Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 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

Prenatal-onset neurodevelopmental disorders secondary to toxins, nutritional deficiencies, and maternal illness

William D Graf1, Minal V Kekatpure, Barry E Kosofsky

  • 1Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|April 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Genetic and environmental factors interact to cause neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions and epigenetic factors is key to developing new prevention and treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders stem from complex genetic and environmental influences during prenatal development.
  • Accurate etiological diagnosis in clinical settings remains challenging.
  • Emerging technologies facilitate a move towards analyzing gene-environment interactions (GxE) over traditional nature-nurture paradigms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of gene-environment interactions (GxE) in neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • To highlight the importance of epigenetic factors in developmental plasticity.
  • To review evidence linking prenatal exposures to neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical and experimental observations.
  • Analysis of gene-environment interaction models.
  • Consideration of epigenetic mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal toxic exposures, metabolic issues, and maternal illnesses are linked to specific neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Gene-environment interactions (GxE) are crucial in understanding neurodevelopmental pathogenesis.
  • Epigenetic processes significantly influence developmental adaptation.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding GxE mechanisms is vital for improved neurodevelopmental disorder prevention.
  • Epigenetic factors, including maternal health and environmental exposures, play a significant role.
  • Further research into GxE interactions can inform targeted risk-modifying strategies.

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Concept Videos

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...
Disorders of the Nervous Tissue01:28

Disorders of the Nervous Tissue

Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Hepatic Encephalopathy01:29

Hepatic Encephalopathy

DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
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,...