Summary: The researchers discovered how inflammation in the womb can disrupt nerve cell maturation and prevent fetal brain development.
The study reveals that excessive inflammation can lead to reduced neural electrical activity, possibly resulting in conditions like cerebral palsy or developmental problems that affect growth, movement, vision, and hearing. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that these deficiencies in nerve cell maturation can be detected using electroencephalography.
The team emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balanced environment for optimal brain development in fetuses.
Key facts:
- Excessive inflammation in the womb can hinder the maturation of nerve cells, which reduces electrical activity and affects the development of the baby’s brain.
- This condition can potentially lead to a wide range of developmental problems in babies, especially those born prematurely, including cerebral palsy, emotional problems, cognitive and language delays, and more.
- Deficiencies in nerve cell maturation caused by inflammation can be detected using electroencephalography, a widely used clinical tool.
Fountain: Hudson Institute for Medical Research
It has long been recognized that too much inflammation in the womb can harm an unborn baby’s brain development, but how exactly this happens has until now been a mystery.
Dr. Rob Galinsky and his team at the Hudson Institute for Medical Research are focused on understanding the cellular and physiological processes that affect brain development and function in the fetus and newborn.
His latest research, published in the Neuroinflammation Journalshows for the first time how inflammation changes nerve cell maturation and function.
They showed that too much inflammation in the womb affects the maturation of nerve cells (called neurons), leading to reduced electrical activity.
Neurons are the cells in our brain and spinal cord that receive and transmit electrical signals that control the way we walk, hear, see, and think.
Impacts on brain development
Lead researcher Sharmony Kelly says their findings will have a positive impact on preventing or reducing a wide range of conditions that can affect babies, especially those born prematurely.
“Inflammation can lead to cerebral palsy or developmental problems that affect growth, movement, vision and hearing, as well as social and emotional problems, cognitive and language delays and more,” Kelly said.
“By increasing our understanding of exactly how inflammation damages brain development, we hope to help prevent these lifelong consequences.”
“We also show that these deficiencies in nerve cell maturation can be detected using a relatively simple and widely used clinical tool that measures electrical activity in the brain, called electroencephalography,” said Dr. Galinsky.
Delicate balance of brain development
“By improving our understanding of the cellular mechanisms that contribute to inflammation-induced alterations in brain development and their functional consequences, we may improve our ability to detect neurodevelopmental deficits earlier.”
Sharmony Kelly likened the impact of inflammation to a disruption in the symphony of brain development.
“Imagine the brain as an orchestra playing a tune of growth and connectivity; when exposed to inflammation, like an instrument out of tune, the orchestra’s performance becomes distorted.”
“If the delicate balance of brain activity, cell growth and immune responses is disrupted, this could have long-lasting consequences.”
“We are drawing attention to the importance of maintaining a harmonious environment for healthy brain development and the potential consequences when that balance is disrupted,” he said.
About this brain development research news
Author: robo galinsky
Fountain: Hudson Institute for Medical Research
Contact: Rob Galinsky – Hudson Institute for Medical Research
Image: Image is credited to Neuroscience News.
original research: Open access.
“Progressive inflammation reduces high-frequency EEG activity and cortical dendritic arborization in fetal sheep late in gestation.” by Rob Galinsky et al. Neuroinflammation Journal
Abstract
Progressive inflammation reduces high-frequency EEG activity and cortical dendritic arborization in fetal sheep late in gestation.
Background
Prenatal infection/inflammation is associated with alterations in neuronal connectivity, impaired cortical growth, and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. The pathophysiological substrate that sustains these changes is poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that progressive inflammation in fetal sheep late in gestation would alter cortical neuronal microstructure and neuronal function as assessed by electroencephalogram band power analysis.
methods
Fetal ewes (0.85 gestation) were surgically instrumented for continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) recording and randomly assigned to repeat saline (control; control; north= 9) or LPS (0 h = 300 ng, 24 h = 600 ng, 48 h = 1200 ng; north= 8) infusions to induce inflammation. Sheep were sacrificed 4 days after the first LPS infusion to assess inflammatory gene expression, histopathology, and neuronal dendritic morphology in the somatosensory cortex.
Results
LPS infusions increased delta potency between 8 and 50 h, with reduced beta potency from 18 to 96 h (P< 0.05 vs. control). Basal dendritic length, number of dendritic terminals, dendritic arborization, and number of dendritic spines were reduced in LPS-exposed fetuses (P<0.05 vs. control) within the somatosensory cortex. The number of microglia and interleukin (IL)-1β immunoreactivity were increased in LPS-exposed fetuses compared with controls (P<0.05). There were no differences in the total number of cortical NeuN+ neurons or in cortical area between groups.
conclusions
Exposure to prenatal infections/inflammations was associated with impaired dendritic arborization, number of spines, and loss of high-frequency EEG activity, despite normal neuron number, which may contribute to impaired cortical development. and connectivity.