Prenatal stressors of human life affect fetal brain development

Maternal prenatal stress and infant birth weight and gestational age: A meta-analysis of prospective studies

“…Fourth, prenatal stress has also been measured in terms of the number of stressful life events expectant mothers have been exposed to Lobel et al, 2008;Lou et al, 1994). Stressful events include loss of a loved one, a serious accident, loss of a job, theft, and so on.…”

“…Some studies have suggested that second trimester, mid-pregnancy assessments may yield more important relations between MPS and outcome. Lou et al (1994) examined the link between mid-pregnancy exposure to stressful life events and foetal growth. They selected 70 pregnant females who reported stressful life events (e.g., separation, job loss, theft, death of a spouse or partner) and compared infant birth data for these mothers with those of 50 pregnant women who reported no stressful life events.…”

Developmental exposure to corticosterone: behavioral changes and differential effects on leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene expression in the mouse

“…A considerable body of work has shown that pre-or postnatal stress can produce profound and long-term changes in behavior, brain neurochemistry, and morphology in rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans (Fride et al 1986;McGivern et al 1986;Weinstock et al 1988;Weinstock 2001;Ward 1991;Takahashi et al 1992;Brixey et al 1993;Clarke and Schneider 1993;Wadhwa et al 1993;Lou et al 1994;Rosenblum et al 1994;Henry et al 1995;Owen et al 2005). In laboratory animals, adult offspring subjected to stress perinatally show some of the behavioral and neurochemical abnormalities associated with aspects of depression, including enhanced responsivity to stressors, and alterations in serotonergic and dopaminergic systems (Fride et al 1986;Weinstock et al 1988;Weinstock 2001;Alonso et al 1994;Fameli et al 1994;Rosenblum et al 1994;Henry et al 1995;Wang et al 1995;Ladd et al 1996).…”

Study of the relationship between variants near CCNL1/LEKR1 and in ADCY5 with low birth weight in a Chinese population

“…It has been reported that low birth weight is also related to poorer developmental and cognitive outcomes during childhood and to chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, non-insulin-dependent diabetes and high blood pressure, in adulthood (Barker et al 1993;Järvelin et al 2004;Lou et al 1994;Peterson et al 2006). The exact mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear.…”