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Perinatal maternal stress and serotonin signaling: Effects on pain sensitivity in offspring
Author(s) -
Knaepen Liesbeth,
Pawluski Jodi L.,
Patijn Jacob,
van Kleef Maarten,
Tibboel Dick,
Joosten Elbert A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.21184
Subject(s) - offspring , serotonin , pregnancy , depression (economics) , medicine , maternal sensitivity , serotonin reuptake inhibitor , psychology , developmental psychology , receptor , biology , genetics , macroeconomics , economics
It has been estimated that 20% of pregnant women are facing perinatal stress and depression. Perinatal maternal stress has been shown to increase pain sensitivity in offspring. For the treatment of their depressive symptoms, pregnant women are frequently prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Since the descending pain inhibitory circuit matures perinatally, perinatal SSRI exposure has been shown to affect pain sensitivity in offspring. In the present review, we summarize experimental and clinical evidence for the effect of perinatal maternal stress and SSRI exposure on pain sensitivity in offspring. Both experimental and clinical studies show the effect of perinatal maternal stress on regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) system and the serotonin pain inhibitory system. Alterations in these two systems likely underlie long‐term alterations in the development of pain sensitivity. This review sheds light on the effect of perinatal maternal stress and treatment with SSRIs on offspring pain sensitivity, in relation to the developing HPA system and 5‐HT signaling. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 885–896, 2014.