Stress in utero: prenatal dexamethasone exposure causes greater structural gliovascular alterations in female offspring than in males.

ABSTRACT: From early in life, experiences like prenatal stress profoundly affect long-term health and behavior. Fetal exposure to increased levels of glucocorticoids (GC), via maternal stress or through antenatal corticosteroid therapy (commonly used in women at risk of preterm birth), can disrupt brain development and raise the susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. Previous studies on prenatal exposure to synthetic GCs, such as dexamethasone (DEX), revealed impairments in neurogenesis and dendritic spine development. However, the impact of prenatal stress, specifically antenatal DEX exposure, on the gliovascular interface remains unclear. This interface, involving the relationship between astrocytes and blood vessels, is essential for healthy brain development. Astrocytic endfeet coverage and or

SUBMITTER: Ferreira-Rodrigues M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11973320 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature