Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and Rodents

Many children suffer from neurodevelopmental aberrations that have long-term effects. To understand the consequences of pathological processes during particular periods in neurodevelopment, one has to understand the differences in the developmental timelines of brain regions. The cerebellum is one o...

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Main Authors: Judith A. W. Westerhuis, Jeroen Dudink, Bente E. C. A. Wijnands, Chris I. De Zeeuw, Cathrin B. Canto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/22/1911
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author Judith A. W. Westerhuis
Jeroen Dudink
Bente E. C. A. Wijnands
Chris I. De Zeeuw
Cathrin B. Canto
author_facet Judith A. W. Westerhuis
Jeroen Dudink
Bente E. C. A. Wijnands
Chris I. De Zeeuw
Cathrin B. Canto
author_sort Judith A. W. Westerhuis
collection DOAJ
description Many children suffer from neurodevelopmental aberrations that have long-term effects. To understand the consequences of pathological processes during particular periods in neurodevelopment, one has to understand the differences in the developmental timelines of brain regions. The cerebellum is one of the first brain structures to differentiate during development but one of the last to achieve maturity. This relatively long period of development underscores its vulnerability to detrimental environmental exposures throughout gestation. Moreover, as postnatal functionality of the cerebellum is multifaceted, enveloping sensorimotor, cognitive, and emotional domains, prenatal disruptions in cerebellar development can result in a large variety of neurological and mental health disorders. Here, we review major intrauterine insults that affect cerebellar development in both humans and rodents, ranging from abuse of toxic chemical agents, such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids, to stress, malnutrition, and infections. Understanding these pathological mechanisms in the context of the different stages of cerebellar development in humans and rodents can help us to identify critical and vulnerable periods and thereby prevent the risk of associated prenatal and early postnatal damage that can lead to lifelong neurological and cognitive disabilities. The aim of the review is to raise awareness and to provide information for obstetricians and other healthcare professionals to eventually design strategies for preventing or rescuing related neurodevelopmental disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-3e91d6f4b5924f2abd3f637c407d664e2025-08-20T01:53:53ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092024-11-011322191110.3390/cells13221911Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and RodentsJudith A. W. Westerhuis0Jeroen Dudink1Bente E. C. A. Wijnands2Chris I. De Zeeuw3Cathrin B. Canto4Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 EA Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 EA Utrecht, The NetherlandsNetherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The NetherlandsNetherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The NetherlandsMany children suffer from neurodevelopmental aberrations that have long-term effects. To understand the consequences of pathological processes during particular periods in neurodevelopment, one has to understand the differences in the developmental timelines of brain regions. The cerebellum is one of the first brain structures to differentiate during development but one of the last to achieve maturity. This relatively long period of development underscores its vulnerability to detrimental environmental exposures throughout gestation. Moreover, as postnatal functionality of the cerebellum is multifaceted, enveloping sensorimotor, cognitive, and emotional domains, prenatal disruptions in cerebellar development can result in a large variety of neurological and mental health disorders. Here, we review major intrauterine insults that affect cerebellar development in both humans and rodents, ranging from abuse of toxic chemical agents, such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids, to stress, malnutrition, and infections. Understanding these pathological mechanisms in the context of the different stages of cerebellar development in humans and rodents can help us to identify critical and vulnerable periods and thereby prevent the risk of associated prenatal and early postnatal damage that can lead to lifelong neurological and cognitive disabilities. The aim of the review is to raise awareness and to provide information for obstetricians and other healthcare professionals to eventually design strategies for preventing or rescuing related neurodevelopmental disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/22/1911cerebellumdevelopmentintrauterine insultsalcohol drug abusenicotinestress
spellingShingle Judith A. W. Westerhuis
Jeroen Dudink
Bente E. C. A. Wijnands
Chris I. De Zeeuw
Cathrin B. Canto
Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and Rodents
Cells
cerebellum
development
intrauterine insults
alcohol drug abuse
nicotine
stress
title Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and Rodents
title_full Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and Rodents
title_fullStr Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and Rodents
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and Rodents
title_short Impact of Intrauterine Insults on Fetal and Postnatal Cerebellar Development in Humans and Rodents
title_sort impact of intrauterine insults on fetal and postnatal cerebellar development in humans and rodents
topic cerebellum
development
intrauterine insults
alcohol drug abuse
nicotine
stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/13/22/1911
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