Published online Apr 15, 2015. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v6.i3.412
Peer-review started: August 31, 2014
First decision: October 14, 2014
Revised: December 22, 2014
Accepted: January 9, 2015
Article in press: January 12, 2015
Published online: April 15, 2015
Processing time: 235 Days and 14.3 Hours
Diabetes mellitus during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of multiple congenital anomalies in progeny. There are sufficient evidence suggesting that the children of diabetic women exhibit intellectual and behavioral abnormalities accompanied by modification of hippocampus structure and function. Although, the exact mechanism by which maternal diabetes affects the developing hippocampus remains to be defined. Multiple biological alterations, including hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and iron deficiency occur in pregnancies with diabetes and affect the development of central nervous system (CNS) of the fetus. The conclusion from several studies is that disturbance in glucose and insulin homeostasis in mothers and infants are major teratogenic factor in the development of CNS. Insulin and Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are two key regulators of CNS function and development. Insulin and IGF-1 receptors (IR and IGF1R, respectively) are distributed in a highly specific pattern with the high density in some brain regions such as hippocampus. Recent researches have clearly established that maternal diabetes disrupts the regulation of both IR and IGF1R in the hippocampus of rat newborn. Dissecting out the mechanisms responsible for maternal diabetes-related changes in the development of hippocampus is helping to prevent from impaired cognitive and memory functions in offspring.
Core tip: Diabetes mellitus is the most seriously metabolic condition in pregnancy that affects the hippocampal development and function of the offspring. Multiple biological alterations, including hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are occurring in maternal diabetes and impair the neurodevelopment of the fetus. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin are important regulators of development of central nervous system. It has clearly showed that maternal diabetes disturb the regulation of both insulin receptors and IGF-1 receptors in the hippocampus of rat newborn. This article is a brief review of the literatures that suggests a probable mechanism of how diabetes during pregnancy affects the hippocampus development in the offspring.