Laboratorio de Psiconeuroendocrinoinmunologia, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires C1107AFF, Argentina.
Cells. 2023 Jun 28;12(13):1735. doi: 10.3390/cells12131735.
The term 'perinatal environment' refers to the period surrounding birth, which plays a crucial role in brain development. It has been suggested that dynamic communication between the neuro-immune system and gut microbiota is essential in maintaining adequate brain function. This interaction depends on the mother's status during pregnancy and/or the newborn environment. Here, we show experimental and clinical evidence that indicates that the perinatal period is a critical window in which stress-induced immune activation and altered microbiota compositions produce lasting behavioral consequences, although a clear causative relationship has not yet been established. In addition, we discuss potential early treatments for preventing the deleterious effect of perinatal stress exposure. In this sense, early environmental enrichment exposure (including exercise) and melatonin use in the perinatal period could be valuable in improving the negative consequences of early adversities. The evidence presented in this review encourages the realization of studies investigating the beneficial role of melatonin administration and environmental enrichment exposure in mitigating cognitive alteration in offspring under perinatal stress exposure. On the other hand, direct evidence of microbiota restoration as the main mechanism behind the beneficial effects of this treatment has not been fully demonstrated and should be explored in future studies.
“围产期环境”是指围绕出生的时期，它在大脑发育中起着至关重要的作用。有研究表明，神经-免疫系统和肠道微生物群之间的动态交流对于维持大脑功能的正常运转至关重要。这种相互作用取决于孕妇在怀孕期间的状态和/或新生儿所处的环境。在这里，我们展示了实验和临床证据，表明围产期是一个关键时期，在此期间，应激引起的免疫激活和微生物群落组成的改变会产生持久的行为后果，尽管尚未建立明确的因果关系。此外，我们还讨论了预防围产期应激暴露产生有害影响的潜在早期治疗方法。在这个意义上，围产期的早期环境丰富暴露（包括运动）和褪黑素的使用可能有助于改善早期逆境的负面影响。本综述中提出的证据鼓励开展研究，以调查褪黑素给药和环境丰富暴露在减轻围产期应激暴露后代认知改变方面的有益作用。另一方面，作为这种治疗有益效果的主要机制的微生物群恢复的直接证据尚未得到充分证明，应该在未来的研究中进行探索。
