Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Perinatal infection, fetal inflammatory response, white matter damage, and cognitive limitations in children born

Olaf Dammann1, Karl C K Kuban, Alan Leviton

  • 1Neuroepidemiology Unit, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews
|March 29, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Antenatal infections may impact preterm infant cognitive development through fetal inflammation and brain white matter damage. More research is needed to prevent cognitive limitations in premature babies.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal neurology
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Infectious disease

Background:

  • Limited data exists on non-central nervous system antenatal infections and preterm infant cognitive deficits.
  • Existing research suggests a potential link, but the mechanisms are not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a theoretical framework linking antenatal infections to cognitive limitations in preterm infants.
  • To highlight the role of fetal inflammatory response and neonatal white matter damage in this association.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of published studies on antenatal infection, fetal inflammatory response, neonatal white matter injury, and cognitive outcomes in preterm infants.
  • Development of a theoretical schema illustrating the proposed pathway.

Main Results:

  • A theoretical model is presented, connecting antenatal infections to cognitive limitations via fetal inflammatory response and subsequent neonatal white matter damage.
  • The proposed pathway suggests a plausible biological mechanism for the observed association.

Conclusions:

  • The association between antenatal infection and cognitive limitations in preterm infants warrants further investigation.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing preventive strategies against cognitive deficits in premature neonates.

More Related Videos

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development08:50

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...