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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Prenatal stress may lead to tissue and sex-specific cardiometabolic disorders in the offspring through imbalances in the insulin signaling pathway. Therefore, we aimed to determine the sex-specific adaptations of prenatal stress on the insulin signaling pathway of cardiac and hepatic tissue of adult offspring Wistar rats. METHODS: Wistar pregnant rats were divided into control and stress groups. Unpredictable stress protocol was performed from the 14th to the 21st day of pregnancy. After lactation, the dams were euthanized and blood was collected for corticosterone measurement and the offspring were separated into four groups according to sex and intervention (n=8/group). At 90 days old, the offspring were submitted to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and an insulin tolerance test (ITT). After euthanasia blood collection was used for biochemical analysis and the left ventricle and liver were used for protein expression and histological analysis. RESULTS: Stress increased maternal corticosterone levels, and in the offspring, decreased glucose concentration in both OGTT and ITT, reduced insulin receptor (Irß) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) activation and reduced insulin receptor inhibition (PTP1B) in the liver of male offspring at 90 days old, without repercussions in cardiac tissue. Moreover, female offspring submitted to prenatal stress exhibited reduced fatty acid uptake, with lower hepatic CD36 expression, reduced high density lipoprotein (cHDL) and increased Castelli risk indexes I and II. CONCLUSIONS: Unpredictable prenatal stress evoked reduced insulin sensitivity and liver-specific impairment in insulin signaling activation in male while increasing markers of cardiovascular risk in females.

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Introdução: A Cardiopatia Congênita (CC) é uma doença crônica, caracterizada por anormalidades estruturais e funcionais no sistema cardiocirculatório, podendo ocorrer por fatores genéticos, mutações, alterações cromossômicas ou mesmo ter uma origem multifatorial. Estudos discutem sobre a possibilidade da CC criar um ambiente estressor para a criança e sua família, sobretudo para sua mãe, por ser o elemento da família que, geralmente, assume o acompanhamento e a execução dos cuidados com a criança. Objetivo: Identificar e descrever a percepção e sentimentos maternos acerca da doença do filho, suas dificuldades, o impacto da doença na qualidade de vida da família e suas angústias diante do futuro. Método: Pesquisa qualitativa, transversal, descritiva, com coleta de dados feita entre os meses de Dezembro de 2022 e Fevereiro de 2023, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas por ligação telefônica, gravada, com 13 mães de crianças com CC. O processo de análise foi orientado pela análise de conteúdo do tipo temática. Resultado: O estresse está presente na fala da maior parte das mães. Essas falas trazem à cena o fato de que este se condensa especialmente nos períodos iniciais do processo: descoberta da doença do filho, notícia da(s) cirurgia(s), responsabilidade pelos cuidados que se prolongam, isolamento materno. Conclusão: O medo da morte, do futuro e do desenvolvimento da criança são fantasmas que também circulam nas manifestações maternas e expressam a dificuldade em antecipar aos seus filhos uma subjetividade, condição de base para o desenvolvimento geral adequado. (AU)

Introduction: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a chronic disease, characterized by structural and functional abnormalities in the cardiocirculatory system, which may occur due to genetic factors, mutations, chromosomal alterations, or even have a multifactorial origin. Studies discuss the possibility of CC creating a stressful environment for the child and his family, especially for his mother, as she is the family member who generally takes on the monitoring and execution of care for the child. Objective:To identify and describe maternal perceptions and feelings about their child's illness, their difficulties, the impact of the disease on the family's quality of life, and their anxieties about the future. Method:Qualitative, cross-sectional, descriptive research, with data collection carried out between December 2022 and February 2023, through semi-structured interviews conducted by telephone, recorded, with 13 mothers of children with CC. The analysis process was guided by thematic content analysis. Result:Stress is in the speech of most mothers. These statements bring to the fore the fact that stress is condensed especially in the early stages of the process: discovery of the child's illness, news of the surgery(s), responsibility for prolonged care, and maternal isolation. Conclusion: Fear of death, the future and the child's development are ghosts that also circulate in maternal manifestations and express the difficulty in anticipating their children, a basic condition for adequate general development. (AU)

