A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Prenatal maternal depressive symptoms are associated with neonatal left amygdala microstructure in a sex-dependent way
Authors: Hashempour N, Tuulari JJ, Merisaari H, Acosta H, Lewis JD, Pelto J, Scheinin NM, Fonov VS, Collins DL, Lehtola SJ, Saunavaara J, Lähdesmäki T, Parkkola R, Karlsson L, Karlsson H
Publisher: WILEY
Publication year: 2023
Journal: European Journal of Neuroscience
Journal name in source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Journal acronym: EUR J NEUROSCI
Volume: 57
Issue: 10
First page : 1671
Last page: 1688
Number of pages: 18
ISSN: 0953-816X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.15989
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.15989
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/179739435
Exposures to prenatal maternal depressive symptoms (PMDS) may lead to neurodevelopmental changes in the offspring in a sex-dependent way. Although a connection between PMDS and infant brain development has been established by earlier studies, the relationship between PMDS exposures measured at various prenatal stages and microstructural alterations in fundamental subcortical structures such as the amygdala remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the associations between PMDS measured during gestational weeks 14, 24 and 34 and infant amygdala microstructural properties using diffusion tensor imaging. We explored amygdala mean diffusivity (MD) alterations in response to PMDS in infants aged 11 to 54 days from birth. PMDS had no significant main effect on the amygdala MD metrics. However, there was a significant interaction effect for PMDS and infant sex in the left amygdala MD. Compared with girls, boys exposed to greater PMDS during gestational week 14 showed significantly higher left amygdala MD. These results indicate that PMDS are linked to infants' amygdala microstructure in boys. These associations may be relevant to later neuropsychiatric outcomes in the offspring. Further research is required to better understand the mechanisms underlying these associations and to develop effective interventions to counteract any potential adverse consequences.
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