placenta

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placenta

This shows a pregnant woman's body and a pair of blue baby booties

·April 26, 2022·7 min read

Boys Are More Demanding Than Girls Before They Are Born

Women expecting male babies often face more complications during pregnancy. Researchers found the sex of a baby affects how well the placenta functions, along with other factors including maternal stress and diet-induced maternal obesity. Designing individual plans and encouraging women to make lifestyle choices based on their child's sex could provide long-term health benefits and reduce complications during pregnancy.

This shows a drawing of a baby and a placenta

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 11, 2022·4 min read

Air Pollution Can Harm Pregnancy by Affecting Gene Expression in the Placenta

Study reveals significant changes in the expression of multiple genes in the placenta associated with exposure to UFP air pollution. Additionally, researchers reported noticeable reductions in fetal and placental length, and fetal weight in those with low dose UFP exposure.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 21, 2021·3 min read

New Mothers Could Help Protect Other Babies’ Brains

Stem cells collected from the placentas of women who gave birth to healthy babies could reduce neuroinflammation and reduce brain injury in growth-restricted babies.

This is a drawing of a baby and a placenta

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·February 8, 2021·5 min read

Specific Genes in Placenta May Predict Size of Baby’s Brain and Risk for Schizophrenia

Genes found in the placenta can accurately help predict the size of a baby's brain and its cognitive development, which, depending on other factors, could predict risk factors for schizophrenia in later life.

This shows a pregnant woman in a hospital bed

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 22, 2020·5 min read

Placentas from COVID-19-positive pregnant women show injury

The placentas of sixteen women who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy showed evidence of significant injury, a new study reports. The placental injuries were consistent with abnormal blood flow between mother and baby in-utero, suggesting another complication of coronavirus infection in pregnant women.

This shows a drawing of a fetus attached to a placenta

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 27, 2019·3 min read

Placental protein makes a critical contribution to healthy fetal development

Study reveals how a protein that transports essential amino acids across the placenta plays a role in fetal development. Deficiencies of the SNAT4 protein may result in developmental abnormalities and a higher risk of miscarriage.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·October 21, 2019·2 min read

Autism spectrum disorder risk linked to insufficient placental steroid

When the hormone allopregnanolone (ALLO) abruptly decreases or stops during pregnancy, children are more likely to develop autism. Researchers report a single ALLO injection during pregnancy can avert the brain abnormalities and social behaviors associated with ASD in experimental mouse models of autism.

This is a drawing of a fetus attached to a placenta

Featured Neuroscience

·June 18, 2019·5 min read

New evidence supports the presence of microbes in the placenta

Microbes found in the placenta may play a key role in shaping the developing fetal immune system.

This is a super cute newborn baby smiling

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 13, 2019·4 min read

How is a mother’s immunity transferred to her baby?

Study reveals how a pregnant woman's vaccine-induced immunities are transferred to her offspring via the placenta. The findings have positive implications for the development of new, more effective maternal vaccines.

This shows bacteria and a pregnant woman

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 12, 2019·4 min read

Women caught in a pickle by their own immune systems

Pregnancy Compensation Hypothesis may explain why women are more prone to developing autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, than men.

This shows the lead research looking after a baby in a neonatal ward

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 27, 2019·3 min read

Placental function linked to brain injuries associated with autism

Disruptions in the supply of allopregnanolone, a hormone created by the placenta late in pregnancy, to the developing fetus can leave children more vulnerable to brain injuries associated with ASD. Losing the supply of ALLO alters cerebellar development, an area of the brain critical for motor coordination and social cognition, impacting the post-birth development of cerebellar white matter. An experimental model revealed deficient cerebellar white matter resulted in social impairments and an increase in repetitive behaviors, two hallmark features associated with autism.

a fetus with a placenta attached drawing

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 28, 2018·5 min read

Placenta May Be Missing Link in Schizophrenia

A new study reveals, in combination to genetics and environmental factors, placenta health during fetal development may play a role in schizophrenia. Researchers report genes associated with schizophrenia may turn on in the placenta during complicated pregnancies.

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