Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy represents a window of vulnerability to fetal development. Disruptions in the prenatal environment during this crucial period can increase the risk of the offspring developing diseases over the course of their lifetime. The central nervous system (CNS) has been shown to be particularly susceptible to changes during crucial developmental windows. To date, research focused on disruptions in the development of the CNS has predominantly centred on the brain, revealing a correlation between exposure to prenatal risk factors and the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, some studies indicate that the retina, which is part of the CNS, is also vulnerable to in utero alterations during pregnancy. Such changes may affect neuronal, glial and vascular components of the retina, compromising retinal structure and function and possibly impairing visual function.
METHODS: A search in the PubMed database was performed, and any literature concerning prenatal risk factors (drugs, diabetes, unbalanced diet, infection, glucocorticoids) affecting the offspring retina were included.
RESULTS: This review collects evidence on the cellular, structural and functional changes occurring in the retina triggered by maternal risk factors during pregnancy. We highlight the adverse impact on retinal development and its long-lasting effects, providing a critical analysis of the current knowledge while underlining areas for future research.
CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate recognition of the prenatal risk factors that negatively impact the developing retina may provide critical clues for the design of preventive strategies and for early therapeutic intervention that could change retinal pathology in the progeny.
摘要:
背景:妊娠代表了胎儿发育的脆弱性窗口。在这一关键时期,产前环境的中断会增加后代在其一生中患疾病的风险。中枢神经系统(CNS)已被证明在关键的发育窗口期间特别容易受到变化的影响。迄今为止,集中于中枢神经系统发育中断的研究主要集中在大脑上,揭示暴露于产前危险因素与神经精神疾病发病之间的相关性。然而,一些研究表明视网膜,它是中枢神经系统的一部分,在怀孕期间也容易受到子宫内改变的影响。这种变化可能会影响神经元,视网膜的胶质和血管成分,损害视网膜结构和功能,并可能损害视觉功能。
方法:在PubMed数据库中进行搜索,以及任何有关产前危险因素的文献(药物,糖尿病,不均衡的饮食,感染,包括影响后代视网膜的糖皮质激素)。
结果:这篇综述收集了关于细胞,妊娠期间由母体危险因素引发的视网膜结构和功能变化。我们强调了对视网膜发育的不利影响及其长期影响,提供对当前知识的批判性分析,同时强调未来研究的领域。
结论:对对发育中的视网膜产生负面影响的产前危险因素的适当识别可能为设计预防策略和早期治疗干预提供关键线索,这些干预可能会改变子代视网膜病理。