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Different impacts on brain function depending on the mode of delivery
Keiko Ikeda1, Hiroshi Onimaru2, Tohru Matsuura3
1Department of Physiology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Kozunomori 4-3, Narita, Chiba 286-8686, Japan; Division of Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Yakushiji 3311-1, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
The prevalence of delivery through cesarean-section (C-section) has been increasing worldwide. Although different modes of delivery, such as vaginal birth and C-section, are associated with incidence of some diseases in humans, little is known about how delivery stimuli affect short- and long-term brain function. Phenotypic analyses of Atp1a2 homozygous knockout (Atp1a2-/-) neonates showed that the mode of delivery affected neural phenotypes; Atp1a2-/- mice born by vaginal delivery started spontaneous breathing, while Atp1a2-/- mice born by C-section showed a complete absence of breathing followed by their death. This life or death phenotype prompted us to examine several aspects of the neonatal brain following C-section or vaginal delivery. We found significantly different levels of several monoamines and transporters/channel proteins and a different c-Fos expression pattern. Furthermore, these mice showed different behaviors in adulthood. Our results suggest that birth mode impacts neurotransmission and functional network formation in the neonatal brain.
The prevalence of delivery through cesarean-section (C-section) has been increasing worldwide. Although different modes of delivery, such as vaginal birth and C-section, are associated with incidence of some diseases in humans, little is known about how delivery stimuli affect short- and long-term brain function. Phenotypic analyses of Atp1a2 homozygous knockout (Atp1a2-/-) neonates showed that the mode of delivery affected neural phenotypes; Atp1a2-/- mice born by vaginal delivery started spontaneous breathing, while Atp1a2-/- mice born by C-section showed a complete absence of breathing followed by their death. This life or death phenotype prompted us to examine several aspects of the neonatal brain following C-section or vaginal delivery. We found significantly different levels of several monoamines and transporters/channel proteins and a different c-Fos expression pattern. Furthermore, these mice showed different behaviors in adulthood. Our results suggest that birth mode impacts neurotransmission and functional network formation in the neonatal brain.
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