Introducción: La cardiopatía congénita (CC) es una enfermedad crónica, caracterizada por anomalías estructurales y funcionales en el sistema cardiocirculatorio, que pueden deberse a factores genéticos, mutaciones, alteraciones cromosómicas o incluso tener un origen multifactorial. Los estudios discuten la posibilidad de que el CC genere un ambiente estresante para el niño y su familia, especialmente para su madre, ya que es ella la que generalmente asume el seguimiento y ejecución del cuidado del niño. Objetivo: Identificar y describir las percepciones y sentimientos maternos sobre la enfermedad del hijo, sus dificultades, el impacto de la enfermedad en la calidad de vida de la familia y sus angustias sobre el futuro. Método: Investigación cualitativa, transversal, descriptiva, con recolección de datos realizada entre diciembre de 2022 y febrero de 2023, a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas realizadas por teléfono, grabadas, con 13 madres de niños con CC. El proceso de análisis fue guiado por el análisis de contenido temático. Resultado: El estrés está presente en el habla de la mayoría de las madres. Estas declaraciones traen a la luz el hecho de que el estrés se condensa especialmente en las primeras etapas del proceso: descubrimiento de la enfermedad del niño, noticia de la(s) cirugía(s), responsabilidad por cuidados prolongados, aislamiento materno. Conclusión: El miedo a la muerte, al futuro y al desarrollo del niño son fantasmas que también circulan en las manifestaciones maternas y expresan la dificultad de anticiparse a sus hijos, condición básica para un adecuado desarrollo general. (AU).

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Preclinical genetic studies have related stress early exposures with changes in gene regulatory mechanisms, including epigenetic alterations, such as modifications of DNA methylation, histone deacetylation, and histones acetylation. This study evaluates the effects of prenatal stress on the behavior, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, and epigenetic parameters in stressed dams and their offspring. The rats were subjected to a protocol of chronic unpredictable mild stress on the fourteenth day of pregnancy until the birth of offspring. After birth, maternal care was evaluated for six days. Following weaning, the locomotor and depressive-like behaviors of the dams and their offspring (60 days old) were assessed. The HPA axis parameters were evaluated in serum from dams and offspring, and epigenetic parameters (histone acetyltransferase (HAT), histone deacetylase (HDAC), DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activities, and the levels of histone H3 acetylated at lysine residue 9 (H3K9ac) and histone 3 acetylated at lysine residue 14 (H3K14ac)) were assessed in dams' and offspring' brains. Prenatal stress did not significantly influence maternal care; however, it induced manic behavior in female offspring. These behavioral alterations in the offspring were accompanied by hyperactivity of the HPA-axis, epigenetic adaptations in the activity of HDAC and DNMT, and acetylation in the histones H3K9 and H3K14. In addition, the prenatal stressed female offspring showed increased levels of ACTH compared to their male counterpart. Our findings reinforce the impact of prenatal stress on behavior, stress response, and epigenetic profile of offspring.

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RESUMEN Introducción: Los organismos de salud recomiendan la lactancia materna exclusiva hasta los 6 meses de vida y lactancia materna (LM) continuada hasta los 2 años de edad. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión narrativa de los efectos del apoyo social sobre el estrés materno y la LM. Método: Se realizó una revisión narrativa y no sistemática en la cual se seleccionó artículos de la literatura en PubMed, Redalyc y BVS y en páginas web de entidades como la OMS y la UNICEF. Resultados: Los resultados reflejan que el escaso apoyo social se asocia con un incremento del estrés materno e impacta en el inicio y sostenimiento de la LM. El apoyo social actúa atenuando los niveles de estrés. Conclusión: Se concluye que el apoyo social es un factor que ha de ser considerado como una estrategia para disminuir los niveles de estrés materno y la promoción de la LM. Es necesario enfatizar el importante rol de los equipos de salud en torno a la promoción de la LM, especialmente en madres que ofrecen crianza monoparental, al proveer apoyo social y formación para la lactancia.

ABSTRACT Background: Health authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age and continued breastfeeding (BF) until two years. Objective: To conduct a narrative review of the effects of social support on maternal distress and BF. Method: A narrative and non-systematic review was conducted, selecting articles from the literature in PubMed, Redalyc, BVS, and from websites of organisations such as WHO and UNICEF. Results: The results show that low social support is associated with increased maternal stress and affects the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding. Social support acts to reduce stress levels. Conclusion: Social support is a factor to be considered as a strategy to reduce maternal stress and promote BF. It is necessary to emphasise the role of healthcare teams in promoting BF, especially among single-parent mothers, by providing social support and breastfeeding education.

