Impaired development of fetal serotonergic neurons in intrauterine growth restricted baboons

Background: Famine and poor maternal nutrition have been associated with an increased risk for offspring developing psychiatric disorders later in life. Interestingly, impaired serotonergic signaling has been implicated in the etiology of multiple psychiatric conditions. Methods: We studied development of the fetal serotonergic central nervous system in a baboon, non-human primate model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Results and Conclusions: Fetal (90% of full-term) IUGR brains were comparable in size to controls, but have reduced expression of serotonergic proteins and mRNAs, as well as having fewer serotonergic neurons.