Sex-Dependent Effect of a Low Neurosteroid Environment and Intrauterine Growth Restriction on Fetal Guinea Pig Brain Development

The study examined the impact of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and reduced neurosteroid levels, specifically allopregnanolone, on fetal guinea pig brain development. It found that IUGR and finasteride treatment, which inhibits allopregnanolone synthesis, led to decreased myelination and altered glial cell marker expression, indicating potential neurodevelopmental issues. The study revealed sex-specific differences, with male fetuses showing higher 5α-reductase type 1 expression. Despite unchanged brain allopregnanolone concentrations in IUGR fetuses, the reduced expression of 5α-reductase type 2 suggested a limited capacity for neurosteroid synthesis post-birth, potentially predisposing them to neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings underscored the protective role of neurosteroids in brain development and their potential in treating neurological disorders linked to perinatal stressors.