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Placental mechanisms underlying the effects of maternal stress on the fetal development

HUA Tian-Zhen¹, GAO Ling-Tong¹, ZHANG Zhi-Yu², ZHAO Hou-Ming¹, GAO Lu^1,3,4,*

¹Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China；²Department of Health Management, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China；³Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China；⁴Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200000, China

Abstract

Placenta is the only link between the pregnant woman and fetus, and the basis for maintaining the normal pregnancy process and fetal development. Maternal stress is the maternal physiological and psychological changes caused by various factors, characterized by the increased level of glucocorticoid, which affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-target gland axis and regulates the expression of target genes. Maternal stress also changes the weight, metabolism and nutrient transportation of the placenta, which will substantially influence the development of fetus. This paper will firstly summarize the characteristics of maternal stress and its influence on offspring. Then, the changes in the body under maternal stress will be described. Finally, we will clarify the proven mechanisms underlying maternal stress and raise some important problems that have not been clarified in this area. The study of maternal stress on fetus and its underlying mechanisms will serve as theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of the stress- related pregnant diseases and disorders.

Key words: maternal stress; placenta; fetal development; glucocorticoid; hypothalamic-pituitary-target gland axis

Received: 2020-09-26　　Accepted: 2021-02-08

Corresponding author: 高路　　E-mail: roadgao@163.com

Citing This Article：

HUA Tian-Zhen, GAO Ling-Tong, ZHANG Zhi-Yu, ZHAO Hou-Ming, GAO Lu. Placental mechanisms underlying the effects of maternal stress on the fetal development. Acta Physiol Sin 2021; 73 (6): 991-998 (in Chinese with English abstract).