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Abstract Objectives: describe the frequency of maternal stress and psychic risk indicators in newborns who were exposed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after hospital discharge. Methods: observational, analytical, cohort study, sample of 26 participants (13 exposed and 13 not exposed to the NICU). Maternal stress was assessed by Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp (ISSL) (Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults) and psychological risk by Indicadores Clínicos de Risco para o Desenvolvimento Infantil (IRDI) (Clinical Risk Indicators for Child Development), 15 days after hospital discharge and at 4 months of corrected age. Results: the study found a frequency of stress of 23.1% in mothers of newborns who were exposed to NICUs and 38.5% of psychological risk in these newborns. The following associations were found: maternal stress and newborn exposure to the NICU (p=0.037); maternal stress and newborn exposure time to NICU (p=0.031); psychological risk and prematurity (p=0.014). There were no association between psychic risk and maternal stress; and there was no diference in the frequency of psychological risk between the groups of newborns. Conclusions: newborn hospitalization in the NICU is associated with maternal stress, but not with psychological risk. Prematurity can cause psychological risk. Maternal stress was not associated with psychological risk.

Resumo Objetivos: descrever a frequência de estresse materno e indicadores de risco psíquico em recém-nascidos que foram expostos à unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal (UTIN). Métodos: estudo observacional, analítico, coorte, amostra de 26 participantes (13 expostos e 13 não expostos a UTIN). O estresse materno foi avaliado pelo Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp e o risco psíquico pelo IRDI (Indicadores Clínicos de Risco para o Desenvolvimento Infantil), 15 dias após a alta hospitalar e aos quatro meses de idade corrigida. Resultados: o estudo encontrou frequência de estresse de 23,1% nas mães de RN que foram expostos a UTIN e 38,5% de risco psíquico nestes bebês. Encontrou as seguintes associações: estresse materno e exposição do RN à UTIN (p=0,037); estresse materno e tempo de exposição do RN à UTIN (p=0,031); risco psíquico e prematuridade (p=0,014). Não encontrou associação entre risco psíquico e estresse materno; e não encontrou diferença na frequência de risco psíquico entre os grupos de RN. Conclusões: a internação do RN em UTIN está associada a estresse materno, mas não a risco psíquico. A prematuridade pode causar risco psíquico. O estresse materno não apresentou associação com risco psíquico.

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The COVID-19 pandemic may configure an adverse prenatal context for early development. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of pandemic-related negative experiences, prenatal anxiety and depression on the temperament of six-month-old babies. The sample consisted of 105 mother-child dyads. A longitudinal evaluation was carried out using pre- and postnatal online surveys. Mothers completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory - II, the Pandemic Impact Questionnaire and the Infant Behavior Questionnaire Revised. Serial mediation models were tested, in which the pandemic-related negative experiences constituted the independent variable, the prenatal anxiety and depression were the mediators, and the children's temperament dimensions were the dependent variables. Pandemic-related negative experiences were indirectly associated with the offspring's negative affect and surgency through anxious symptomatology, which acted as a mediating variable. This was the first study to identify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on temperament. Such an adverse context implies risks for child development. Public health policies aiming to evaluate socioemotional variables during early childhood become necessary to allow on-time interventions for lessening these risks.

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The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of treadmill maternal exercise on alterations induced by prenatal stress in neonatal mice. Female and male Balb/c mice were divided into five groups: control (CON), prenatal restraint stress (PNS), prenatal restraint stress and physical exercise before pregnancy (PNS + EX1), prenatal restraint stress and physical exercise during pregnancy (PNS + EX2), and prenatal restraint stress and physical exercise before and during pregnancy (PNS + EX3). Exercise was performed using a treadmill, at a speed of 10 m/min, for 60 min, 5 days a week. Maternal behavior was assessed on days 3, 4 and 5 postpartum (PPD). Placental gene expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), 11-ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11ß-HSD2), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A (5HT1AR), and corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) were analyzed. In neonatal mice, the gene expression of GR, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), CRHR1, 5HTr1, oxytocin Receptor 1 (OXTr1), tropomyosin related kinase B (TRκB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor exon I (BDNF I), and BDNF IV was analyzed in the brain (PND0) and hippocampus (PND10). Maternal exercise improved (p < 0.05) maternal care. In the placenta, maternal exercise prevented (p < 0.01) the increase in GR expression caused by PNS. In the brain from PND0, exercise before pregnancy prevented (p = 0.002) the decreased CRHR1 expression promoted by PNS. In the hippocampus of PND10 males, PNS decreased (p = 0.0005) GR expression, and exercise before pregnancy prevented (p = 0.003) this effect. In PND10 females, maternal exercise prevented (p < 0.05) the PNS-induced increase in MR expression. PNS + EX2 males showed increased (p < 0.01) BDNF I gene expression and PNS + EX1 females demonstrated increased (p = 0.03) BDNF IV expression. In conclusion, maternal physical exercise may play a role in modulating maternal-fetal health and may contribute to preventing neurodevelopmental changes induced by prenatal stress.

