Prenatal stress and inhibitory neuron systems: implications for neuropsychiatric disorders

• Published in: Molecular psychiatry Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 641 - 651
• Main Authors: Fine, R, Zhang, J, Stevens, H E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-06-2014; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/1831; 692/420; 692/499; 692/699/476; Animals; Autism; Behavioral Sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Psychology; Brain - growth & development; Brain - physiopathology; Brain research; Female; Gene expression; General aspects; Gilles de la Tourette syndrome; Humans; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - physiopathology; Neural Inhibition - physiology; Neural Pathways - growth & development; Neural Pathways - physiopathology; Neurons; Neurosciences; Pathophysiology; Pharmacotherapy; Pregnancy; Prenatal experience; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - physiopathology; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; review; Risk factors; Schizophrenia; Transcription factors; United States > US; Prenatal; Mental disorder; Neuron; Inhibition; Neuropsychiatry; Stress
• ISSN: 1359-4184; 1476-5578
• DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.35

Prenatal stress is a risk factor for several psychiatric disorders in which inhibitory neuron pathology is implicated. A growing body of research demonstrates that inhibitory circuitry in the brain is directly and persistently affected by prenatal stress. This review synthesizes research that explores how this early developmental risk factor impacts inhibitory neurons and how these findings intersect with research on risk factors and inhibitory neuron pathophysiology in schizophrenia, anxiety, autism and Tourette syndrome. The specific impact of prenatal stress on inhibitory neurons, particularly developmental mechanisms, may elucidate further the pathophysiology of these disorders.