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The burden of early life stress on the nociceptive system development and pain responses

Meggane Melchior1, Pierre Kuhn1,2, Pierrick Poisbeau1

  • 1Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France.

The European Journal of Neuroscience
|February 22, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Newborn infants can feel pain, and early life stress, including painful procedures, can lead to long-term changes in pain sensitivity. This review examines clinical and preclinical data on early life stress and the nociceptive system.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • The capacity of newborn infants to feel pain was historically underestimated.
  • The neonatal nociceptive system is functional, making infants susceptible to pain, especially premature infants undergoing procedures.
  • Environmental stressors accompanying painful procedures can impact nociceptive system maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review clinical and preclinical data on early life stress (ELS).
  • To explore the consequences of ELS on the developing nociceptive system.
  • To understand long-term alterations in brain function and pain susceptibility following ELS.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing clinical data on neonatal pain and stress.
  • Analysis of preclinical animal models investigating ELS effects.
  • Examination of studies on maternal separation and painful procedures in early life.

Main Results:

  • ELS, including pain and stress, can imprint the nociceptive system.
  • Long-term alterations in brain function and nociceptive behavior are induced by ELS.
  • Increased sensitivity and susceptibility to chronic pain are observed following ELS.

Conclusions:

  • Early life stress significantly impacts the developing nociceptive system.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for managing long-term pain conditions.
  • Further research using animal models can elucidate mechanisms of ELS-induced pain hypersensitivity.

Keywords:
environmenthospitalmaternal separationnociceptionprematurity

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