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Updated: Jul 9, 2025

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
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Cross-talk between the infant/maternal gut microbiota and the endocrine system: a promising topic of research

Francesca Turroni1,2, Sonia Mirjam Rizzo1, Marco Ventura1,2

  • 1Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy.

Microbiome Research Reports
|December 4, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The infant gut microbiota, crucial for baby health, is influenced by the mother's hormones. Understanding these gut-endocrine connections is vital for infant well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Infant Health

Background:

  • The infant gut microbiota comprises microorganisms in the baby's intestine.
  • This ecosystem significantly impacts infant health and physiological conditions.
  • Maternal hormones can influence the composition of the newborn gut microbiota.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of the relationship between the maternal/infant endocrine system and the gut microbiota.
  • To highlight the necessity of investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on infant gut microbiota and maternal/infant endocrine systems.
  • Synthesis of existing data on the interplay between hormones and microbial colonization.

Main Results:

  • The maternal endocrine system plays a role in shaping the infant gut microbiota.
  • Complex interactions exist between hormones and the developing gut microbiome.
  • The gut microbiota is a key factor in determining infant health outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Further research into the molecular mechanisms governing the gut-endocrine axis in infants is warranted.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for promoting infant health and development.

Keywords:
Infantsendocrine systemgut microbiotahormonesthyroid

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