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A growing body of evidence highlights that several insults during pregnancy impact the vascular function and immune response of the male and female offspring. Overactivation of the immune system negatively influences cardiovascular function and contributes to cardiovascular disease. In this review, we propose that modulation of the immune system is a potential link between prenatal stress and offspring vascular dysfunction. Glucocorticoids are key mediators of stress and modulate the inflammatory response. The potential mechanisms whereby prenatal stress negatively impacts vascular function in the offspring, including poor hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation of inflammatory response, activation of Th17 cells, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system hyperactivation, reactive oxygen species imbalance, generation of neoantigens and TLR4 activation, are discussed. Alterations in the immune system by maternal stress during pregnancy have broad relevance for vascular dysfunction and immune-mediated diseases, such as cardiovascular disease.

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The aim of this study was to investigate whether tactile stimulation in rabbits during the gestation phase improve the maternal behavior and human-animal relationships as well as the effects on reproductive behavior of male kits when reached maturity compared to induced stress. A total of 33 primiparous New Zealand does were selected after pregnancy confirmation and allocated in a randomized complete block design. The treatments applied were as follows: (C) animals not stimulated during the experimental period; (TS) animals that received tactile stimulation; and (SS) does which were immobilized. The nest building behavior as well as the weight, sexual behavior, mortality, and semen analysis of the offspring was recorded. In addition, the novel object, flight distance, social isolation, and human-approach tests were conducted. Under the conditions of the present trial, TS animals showed more trust in the unfamiliar observer when compared to the other two treatments. The treatments applied to the females (TS and SS) were sufficient to confirm that the control group presented better values for the number of stillbirths and the proportion of deaths in the first week. Finally, the handling of does reduce the males' ejaculation and sperm presence but not inhibited sexual behavior or impaired semen quality. It is possible to conclude that TS did not impair does welfare or maternal behavior and it improved the human-animal relationship, however there was a negative impact on the litter. More studies that directly assess impact on the future reproductive capacity of the offspring are necessary.

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Inflammatory markers represent important candidates responsible for the altered behavior and physiology observed after stressful experiences. In the maternal brain, the olfactory bulb (OB) is a key constituent of the neural circuit that mediates the reciprocal interaction between mother and infant. This study aimed to investigate the effects of stress during pregnancy on maternal behavior and inflammatory changes in the olfactory bulb of lactating mice. Female Balb/c mice were divided into two groups: control (CT) and restraint stress (RS). Maternal behavior was performed during the first 8 days of life of the offspring. On the 10th day after parturition, corticosterone, gene, and protein expression were assessed. Stress during pregnancy decreased the maternal index at postnatal day 4 and the nuclear factor-κB 1 (NFκB1) gene expression in the OB. Moreover, females from the RS group showed increased interleukin (IL-1ß) protein expression. In contrast, stressed females exhibited a decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) protein expression in the OB. In conclusion, exposure to stress during pregnancy was able to induce specific postnatal effects on maternal behavior and balance of inflammatory mediators in the OB.

