Prenatal Stress Alters Bacterial Colonization of the Gut in Infant Monkeys
Open accessAbstract
Objective The hypothesis that prenatal stress lowers the levels of protective microflora and increases the risk for postpartum Gram-negative pathogens was tested in infant monkeys. Methods Female monkeys were left undisturbed or were stressed during pregnancy using an acoustical startle paradigm for 6 weeks either early or late in their 24-week gestation. Several types of intestinal microflora were repeatedly enumerated by fecal culture while infants were reared normally by their mothers. Results Significant changes in microflora concentrations occurred during the first 6 months of life. The profile of total aerobes and facultative anaerobes was biphasic, with peak concentrations occurring between 2 and 16 weeks of age. The numbers of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were low at 2 days after birth but rapidly increased to a peak between 8 and 16 weeks of age. Although similar temporal patterns were evident in all infants, prenatal stress reduced the overall numbers of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Conclusions Moderate disturbance during pregnancy was sufficient to alter the intestinal microflora in the newborn infant. These alterations could result in enhanced susceptibility to infection and suggest a mechanism for some effects of maternal pregnancy conditions on infant health.
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Both prenatal and postnatal stress were associated with transient reductions in the levels of the enteric microbiota in rhesus monkeys.
“Both pre natal17 and postnatal stress16 were associated with transient reductions in the levels of the enteric microbiota in rhesus monkeys.”
From Principles and clinical implications of the brain-gut-enteric microbiota axis (2009) · cites this paper as [17]
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- Authors
- Bailey, M. T., Lubach, G. R., & Coe, C. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bailey, Michael T.
- Venue
- Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 414-421
- ISSN
- 0277-2116 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2057396462
- Cited by
- 339
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 2.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5f31mh012458-03, AI46521)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH 12458)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI046521, AI46521)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Keywords
- prenatal stress, gut microbiota, intestinal colonization, infant monkeys, Bifidobacterium, lactobacilli, Gram-negative pathogens, maternal stress, fecal microbiota
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Newborn, Bacteria, Aerobic, Bacteria, Anaerobic, Bacterial Adhesion, Bifidobacterium, Feces, Female, Hydrocortisone, Lactobacillus, Macaca mulatta, Male, Pregnancy, Stem Cells, Stress, Psychological
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