Maternal stress exposure in gestational period modulates pain sensitivity in the offspring

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23039
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: SOMA Kumi 日本大学, 歯学部, 専修医 (50875820)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 胎生期母体ストレス / 三叉神経節 / serotonin / Nav 1.8

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Stress exposure in pregnant women affects the development of nerve system in their children. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the changes in facial pain sensitivity and the pathogenesis mechanism in the offspring of rats following maternal stress exposure in gestational period. The study demonstrated that the maternal stress exposure induced mechanical allodynia in the offspring at 7-weeks-old via a serotonin receptor 5-HT3 and tetrodotoxin-resistant voltage-gated sodium channel 1.8 in the trigeminal ganglion. The results suggest that maternal stress exposure in gestational period induces long-lasting facial mechanical pain hypersensitivity in the offspring.

Free Research Field

小児歯科学、口腔生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、妊娠中のストレス負荷による口腔顔面領域における胎児の痛覚情報伝達機構への影響については不明であった。本研究により、胎児期における母体ストレスが生後の異常疼痛の発症を引き起こすメカニズムの一端が明らかになったことから、母体へのストレス負荷が誘因と考えられる患児に対する異常疼痛発症予防への応用が期待できる。将来、末梢神経系のセロトニンやNav1.8をターゲットとした薬物治療により、胎生期母体ストレスに起因した異常疼痛発症の抑制に役立つ可能性がある。