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Adverse experiences in the perinatal period have been associated with the methylation of the human glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and long-term diseases. We conducted a systematic review on the association between adversities in the perinatal period and DNA methylation in the 1 F region of the NR3C1 gene in newborns. We explored the MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, and Lilacs databases without time or language limitations. Two independent reviewers performed the selection of articles and data extraction. A third participated in the methodological quality assessment and consensus meetings at all stages. Finally, ten studies were selected. Methodological quality was considered moderate in six and low in four. Methylation changes were reported in 41 of the 47 CpG sites of exon 1 F. Six studies addressed maternal conditions during pregnancy: two reported methylation changes at the same sites (CpG 10, 13, 20, 21 and 47), and four at one or more sites from CpG 35 to 39. Four studies addressed neonatal parameters and morbidities: methylation changes at the same sites 4, 8, 10, 16, 25, and 35 were reported in two. Hypermethylation associated with stressful conditions prevailed. Hypomethylation was more often associated with protective conditions (maternal-foetal attachment during pregnancy, breast milk intake, higher birth weight or Apgar). In conclusion, methylation changes in several sites of the 1 F region of the NR3C1 gene in newborns and very young infants were associated with perinatal stress, but more robust and comparable results are needed to corroborate site-specific associations.

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OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between prenatal stress and infant physical health in the first year of life within an understudied, racially and ethnically diverse, highly stressed community sample. We expected that greater stress exposure would predict higher rates of infant illness. STUDY DESIGN: Low-income, racially/ethnically diverse, overweight women with low medical risk pregnancies were recruited (2011-2014) during pregnancy. Pregnancy Stressful Life Events were assessed retrospectively (mean, 11.88 months postpartum). Perceived stress was assessed twice during pregnancy (at a mean of 17.4 weeks and again at a mean of 25.6 weeks) and at 6 months postpartum. Women with live births (n = 202) were invited; 162 consented to the offspring study. Medical records from pediatric clinics and emergency departments for 148 infants were abstracted for counts of total infectious illnesses, total noninfectious illness, and diversity of illnesses over the first year of life. RESULTS: The final analytic sample included 109 women (mean age, 28.08 years) and their infants. In covariate-adjusted negative binomial models, maternal perceptions of stress across pregnancy were positively associated with infant illness. Each 1-point increase in average stress was associated with a 38% increase in incidence of infant infections (Incidence rate ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01-1.88; P < .05), a 73% increase in noninfectious illness (IRR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.34-2.23; P < .05), and a 53% increase in illness diversity (IRR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.25, 1.88; P < .01); effect sizes were larger for perceived stress later in pregnancy. Stressful life events count and postnatal stress were not uniquely associated with illness. CONCLUSIONS: In line with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics to screen for maternal perinatal depression, screening and support for stress reduction during pregnancy may benefit both maternal and child health.

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Militaries around the world perform training exercises in preparation for war. We study the relationship between in utero exposure to military exercises (bombing) and early-life health outcomes, combining data on naval bombing exercises in Vieques, Puerto Rico, and the universe of births from 1990 to 2003. Using a differences-in-differences design, we find that the sudden end of bombing practices is associated with a 56-79% decrease in the incidence of congenital anomalies. The evidence is generally consistent with the channel of environmental pollution through increases in contaminant levels in waters surrounding the live impact area.

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There is evidence of a relationship between in utero exposure to catastrophic events and adverse birth outcomes, usually attributed to heightened maternal stress. The objective of our work was to evaluate if the breakage of a dam containing wastefrom a mining cite in Brazil, in 2015, an environmental disaster popularly known as the Mariana Tragedy, affected the health of newborns exposed in utero. We used administrative data on birth records and reports on the Mariana Tragedy to identify all births from newborns exposed in utero and the intensity of that exposure, according to the mother's municipality of residence. Using a difference-in-differences framework, we estimated the impact of different intensities of exposure on birth outcomes. We found that being directly exposed in utero to the Tragedy resulted in 1.86 days shorter gestational age and 2.6 percentage points higher incidence of preterm birth (<37 weeks). We found no impact on birthweight related outcomes. The effect is larger than previously identified for other catastrophic events. We hypothesize that this is probably due to the Tragedy impacting birth outcomes not exclusively through heightened maternal stress, but also through depressed economic activity in directly affected municipalities.

