RT Journal Article
T1 Disrupted Circadian Rhythm as a Common Player in Developmental Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders
A1 Marco López, Eva María
A1 Velarde, Elena
A1 Llorente, Ricardo
A1 Laviola, Giovanni
AB The environment in which individuals develop and mature is critical for their physiological and psychological outcome; in particular, the intrauterine environment has reached far more clinical relevance given its potential influence on shaping brain function and thus mental health. Gestational stress and/or maternal infection during pregnancy has been related with an increased incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. In this framework, the use of animal models has allowed a formal and deep investigation of causal determinants. Despite disruption of circadian clocks often represents a hallmark of several neuropsychiatric disorders, the relationship between disruption of brain development and the circadian system has been scarcely investigated. Nowadays, there is an increasing amount of studies suggesting a link between circadian system malfunction, early-life insults and the appearance of neuropsychiatric diseases at adulthood. Here, we briefly review evidence from clinical literature and animal models suggesting that the exposure to prenatal insults, i.e. severe gestational stress or maternal immune activation, changes the foetal hormonal milieu increasing the circulating levels of both glucocorticoids and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These two biological events have been reported to affect genes expression in experimental models and critically interfere with brain development triggering and/or exacerbating behavioural anomalies in the offspring. Herein, we highlight the importance.
PB Springer
SN 1866-3370
YR 2016
FD 2016
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/23356
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/23356
LA eng
DS Docta Complutense
RD 3 may 2024