Ancestral exposure to stressepigenetically programs preterm birth risk and adverse maternal and newbornoutcomes

摘要

BackgroundChronic stress is considered to be one of many causes of human preterm birth (PTB), but no direct evidence has yet been provided. Here we show in rats that stress across generations has downstream effects on endocrine, metabolic and behavioural manifestations of PTB possibly via microRNA (miRNA) regulation.