Prenatal stress and its role in children's pathology: historical aspects and the current status of the question (review of literature)

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of fundamental data on the problem of stress and its role in the development of stressful diseases. Scientific evidence on the role of stress in childhood pathology indicates the extreme pathogenetic significance of stress. It is proved that stress has three interconnected faces: stress as a link in the adaptation mechanism, stress as a link in the pathogenesis of diseases and adaptation to stressful situations as a natural prevention of stressful diseases. The scientific substantiation of the main evolutionarily determined role of stress as an adaptation link indicates the possibility of acquiring some degree of resistance to stressful situations. Prevention of reducing the excess of stress reactions and reducing the possibility of its transformation into a link in the pathogenesis of diseases limits the complex of mechanisms designated as a stress-limiting system. Important information is the development and coordination of the stress response, which is provided by a complex set of mechanisms of neuroendocrine regulation, united by the concept of “stress-implementing system”. The most common forms of stress are fetal hypoxia, metabolic disturbances, and toxic effects leading to uncontrolled oxidative stress at the cellular and tissue levels with the development of pregnancy complications, intrauterine growth retardation syndrome (IUGR), persistent changes and pathological conditions. As the fetus grows, the flow of oxygen and nutrients from the mother through the placenta increases, which is accompanied by an increased risk of the formation of pathologies of the brain, heart, liver and kidneys with the development of a multi-organ pathology in the subsequent life. It has been proven that oxidative stress combined with stress of malnutrition in the prenatal period increases the risk of endocrinopathies, kidney diseases, and a number of other chronic diseases in the adult state. In practical terms, the negative effects of stress are of particular interest. Early detection of psychosocial and sympathomimetic factors causing stress is the basis for the prevention of childhood pathology.