
A Yamamotová ◽  
R Šlamberová ◽  
M Franěk ◽  
Š Vaculín ◽  
...  

This review, which summarizes our findings concerning the long-term effects of pre-, peri- and postnatal factors affecting development, nociception and sensorimotor functions, focuses on three areas: 1) perinatal factors influencing nociception in adult rats were examined in rats with hippocampal lesions, after the administration of stress influencing and psychostimulant drugs (dexamethasone, indomethacine and methamphetamine); 2) the effect of pre- and early postnatal methamphetamine administration was shown to impair the development of sensorimotor functions tested in rat pups throughout the preweaning period; 3) the effect of extensive dorsal rhizotomy of the brachial plexus during the early postnatal period was studied with respect to neuropathic pain development and sensorimotor functions. The present study indicates that prenatal or neonatal stress, as well as various drugs, may disturb the development of the nociceptive system and cause long-term behavioral changes persisting to adulthood and that some types of neuropathic pain cannot be induced during the first two postnatal weeks at all. A mature nervous system is required for the development of the described pathological behaviors.


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