Cited by 121Neuroscience of respiration and sleepNeonatal and fetal brain pathologySleep and Wakefulness Research

Brainstem mechanisms underlying the sudden infant death syndrome: evidence from human pathologic studies

Kinney, Hannah C.·2009·Developmental Psychobiology

Abstract

The brainstem hypothesis is one of the leading hypotheses concerning the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It states that SIDS, or an important subset of SIDS, is due to abnormal brainstem mechanisms in the control of respiration, chemosensitivity, autonomic regulation, and/or arousal which impairs the infant's response to life-threatening, but often occurring, stressors during sleep (e.g., hypoxia, hypercarbia, asphyxia, hyperthermia) and leads to sudden death in a vulnerable developmental period. In this review, we summarize neuropathologic evidence from SIDS cases that support this hypothesis, beginning with the seminal report of subtle brainstem gliosis three decades ago. We focus upon recent neurochemical studies in our laboratory concerning the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) and its key role in mediating protective responses to homeostatic stressors via medullary circuits. The possible fetal origin of brainstem defects in SIDS is reviewed, including evidence for adverse effects of prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking and alcohol upon the postnatal development of human brainstem 5-HT pathways.

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Crossref · 10.1002/dev.20367

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Authors
Kinney, H. C.
Affiliations
Boston Children's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Kinney, Hannah C.
Venue
Developmental Psychobiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-02-23
Volume
51
Issue
3
Pages
223-233
ISSN
  • 0012-1630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-2302
OpenAlex
W2080768142
Cited by
121
References
92
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 9
FWCI
1.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Developmental Psychobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
Keywords
sudden infant death syndrome, serotonin, respiratory control, chemosensitivity, autonomic regulation, arousal, hypoxia, hypercapnia, prenatal alcohol exposure
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus, Autonomic Nervous System, Brain Stem, Female, Gliosis, Homeostasis, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Medulla Oblongata, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Raphe Nuclei, Receptors, Serotonin, Risk Factors, Serotonin, Sudden Infant Death, Prone Position

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