The contribution of prenatal stress to the pathogenesis of autism as a neurobiological developmental disorder : a dizygotic twin study

dc.contributor.authorClaassen, M.
dc.contributor.authorNaude, H.
dc.contributor.authorPretorius, Etheresia
dc.contributor.authorBosman, Marius C.
dc.contributor.emailresia.pretorius@up.ac.zaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-05-27T05:40:17Z
dc.date.available2009-05-27T05:40:17Z
dc.date.issued2008-07
dc.description.abstractThis paper reports on the contribution of prenatal stress to the pathogenesis of autism as a neurobiological developmental disorder in a dizygotic study. The aim was to explore whether the neurobiological impact of stress prior to week 28 of gestation might be related to the pathogenesis of autism. The following data-generating strategies were employed: a diagnostic stress inventory, the 16-Personality Factor Questionnaire, magnetic resonance imaging and blood plasma sampling. It was found that maternal stress during pregnancy may have produced elevated leucocytes and glucocorticoids during gestation, because stress affects cellular immunity due to involvement of the hipothalamic–pituary–adrenal axis. These were implicated in suboptimal placental functioning, heightened exposure of the foetus to glucocorticoids and altered neural development. The autistic subject’s blood plasma pathology results showed elevated glucocorticoids and serotonin. Significant cortisol and serotonin differences were noted in the blood plasma pathology results of the autistic subject and the control. Hyperserotonemia and elevated glucocorticoids were therefore implicated in altered programmed neural development, as suggested by the autistic subject’s magnetic resonance images. Differences in head circumference were also noted. It was concluded that prenatal maternal stress might have significantly contributed to the pathogenesis of autism.en_US
dc.identifier.citationClaassen, M, Naude, H, Pretorius, E & Bosman, MC 2008, 'The contribution of prenatal stress to the pathogenesis of autism as a neurobiological developmental disorder : a dizygotic twin study', Early Child Development and Care, vol. 178, no. 5, pp. 487-511. [http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/03004430.asp]en_US
dc.identifier.issn0300-4430
dc.identifier.other10.1080/03004430600851173
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/10154
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTaylor & Francisen_US
dc.rightsTaylor & Francis. This is an electronic version of an article published in Early Child Development and Care, vol. 178, no. 5, pp. 487 — 511, 2008. Early Child Development and Care is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713640830~db=all.en_US
dc.subjectAutismen_US
dc.subjectDevelopmental disorderen_US
dc.subjectDizygotic twin studyen_US
dc.subjectGlucocorticoidsen_US
dc.subjectPathogenesisen_US
dc.subjectPrenatal stressen_US
dc.subjectSerotoninen_US
dc.subject.lcshAutism in childrenen
dc.subject.lcshPrenatal influencesen
dc.subject.lcshDevelopmental neurobiologyen
dc.subject.lcshPediatric neuropsychologyen
dc.titleThe contribution of prenatal stress to the pathogenesis of autism as a neurobiological developmental disorder : a dizygotic twin studyen_US
dc.typePostprint Articleen_US

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