Oxytocin trajectories and social engagement in extremely premature infants during NICU hospitalization

Abstract

Extremely premature infants, born 28 weeks gestation or less, are at high risk for impaired socioemotional development, due in part to exposure to early stressful social experiences that alter brain development. Understanding mediators that link experience with outcomes is necessary to assess premature infant responses to social experiences that are critical to brain development. The hormone oxytocin (OT), released during supportive interactions, has potential as a biomarker of the premature infant’s responses to social experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine associations among infant plasma OT trajectories and maternal-infant social engagement behaviors during initial hospitalization. This study also examined demographic correlates of engagement behaviors in mothers and infants. Plasma from 28 extremely premature infants, born gestational ages 25–28 6/7 weeks, was collected at 14 days of life, then weekly until 34 weeks. Social engagement behaviors were measured by the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment during a videotaped feeding when the infant was receiving one-quarter full oral feeds. Maternal-infant demographics were extracted from the medical record. Higher infant plasma OT was associated with lower infant social engagement, but no associations were found with maternal social engagement. Infant social engagement was positively related to maternal social engagement. Maternal parity was related to maternal social engagement, and infant demographics did not predict infant social engagement. The significant, yet negative, association between infant OT and engagement provides support for the measurement of OT as a neurobiological antecedent to infant social behaviors. Finally, this research suggests that during the earliest period of infant socio-behavioral development, premature infants are behaviorally reactive to the social engagement behaviors of their mothers.

How do hypothalamic nonapeptides shape youth’s sociality? A systematic review on oxytocin, vasopressin and human socio-emotional development

“…Children with higher CSF OT levels appear to more actively seek parental social interaction for soothing and have a greater interest in social interaction as measured at 6 months of age (54). The only exception to these working hypotheses resides in one study developed in hospitalized premature infants which reported a negative correlation between infant OT levels and social engagement (55). While discordant with all other findings of this section, one should not forget that this study targeted a special infant population characterized as clinically concerning and submitted to high physiological demands to maintain organic homeostasis.…”

Maternal Voice and Tactile Stimulation Modulate Oxytocin in Mothers of Hospitalized Preterm Infants: A Randomized Crossover Trial

“…Despite an abundant literature on the role of socio-emotional environment and parental interactions in the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born preterm [ 27 ], only a few studies addressed the developmental trajectories of OT in the neonatal period and its balance with cortisol in dyadic interactive contexts [ 11 , 15 ]. In addition to the effect of skin-to-skin contact on OT salivary levels in neonates [ 12 ], and the effects of the maternal speech and singing during painful procedures [ 8 ], no other study addressed the ability of an early intervention to change OT levels in mothers.…”

“…Its synthesis was notably studied to identify the biological effect of skin-to-skin carrying, where it increases in both parents and children [ 12 ]. Other studies assessed its relationship with parental attachment and showed conflicting results [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. In addition to its effect on maternal behavior, other roles of OT were demonstrated, including its anti-inflammatory properties both in the developing and mature brain [ 16 ] and a modulatory effect on the hypothalamo-pituitary and adrenal axis.…”

Common Genetic Variants Link the Abnormalities in the Gut-Brain Axis in Prematurity and Autism

“…Furthermore, AVP has been implicated in male vulnerability to autism and higher mortality rates in premature male infants [ 131 ]. Altered blood levels of OXT have been reported in children with ASD [ 132 ] and premature infants [ 133 ], underscoring the importance of OXT-AVP pathways in both prematurity and autism.…”