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Prenatal stress (PS) induces long-lasting molecular alterations in brain circuits of the offspring and increases the propensity to develop neuropsychiatric diseases during adulthood, including mood disorders and drug addiction. A major goal of this study was to assess the impact of PS on pubertal behaviour and adult vulnerability to cocaine-induced conditioning place preference (CPP). We therefore evaluated pubertal novelty response and anxiety-like behaviour in control (C) and PS rats, and then, we examined cocaine-induced CPP in those animals during adulthood. We found no differences between C and PS groups on pubertal behaviour, however, only PS rats showed a significant cocaine-induced CPP. To further analyze our results, we classified cocaine-treated rats regarding their CPP score in Low CPP or High CPP and we then analysed their pubertal behaviour. We found different relations of anxiety-like behaviour to cocaine reward as a function of PS exposure: for C group, High CPP and Low CPP had shown similar levels of anxiety-like behaviour at puberty; on the contrary, for PS group, High CPP had shown lower anxiety-like behaviour than Low CPP rats. This study underscores the importance of considering prenatal exposure to stress when analysing the relationship between anxiety and cocaine vulnerability. Moreover, the evaluation of behavioural traits at puberty opens the possibility of early intervention and will allow the development of specific prevention strategies to avoid the devastating consequences of drug addiction later in life.

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This paper examines associations between labor market participation of Chilean mothers and the cognitive, language, and socio-economic development of their children. Using a nationally-representative sample of 3-year-old children, we test if mothers' work intensity in the two previous years is associated with child development outcomes; data were collected in 2010 when children were one year old, and again in 2012, when they were three years old. We find that children who were three years old with mothers who worked for higher fractions of their children's lives in the previous two years perform significantly better on all tests (cognitive, language, socio-emotional) than children whose mothers had worked less, while controlling for baseline test performance. These main effects did not remain significant with the inclusion of a wide range of socio-economic, demographic control variables, however. Our results were similarly null when using an IV analysis or a propensity score matching approach. We provide descriptive information on theoretical pathways by which maternal work may influence child development. Though several of these pathways (e.g. preschool, toys, maternal stress) seem to be associated with both maternal work and child development outcomes, the pathways are not sufficiently strong to generate an association between maternal work and child development. We conclude that Chilean mothers' employment in early childhood generally does not have an effect on child development.

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Many environmental conditions elevate plasma corticosterone in laying birds, leading to elevated hormone accumulation in the egg. We investigated whether maternal yolk corticosterone levels in Greater Rheas differ between fresh eggs collected from an intensive (IRS) and a semi-extensive (SRS) rearing system. After HPLC validation, yolk corticosterone was measured using a corticosterone (125) I radio-immunoassay kit. Results (mean ± SE) showed that eggs collected from the IRS exhibited a significantly higher corticosterone concentration than eggs from SRS (89.88 ± 8.93 vs. 45.41 ± 5.48 ng/g yolk, respectively). Our findings suggest that rearing conditions under an intensive scheme (e.g., small pens with bare ground, no direct foraging and handling) might be perceived as more stressful for Greater Rhea females than semi-extensive rearing conditions (e.g., low animal density distributed in extensive areas and direct foraging), which would result in the transfer of higher yolk corticosterone levels. A better understanding of environmental conditions and female traits that affect yolk corticosterone deposition provides a background for future studies concerning the roles of maternal corticosterone on offspring development. Zoo Biol. 35:246-250, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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BACKGROUND: The developmental origin of the health and disease hypothesis is based on the premise that many chronic diseases have their roots in fetal development. Specifically, maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with altered fetal development and many adverse long-term health outcomes. Although the mechanisms underlying this effect are currently unclear, at the cellular level 1 possible mediator is the regulation of telomere length. Telomere dynamics appear to play a role in disease progression, and an adverse intrauterine environment may contribute in the establishment of short telomeres in newborns. In accordance with this, it was recently reported that prenatal stress is significantly associated with shorter mean newborn telomere length. However, this finding has yet to be replicated, and currently we know nothing about whether different size classes of telomeres within the telomere length distribution are differentially affected by prenatal stress. Examining telomere length frequency distributions is important, because the shortest telomeres in the distribution appear to be the most indicative of telomere dysfunction and thus the best predictors of mortality and morbidity in humans. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of intrauterine exposure to maternal stress over the whole course of gestation on newborn mean telomere length and telomere length frequency distributions. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 24 mother-newborn dyads at an urban teaching hospital. Pregnant women with nonanomalous, uncomplicated pregnancies were recruited and assessed in the third trimester of gestation. Maternal psychosocial stress was quantified using the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale and categorized as high stress (≥300 points) or low stress (≤299 points) exposure. Newborn telomere length was measured from cord blood at delivery using the Telomere Restriction Fragment assay. RESULTS: We found a significant negative association between maternal stress and newborn telomere length (ß = -0.463, P = 0.04). Newborns whose mothers experienced a high level of stress during pregnancy had significantly shorter telomere length (6.98 ± 0.41 kb) compared to newborns of mothers with low stress (8.74 ± 0.24 kb; t = -3.99, P = .003). Moreover, the difference in newborn telomere length between high-stress and low-stress mothers was due to a shift in the telomere length distribution, with the high-stress group showing an underrepresentation of longer telomeres and an over-representation of shorter telomeres. CONCLUSION: Our findings replicate those of other recent studies and also show, for the first time, that the prenatal stress-associated difference in newborn mean telomere length is due to a shift in the overall telomere distribution.

