Graney Paige L, Sarno Evelyn L, Miller Jessie E, Wagner Christine K
Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience Research, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA.
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York, USA.
Neuroendocrinology. 2025;115(8):678-688. doi: 10.1159/000546356. Epub 2025 May 21.
17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) is prescribed to pregnant individuals at risk for preterm birth during critical periods of fetal cortical maturation. Yet the potential long-term effects of 17-OHPC on neural and behavioral development in children are unknown. Nuclear progesterone receptor (PR) is expressed in all functional regions of rat cortex during development. The hypothesis that developmental exposure to 17-OHPC alters sensorimotor development was tested.
Sensorimotor behaviors were observed in neonates administered 17-OHPC from the day of birth through postnatal day 11, and PR was quantified in cortex at P11.
17-OHPC administration resulted in a disruption in sensorimotor indicators of typical brain development, without affecting gross motor function. 17-OHPC-exposed rats had significantly fewer PR-immunoreactive nuclei in somatosensory cortex.
These findings demonstrate that 17-OHPC exposure during critical periods of cortical development may impact sensorimotor development and cortical sensitivity to progestins, highlighting the need for further investigation on the clinical implications of this progestin.
己酸17-α-羟孕酮（17-OHPC）被开给在胎儿皮质成熟关键期有早产风险的孕妇。然而，17-OHPC对儿童神经和行为发育的潜在长期影响尚不清楚。核孕酮受体（PR）在大鼠发育过程中的皮质所有功能区域均有表达。本研究检验了发育过程中暴露于17-OHPC会改变感觉运动发育的假说。
观察从出生日至出生后第11天给予17-OHPC的新生儿的感觉运动行为，并在出生后第11天对皮质中的PR进行定量。
给予17-OHPC导致典型脑发育的感觉运动指标受到干扰，但不影响粗大运动功能。暴露于17-OHPC的大鼠体感皮质中PR免疫反应阳性核显著减少。
这些发现表明，在皮质发育关键期暴露于17-OHPC可能会影响感觉运动发育以及皮质对孕激素的敏感性，凸显了对这种孕激素的临床意义进行进一步研究的必要性。
