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Related Experiment Video

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

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Published on: November 20, 2015

Prenatal cortisol, prematurity and low birthweight.

Tiffany Field¹, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Miguel Diego

¹Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, FL 33101, USA. tfield@med.miami.edu

Infant Behavior & Development

|December 2, 2006

Summary

High prenatal urinary cortisol levels in pregnant women are linked to adverse fetal development, including smaller fetal size and lower birth weight. Cortisol levels were a better predictor of these outcomes than depression scores.

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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Area of Science:

Reproductive biology
Neuroendocrinology
Developmental psychology

Background:

Maternal depression during pregnancy is a growing concern.
Prenatal stress, indicated by cortisol levels, may impact fetal development.
Existing research highlights the link between maternal mental health and offspring outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between maternal urinary cortisol levels and fetal development.
To compare the predictive power of cortisol levels versus depression scores (CES-D) on fetal growth and neonatal outcomes.
To explore the association between prenatal stress markers and neurobehavioral development in neonates.

Main Methods:

Recruitment of 300 pregnant women at ~20 weeks gestation.
Categorization into high and low urinary cortisol groups via median split.
Assessment of depression (CES-D) and behavioral inhibition (BIS) scores.
Measurement of fetal parameters (head circumference, abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter, fetal weight).
Evaluation of neonatal outcomes (gestational age, birth weight, Brazelton scores).

Main Results:

Higher prenatal cortisol levels correlated with higher depression and BIS scores.
Fetuses in the high cortisol group exhibited smaller head circumference, abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter, and lower fetal weight.
Neonates from the high cortisol group had shorter gestational age and lower birth weight.
Neonates showed altered Brazelton scores: lower habituation and higher reflex scores.
Cortisol levels were more effective than CES-D scores in classifying low birth weight and short gestation.

Conclusions:

Elevated prenatal maternal cortisol is associated with significant adverse effects on fetal growth and neonatal outcomes.
Urinary cortisol levels serve as a more potent indicator of compromised fetal development than maternal depression scores alone.
These findings underscore the importance of monitoring prenatal stress and its impact on maternal-fetal health.