Prenatal Stress Disrupts Reproductive Behavior and Physiology in Offspring

Abstract

Prenatal maternal stress has been related to neonatal activity and irritability in both lower animals and humans in documented research for at least the past 30 years. Contemporary animal research demonstrates that prenatal stress feminizes and demasculinizes the sexual behavior of males and reduces fertility and fecundity in females, producing estrous cycle disorders, spontaneous abortions, or vaginal hemorrhaging and high neonatal mortality. Mechanisms of stress are being sought in the maternal-fetal blood exchange, hormonal alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonads and adrenals, and in brain catecholamines. Contemporary human research demonstrates that negative maternal attitudes toward pregnancy are related to high incidences of congenital abnormalities and infant deaths. Severe psychosocial stress is related to high incidences of neonatal deaths and neurological impairments in infants, and a high incidence of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Data derived from both animal and human research may help explain the etiology and mechanisms of prenatal-stress-induced reproductive dysfunctions as well as some forms of human psychopathology.