Fetal glucocorticoid exposure is associated with preadolescent brain development.
Fetal glucocorticoid exposure is associated with preadolescent brain development.
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DOI：
10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.03.009
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发表时间：
2013-11-01
影响因子：
10.6
通讯作者：
Head, Kevin
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Davis, Elysia Poggi;Sandman, Curt A;Buss, Claudia;Wing, Deborah A;Head, Kevin
糖皮质激素在胎儿大脑发育的规范调节中发挥着关键作用。暴露于过量的水平可能会产生有害后果，并破坏成熟过程。当在胎儿期给予合成糖皮质激素时，尤其如此，就像早产妇女一样。本研究调查了胎儿接触合成糖皮质激素对大脑发育和情感问题的影响。大脑发育和情感问题进行了评估，在54名儿童（56%的女性），年龄6至10岁，谁是足月出生。儿童被招募到两组：那些有和没有胎儿接触合成糖皮质激素。获取结构磁共振成像（MRI）扫描，并确定皮质厚度。采用儿童行为量表对儿童情感问题进行评估。胎儿糖皮质激素暴露组患儿双侧皮质明显变薄。最大的组间差异出现在头端前扣带皮层（rACC）。在胎儿糖皮质激素暴露的儿童中，超过30%的rACC变薄。此外，有更多情感问题的儿童左侧rACC较薄。胎儿暴露于合成糖皮质激素具有持续至少6至10年的神经系统后果。胎儿糖皮质激素暴露的儿童主要在rACC皮质较薄。我们的数据表明，rACC与情感问题有关的证据表明，该区域参与情感障碍，提出了糖皮质激素相关的神经系统变化增加精神健康问题的可能性。
Glucocorticoids play a critical role in normative regulation of fetal brain development. Exposure to excessive levels may have detrimental consequences and disrupt maturational processes. This may especially be true when synthetic glucocorticoids are administered during the fetal period, as they are to women in preterm labor. The present study investigated the consequences for brain development and affective problems of fetal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids. Brain development and affective problems were evaluated in fifty-four children (56% female), ages 6 to 10, who were full term at birth. Children were recruited into two groups: those with and without fetal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were acquired and cortical thickness was determined. Child affective problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist. Children in the fetal glucocorticoid exposure group showed significant and bilateral cortical thinning. The largest group differences were in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). Over 30% of the rACC was thinner among children with fetal glucocorticoid exposure. Further, children with more affective problems had a thinner left rACC. Fetal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids has neurological consequences that persist for at least 6 to 10 years. Children with fetal glucocorticoid exposure had a thinner cortex primarily in the rACC. Our data indicating that the rACC is associated with affective problems in conjunction with evidence that this region is involved in affective disorders raises the possibility that glucocorticoid associated neurological changes increase vulnerability to mental health problems.