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No presente estudo, realizado com dezesseis mães, discute-se sobre fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento do bebê, em especial, variáveis maternas e sociodemográficas. As mães responderam a uma entrevista e inventários para avaliação de ansiedade e estresse. Os bebês foram avaliados pelo Inventário Portage Operacionalizado. Os resultados apontaram correlações positivas entre ansiedade e autocuidado e negativas entre estresse materno e desenvolvimento cognitivo dos bebês. Houve correlações significantes entre idade materna e desenvolvimento motor e cognitivo no segundo mês (p=0,005; 0,013). A idade gestacional mostrou-se significante para a área motora no segundo mês de vida do bebê (p=0,026), mas a correlação foi negativa. A variável peso ao nascer apontou diferença significante e negativa para cognição no segundo mês (p=0,29) e a escolaridade materna foi significante e positiva para a área de linguagem no primeiro mês (p=0,000).Os dados referendam a importância da orientação e acompanhamento de mães durante o pós-parto...

In the present study, participated sixteen mothers. We discuss about risk factors for the development of the baby, especially main measurements maternal and sociodemographic. Mothers were interviewed and inventories to assess anxiety and stress. The babies were assessed from 'Inventário Operacionalizado Portage. The results pointed positive correlations between anxiety and self-care, and negative associations between maternal stress and cognitive development of infants. There were significant correlations between maternal age and cognitive, and motor development in the second month (p=0.005; 013). Gestational age was significant for the motor area in the second month of a baby's life (p=0.026), however this correlate was negative. The variable birth weight showed significant difference in cognition and negative in the second month (p=0.29); and maternal education was significant positive for the language area in the first month (p=0.000). These results emphasized the importance of guidance and monitoring of mothers during the postpartum...

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RESUMEN

No presente estudo, realizado com dezesseis mães, discute-se sobre fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento do bebê, em especial, variáveis maternas e sociodemográficas. As mães responderam a uma entrevista e inventários para avaliação de ansiedade e estresse. Os bebês foram avaliados pelo Inventário Portage Operacionalizado. Os resultados apontaram correlações positivas entre ansiedade e autocuidado e negativas entre estresse materno e desenvolvimento cognitivo dos bebês. Houve correlações significantes entre idade materna e desenvolvimento motor e cognitivo no segundo mês (p=0,005; 0,013). A idade gestacional mostrou-se significante para a área motora no segundo mês de vida do bebê (p=0,026), mas a correlação foi negativa. A variável peso ao nascer apontou diferença significante e negativa para cognição no segundo mês (p=0,29) e a escolaridade materna foi significante e positiva para a área de linguagem no primeiro mês (p=0,000).Os dados referendam a importância da orientação e acompanhamento de mães durante o pós-parto.(AU)

In the present study, participated sixteen mothers. We discuss about risk factors for the development of the baby, especially main measurements maternal and sociodemographic. Mothers were interviewed and inventories to assess anxiety and stress. The babies were assessed from 'Inventário Operacionalizado Portage. The results pointed positive correlations between anxiety and self-care, and negative associations between maternal stress and cognitive development of infants. There were significant correlations between maternal age and cognitive, and motor development in the second month (p=0.005; 013). Gestational age was significant for the motor area in the second month of a baby's life (p=0.026), however this correlate was negative. The variable birth weight showed significant difference in cognition and negative in the second month (p=0.29); and maternal education was significant positive for the language area in the first month (p=0.000). These results emphasized the importance of guidance and monitoring of mothers during the postpartum.(AU)

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