Placental Igf1 overexpression sex-specifically impacts mouse placenta structure, altering offspring striatal development and behavior

Annemarie J Carver; Faith M Fairbairn; Robert J Taylor; Shanmukh Boggarapu; Njenga R Kamau; Amrita Gajmer; Hanna E Stevens

doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115453

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Placental Igf1 overexpression sex-specifically impacts mouse placenta structure, altering offspring striatal development and behavior

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Placental Igf1 overexpression sex-specifically impacts mouse placenta structure, altering offspring striatal development and behavior

Annemarie J Carver, Faith M Fairbairn, Robert J Taylor, Shanmukh Boggarapu, Njenga R Kamau, Amrita Gajmer and Hanna E Stevens

Experimental neurology, Vol.394, 115453

12/2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115453

PMCID: PMC12752707

PMID: 40907731

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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12752707/View

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Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is primarily produced in the placenta and is essential for neurodevelopment. Specifically, how placental IGF1 production persistently influences the brain is unclear, but with rates of complicated pregnancies on the rise, understanding placental contributions to child outcomes is paramount. We hypothesize that placental Igf1 expression alters fetal neurodevelopment relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of placental Igf1 overexpression on embryonic and postnatal brain development, particularly for striatum, a region highly linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. Placental overexpression altered placenta structure and function distinctly in females and males. Early differences in placental function altered the trajectory of striatal development, as adult females showed persistent changes in striatal cell composition and behavior while males were less affected. Overall, these results demonstrate that placental Igf1 expression alters striatal development and behavior relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders. These findings expand our understanding of placental influence on neurodevelopment and will aid in targeting placental biology in preventive interventions.

Placenta

Neurodevelopment

CRISPR

Striatum

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Insulin-like growth factor 1

Details

Title: Subtitle: Placental Igf1 overexpression sex-specifically impacts mouse placenta structure, altering offspring striatal development and behavior
Creators: Annemarie J Carver - University of Iowa
Faith M Fairbairn - University of Iowa
Robert J Taylor - University of Iowa
Shanmukh Boggarapu - University of Iowa
Njenga R Kamau - University of Iowa
Amrita Gajmer - University of Iowa
Hanna E Stevens - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Experimental neurology, Vol.394, 115453
DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115453
PMID: 40907731
PMCID: PMC12752707
NLM abbreviation: Exp Neurol
ISSN: 0014-4886
eISSN: 1090-2430
Publisher: Elsevier
Grant note: National Institute of Mental Health: R01MH122435 National Institutes of Health: T32GM008629, T32GM145441 National Center for Advancing Translation Science: R25TR004393 Graduate College, University of IowaOffice of Undergraduate Research, University of Iowa (FMF)Biomedical Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Iowa (FMF)
National Institute of Mental Health grant R01MH122435 (HES). National Institutes of Health grants T32GM008629 and T32GM145441 (AJC). National Center for Advancing Translation Science R25TR004393 (AG). Graduate College, University of Iowa (AJC). Office of Undergraduate Research, University of Iowa (FMF). Biomedical Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Iowa (FMF).
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 09/02/2025
Date published: 12/2025
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984958311002771

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