Sex-dependent influence of prenatal lipid levels on brain development

拟议研究计划的主要目标是调查产前血脂水平在男性和女性大脑发育中的作用。由于越来越多的证据表明脂质在神经系统的功能中起着至关重要的作用，人们对脂类激活的信号通路的特征产生了极大的兴趣。大脑的健康发展有赖于前列腺素E2(PGE2)等脂质的供应。这种主要的脂质分子自然存在于大脑中，对调节大脑早期发育及其正常功能所需的必要基因的表达非常重要。在怀孕期间，PGE2水平会受到各种环境因素的影响，如饮食、感染、空气污染物、药物(如乙酰水杨酸或对乙酰氨基酚)和化妆品中的化学物质，从而导致各种大脑缺陷。

The main objective of the proposed research program is to investigate the role of prenatal lipid levels in the male and female brain development. Because of the growing evidence about the vital role of lipids in the function of the nervous system there is a great interest in characterizing the signaling pathways that they activate. Healthy development of the brain relies on the supply of lipids such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This major lipid molecule naturally found in the brain is important in regulating the expression of essential genes required for early brain development and its proper function. During pregnancy the PGE2 level can be influenced by various environmental factors such as diet, infections, air pollutants, drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid or acetaminophen and chemicals in cosmetics and result in various brain defects.