Prenatal psychological or metabolic stress increases the risk for psychiatric disorders: the "funnel effect" model. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Musillo, Chiara; Berry, Alessandra; Cirulli, Francesca
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 136(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: 11β-HSD 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase -- ACE Adverse Childhood Experience -- ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder -- ALSPAC Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children -- ASDs Autism Spectrum Disorders -- BDNF Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor -- BMI Body Mass Index -- DOHaD Developmental Origins of Health and Disease -- FOAD Fetal Origin of Adult Disease -- GC Glucocorticoid -- GRs Glucocorticoid Receptors -- HFD High-Fat Diet -- HPA Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal -- IGF Insulin-like Grow Factor -- NGF Nerve Growth Factor -- OS Oxidative Stress -- WHO World Health Organization; Pregnancy -- Maternal obesity -- Placenta -- Glucocorticoids -- Inflammation -- Metabolism -- Oxidative stress -- Mental health -- Animal model -- Clinical studies -- Major depression; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104624
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Abstract: Adverse stressful experiences in utero can redirect fetal brain development, ultimately leading to increased risk for psychiatric disorders. Obesity during pregnancy can have similar effects as maternal stress, affecting mental health in the offspring. In order to explain how similar outcomes may originate from different prenatal conditions, we propose a "funnel effect" model whereby maternal psychological or metabolic stress triggers the same evolutionarily conserved response pathways, increasing vulnerability for psychopathology. In this context, the placenta, which is the main mother-fetus interface, appears to facilitate such convergence, re-directing "stress" signals to the fetus. Characterizing converging pathways activated by different adverse environmental conditions is fundamental to assess the emergence of risk signatures of major psychiatric disorders, which might enable preventive measures in risk populations, and open up new diagnostics, and potentially therapeutic approaches for disease prevention and health promotion already during pregnancy. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: Different challenges in utero have similar negative effects on fetal brain. Maternal obesity is a stressor for both the mother and the fetus. Psychophysical and metabolic stress converge on shared stress-sensitive pathways. The placenta acts as a "funnel" conveying different stressors to the fetus. Inflammation, glucocorticoids and metabolic markers mediate the effects of stress.