Stress pathway dysregulation is the most pervasive symptom in neuropsychiatric disease, yet we understand little as to the developmental programming and maturation of this system and the sensitive periods during which perturbations may be disruptive. Stress during pregnancy has been strongly associated with an increased incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and autism. We have developed a mouse model of early prenatal stress in which male offspring present with increased stress sensitivity. Mechanisms for how stress during pregnancy contributes to reprogramming of stress pathways likely involve complex connections between the maternal and fetal environments. One such interaction that has not been explored is the effect of prenatal stress on the vaginal microbiome. As the neonatal gut is initially populated from the maternal vaginal microbiome, changes in the vaginal ecology produced by maternal stress will similarly affect this microbial population. Hence, such changes in neonatal gut microbial diversity could impact neurodevelopmental processes via changes in vital nutrient metabolism and absorption. Therefore, our proposal will utilize our mouse model of early prenatal stress to examine: 1) the effects of stress on the maternal vaginal and pup gut microbiome composition, including changes in relative Lactobacillus levels and beta diversity using MiSeq technology, 2) mechanisms by which the microbiome is involved in neurodevelopmental programming through direct manipulation of the microbiome to rescue and recapitulate aspects of the EPS phenotype and effects on hypothalamic development, and 3) epigenetic mechanisms by which the pup gut microbiome reprograms the hypothalamus, focusing on metabolomics outcomes linked with functional gene sets and examining their upstream epigenetic marks.

Public Health Relevance

In our established mouse model of early prenatal stress (EPS), we have demonstrated long-term programming effects on offspring stress pathway neurodevelopment, with hallmarks predictive of an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. We hypothesize that there is an important interaction between maternal stress and the maternal vaginal microbiome, and consequently the pup gut microbiome, with the potential to significantly affect offspring neurodevelopment through alterations in postnatal nutrient metabolism and absorption. Therefore, we will use our EPS model to examine changes and interactions between the vaginal and gut microbial diversity, pup metabolomics, and gene expression and epigenetic programming of the hypothalamus.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21MH104184-01
Application #
8749104
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMH1-ERB-M (04))
Program Officer
Desmond, Nancy L
Project Start
2014-08-08
Project End
2016-07-31
Budget Start
2014-08-08
Budget End
2015-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$279,998
Indirect Cost
$104,999
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Veterinary Sciences
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Nugent, Bridget M; O'Donnell, Carly M; Epperson, C Neill et al. (2018) Placental H3K27me3 establishes female resilience to prenatal insults. Nat Commun 9:2555
Chan, Jennifer C; Nugent, Bridget M; Bale, Tracy L (2018) Parental Advisory: Maternal and Paternal Stress Can Impact Offspring Neurodevelopment. Biol Psychiatry 83:886-894
Bronson, Stefanie L; Chan, Jennifer C; Bale, Tracy L (2017) Sex-Specific Neurodevelopmental Programming by Placental Insulin Receptors on Stress Reactivity and Sensorimotor Gating. Biol Psychiatry 82:127-138
Morrison, Kathleen E; Epperson, C Neill; Sammel, Mary D et al. (2017) Preadolescent Adversity Programs a Disrupted Maternal Stress Reactivity in Humans and Mice. Biol Psychiatry 81:693-701
Morrison, Kathleen E; Narasimhan, Sneha; Fein, Ethan et al. (2016) Peripubertal Stress With Social Support Promotes Resilience in the Face of Aging. Endocrinology 157:2002-14
Bronson, Stefanie L; Bale, Tracy L (2016) The Placenta as a Mediator of Stress Effects on Neurodevelopmental Reprogramming. Neuropsychopharmacology 41:207-18
Jašarevi?, Eldin; Morrison, Kathleen E; Bale, Tracy L (2016) Sex differences in the gut microbiome-brain axis across the lifespan. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 371:20150122
Jašarevi?, Eldin; Howerton, Christopher L; Howard, Christopher D et al. (2015) Alterations in the Vaginal Microbiome by Maternal Stress Are Associated With Metabolic Reprogramming of the Offspring Gut and Brain. Endocrinology 156:3265-76
Bale, Tracy L; Epperson, C Neill (2015) Sex differences and stress across the lifespan. Nat Neurosci 18:1413-20
Rodgers, Ali B; Bale, Tracy L (2015) Germ Cell Origins of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Risk: The Transgenerational Impact of Parental Stress Experience. Biol Psychiatry 78:307-14

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