PlacentalNeural Cross Talk: Biological Mechanisms Shaping Brain Architecture

Impact of placental function on normal and pathological brain processes and supported behavior is an integrative research area dubbed "neuroplacentology." Placental functional genetics, structure, and vascular function have been discovered to have links to multiple clinical outcomes: autism, schizophrenia, and developmental cognitive impairment in offspring and postpartum depression and cognition in mothers. There are significant data showing that long-term impacts of preterm birth, diseases of pregnancy (preeclampsia), and maternal stress and depression may all be mediated by placental mechanisms, providing clinical and translational insights. Here, we will provide an up-to-date introduction to this emerging field. Mechanistic links between variations in placental structure and function and features of human and animal brain development and function will be discussed, clarifying basic biological connections and highlighting new targets to prevent clinical impairments.