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Fetal exposure to placental corticotropin-releasing hormone is associated with child self-reported internalizing

Mariann A Howland1, Curt A Sandman1, Laura M Glynn2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.

Psychoneuroendocrinology
|February 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Elevated prenatal exposure to placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) is linked to increased internalizing symptoms in children by age 5. Maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy did not show a significant association with these symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to maternal stress hormones like cortisol can impact fetal nervous system development, increasing the risk for later internalizing symptoms.
  • Placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) acts as a feto-placental stress signal, potentially offering a more direct measure of the fetal stress experience.
  • The long-term programming effects of pCRH on child development remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to maternal cortisol and placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH).
  • To examine the relationship between these prenatal stress hormone exposures and child self-reported internalizing symptoms at age 5.

Main Methods:

  • Maternal plasma cortisol and pCRH levels were measured across multiple gestational points (15, 19, 25, 31, and 36 weeks).
  • Child internalizing symptoms at age 5 were assessed using the Berkeley Puppet Interview.
  • The study included 83 women and 91 children, with measurements taken from full-term births.

Main Results:

  • Elevated placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) profiles during mid-gestation were significantly associated with higher levels of child internalizing symptoms at age 5.
  • This association remained significant after controlling for obstetric risk, maternal psychological state, and socioeconomic status.
  • Prenatal maternal cortisol levels were not found to be significantly associated with child internalizing symptoms at age 5.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated exposure to the feto-placental stress signal, pCRH, appears to have programming effects on the developing fetal central nervous system.
  • These programming effects can lead to lasting consequences for child mental health, specifically manifesting as internalizing symptoms.
  • The findings highlight pCRH as a critical factor in fetal neurodevelopment and subsequent child psychological well-being.
Abstract

Keywords:
CRHCortisolFetal programmingInternalizing problemsPregnancyPrenatal

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