How maternal stress and serotonin levels affect the development and resilience of offspring
Investigating how stress induced changes in maternal serotonin affect offspring development and stress resilience
This study looks at how stress in mothers can change serotonin levels and affect their babies' development and ability to handle stress, using tiny worms to understand the science behind it, which could help us learn more about mood issues in kids born to stressed moms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11054571 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of maternal stress on serotonin levels and how these changes influence the development and stress resilience of offspring. Using the model organism C. elegans, the study explores the molecular mechanisms by which maternal serotonin affects chromatin in pre-fertilized oocytes. The researchers aim to understand how stress-induced serotonin release from maternal neurons can modify genetic expression and potentially lead to long-term effects on offspring health. This work could provide insights into the epigenetic factors that contribute to mood disorders in children born to stressed mothers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals experiencing high levels of stress or those with a history of mood disorders.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or those without a history of stress-related mood disorders may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for mood disorders in children affected by maternal stress.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in understanding the effects of maternal health on offspring development, but this specific approach using C. elegans is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Buffalo, United States
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp — Buffalo, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prahlad, Veena — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Prahlad, Veena
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.