A feature of maternal sleep apnea during gestation causes autism-relevant neuronal and behavioral phenotypes in offspring.

ABSTRACT: Mounting epidemiologic and scientific evidence indicates that many psychiatric disorders originate from a complex interplay between genetics and early life experiences, particularly in the womb. Despite decades of research, our understanding of the precise prenatal and perinatal experiences that increase susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders remains incomplete. Sleep apnea (SA) is increasingly common during pregnancy and is characterized by recurrent partial or complete cessations in breathing during sleep. SA causes pathological drops in blood oxygen levels (intermittent hypoxia, IH), often hundreds of times each night. Although SA is known to cause adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, the long-term consequences of maternal SA during pregnancy on brain-based behavioral outcom

SUBMITTER: Vanderplow AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8812875 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature