title: Fetal exposure to placental corticotropin-releasing hormone is associated with child self-reported internalizing symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fetal exposure to maternal prenatal stress hormones such as cortisol exerts influences on the developing nervous system that persist and include risk for internalizing symptoms later in life. Placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) is a feto-placental stress signal that also shapes fetal neurodevelopment and may be a more direct indicator of the fetal experience than maternal stress hormones. The programming effects of pCRH on child development are unknown. The current investigation examined associations between prenatal maternal and placental stress hormone exposures (maternal cortisol and pCRH) and child self-reported internalizing symptoms at age 5.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal plasma cortisol and pCRH levels were measured at 15, 19, 25, 31, and 36 weeks' gestation in a sample of 83 women and their 91 children (8 sibling pairs from separate pregnancies), who were born full-term. Child self-reported internalizing symptoms at age 5 were obtained using scales of the Berkeley Puppet Interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Placental CRH profiles (including elevations in mid-gestation) were associated with higher levels of internalizing symptoms at age 5. This effect was not explained by critical prenatal or postnatal influences, including obstetric risk, concurrent maternal psychological state, and family socio-economic status. Prenatal maternal cortisol was not significantly associated with child self-reported internalizing symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that elevated exposures to the feto-placental stress signal pCRH exert programming effects on the developing fetal central nervous system, with lasting consequences for child mental health.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. Electronic address: mahowlan@uci.edu.
authors: Mariann A
authors: MA
authors: Howland
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors: Curt A
authors: CA
authors: Sandman
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors: Laura M
authors: LM
authors: Glynn
authors: Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Crippen
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA.
authors: Elysia Poggi
authors: EP
authors: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: CRH; Cortisol; Fetal programming; Internalizing problems; Pregnancy; Prenatal