Placental function related to brain damage associated with autism

Category: Health published by Shameen Published on: April 27, 2019, 4:11 pm EST Update: April 27, 2019, 4:11 pm EST

Washington: Disrupting the steady supply of allopregnanolone (ALLO), a hormone produced by the placenta in late pregnancy, can make the developing fetus vulnerable to brain damage badociated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), a study found .

The research was presented at the University Pediatric Society Meeting.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in 10 babies is born before term, before 37 weeks of gestation. Premature birth is a major risk factor for ASD.

The placenta is an essential organ and little studied, shared by the developing fetus and the pregnant woman, who brings oxygen, glucose and nutrients and transports the waste.

The placenta also delivers ALLO, a derivative of progesterone, needed to prepare the developing fetal brain for life outside the uterus.

ALLO is preparing late in the gestation. When babies are born premature, ALLO supply stops abruptly. This occurs at the same time as the cerebellum – a brain region essential for motor coordination, posture, balance and social cognition – usually experiences a dramatic growth spurt.

"Our experimental model demonstrates that the loss of a placental ALLO alters cerebellar development, including the development of white matter. The development of the cerebellar white matter occurs mainly after the birth of babies. It is therefore particularly striking to badociate a change in placental function during pregnancy with lingering effects on the subsequent development of the brain, "said Anna Penn, a neonatologist.

The research team has created a new experimental model in which the gene coding for the enzyme responsible for producing ALLO is deleted in the placenta. They compared these preclinical models to a control group and performed whole brain imaging badyzes and RNAseq gene expression for both groups.

"We observed long-term changes in cerebellar white matter in male experimental models, and behavioral tests revealed social deficiencies and an increase in repetitive behaviors, two hallmarks of ASD. These male-specific findings correspond to the increased risk of brain damage and ASD observed in prematurely born human babies, "said Claire-Marie Vacher, lead author of the study.

"Our findings provide a new way to frame poor placental function: subtle but important changes in the uterus can trigger neurodevelopmental disorders that children will experience later in life," said Dr. Penn, lead author of l & # 39; study.

"Our future research could include the identification of new targets in the placenta or brain that could lead to hormone supplementation, thus opening up the possibility of earlier treatment of high-risk fetuses," he said. added Penn.

Source: ANI