Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 12, 2025
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Cortical Gray Matter Injury in Encephalopathy of Prematurity: Link to Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Bobbi Fleiss1,2,3,4, Pierre Gressens2,3,4, Helen B Stolp4,5
1School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
Insights
Preterm infants may develop neurological damage, known as encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP). Gray matter injury in the brain is increasingly linked to later neurodevelopmental disorders in these children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm infants often experience neurological damage, termed encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP).
- EoP increases the risk of later neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.
- While white matter injury is recognized, the precise nature of gray matter injury in EoP requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of gray matter injury in encephalopathy of prematurity.
- To integrate findings from clinical and preclinical studies within developmental biology and neurodevelopmental disorder pathophysiology.
- To inform novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for EoP.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of clinical and preclinical studies on EoP.
- Analysis of gray matter injury in the context of normal development and neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Synthesis of information to identify knowledge gaps and future research directions.
Main Results:
- Gray matter injury, alongside white matter injury, is implicated in the altered behavior and cognition observed in EoP.
- Existing research confirms gray matter injury occurs in preterm infants, but its exact characteristics are not fully understood.
- The review consolidates current knowledge, highlighting the need for further investigation into the mechanisms and consequences of gray matter injury in EoP.
Conclusions:
- Understanding gray matter injury in EoP is crucial for explaining neurodevelopmental deficits in preterm infants.
- Integrating knowledge of EoP pathophysiology with developmental biology can guide future research.
- Developing mechanism-based approaches and patient stratification is essential for effective EoP management.
Abstract:
Preterm-born infants frequently suffer from an array of neurological damage, collectively termed encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP). They also have an increased risk of presenting with a neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g., autism spectrum disorder; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) later in life. It is hypothesized that it is the gray matter injury to the cortex, in addition to white matter injury, in EoP that is responsible for the altered behavior and cognition in these individuals. However, although it is established that gray matter injury occurs in infants following preterm birth, the exact nature of these changes is not fully elucidated. Here we will review the current state of knowledge in this field, amalgamating data from both clinical and preclinical studies. This will be placed in the context of normal processes of developmental biology and the known pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Novel diagnostic and therapeutic tactics required integration of this information so that in the future we can combine mechanism-based approaches with patient stratification to ensure the most efficacious and cost-effective clinical practice.
