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Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

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Maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy associated with emotional and behavioural problems in early childhood:

Cindy Pham1,2,3, Sarah Thomson2, Sung-Tong Chin4

  • 1Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.

Molecular Psychiatry
|October 16, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy, particularly RNA damage, is linked to childhood emotional and behavioural problems (EBP). Early-life environmental factors contribute to this stress, partly explaining their impact on child EBP.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal epidemiology
  • Environmental health
  • Developmental psychology

Background:

  • Childhood emotional and behavioural problems (EBP) are a growing concern.
  • Maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy (matOSpreg) is associated with offspring mental health issues.
  • The specific role of matOSpreg in childhood EBP remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between matOSpreg and offspring EBP.
  • To examine the relationship between social/prenatal environmental factors and matOSpreg.
  • To determine if matOSpreg mediates the link between environmental factors and childhood EBP.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified maternal urinary oxidative stress biomarkers (8-hydroxyguanosine [8-OHGua] and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]) at 36 weeks gestation.
  • Collected data on social and prenatal environmental factors via questionnaires.
  • Assessed offspring EBP at ages two and four using validated scales (Child Behavior Checklist, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire).
  • Employed multivariable regression and counterfactual-based mediation analysis.

Main Results:

  • Higher maternal urinary 8-OHGua (an RNA oxidative damage marker) was associated with increased offspring EBP at ages two and four.
  • Weaker associations were observed for 8-OHdG (a DNA oxidative damage marker).
  • Lower maternal education, socioeconomic disadvantage, and prenatal smoking were linked to both higher mat8-OHGua36w and childhood EBP.
  • These environmental risk factors partially mediated their effects on childhood EBP through elevated matOSpreg.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy, especially RNA damage, is linked to later childhood EBP.
  • The impact of certain early-life social and environmental factors on childhood EBP may be partly explained by maternal oxidative stress.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the role of early-life oxidative damage in childhood EBP.

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