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Fetal and Neonatal HPA Axis
Charles E Wood1, Claire-Dominique Walker2
1Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Comprehensive Physiology
|January 13, 2016
Summary
Early life stress significantly reprograms the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, impacting adult health. Understanding HPA axis development is crucial for preventing stress-related pathologies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Developmental Biology
- Stress Physiology
Background:
- The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates the stress response, adapting to short-term challenges.
- Developmental stress can lead to long-term HPA axis dysfunction and adult pathologies.
- The HPA axis actively participates in physiological regulation, including parturition and fetal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the ontogeny of the HPA axis during development.
- To identify factors influencing HPA axis regulation and reactivity to stressors.
- To highlight the importance of early interventions for improving offspring outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies on HPA axis ontogeny in sheep and rodents.
- Analysis of regulatory mechanisms applicable to human HPA axis development.
- Examination of epigenetic modifications influencing HPA axis function.
Main Results:
- Early life stress can reprogram HPA axis function, leading to adult pathologies.
- The HPA axis is implicated in mental, metabolic, and cardiovascular functions.
- Epigenetic modifications before conception can alter offspring HPA axis programming.
Conclusions:
- Understanding HPA axis development reveals critical windows of susceptibility in the brain.
- Preconception, prenatal, and postnatal interventions are vital for parental and offspring well-being.
- Informed research is essential for public health to mitigate stress-related diseases.
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