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Gut-Brain Axis in the Early Postnatal Years of Life: A Developmental Perspective

Ankita Jena1,2,3, Carlos A Montoya2,3, Jane A Mullaney2,3,4

  • 1School of Food & Advanced Technology, College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
|August 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Early life gut-brain axis (GBA) development influences infant brain function. This review explores GBA mediators and their roles in parallel GI tract and brain development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gastroenterology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • The early postnatal period is critical for both gastrointestinal (GI) tract and brain development.
  • Bidirectional communication between the GI tract and brain, termed the gut-brain axis (GBA), is increasingly recognized.
  • GBA communication involves neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic mediators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review major developmental events in the infant GI tract and brain.
  • To discuss the parallel developmental trajectories of the GI tract and brain.
  • To explore the role of GBA mediators in infant development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of developmental events in the GI tract and brain.
  • Analysis of current knowledge on GBA mediators.
  • Discussion of mediator synthesis, metabolism, and function.

Main Results:

  • The GI tract and brain undergo parallel development postnatally.
  • GBA mediators are influenced by these parallel developmental changes.
  • These mediators play a role in brain function and behavior.

Conclusions:

  • The gut-brain axis is a key player in early infant development.
  • Understanding GBA mediator roles offers insights into infant brain development.
  • Further research into GBA mediators can inform developmental hypotheses.

Keywords:
braincognitiongastrointestinal tractgut-brain axismetabolitesmicrobiotapostnatal development

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