Neuroplacentology: From "Start-up" to "Start-map"

Neuroplacentology, conceptualized by Professor Anna A. Penn in 2019, bridges placental biology and neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting the placenta’s pivotal role in neurological development. It explores how placental morphogens, crucial for embryonic spatial guidance, influence brain formation. Disruptions in these processes can significantly impact fetal brain development, underscoring the placenta's neurobiological significance.

Recent progress in this area has helped solidify our understanding of the placenta’s trophic and neuroendocrine functions. Research exploring the consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the placenta and fetal brain development provides new insights into how infections affect these processes. Additionally, current studies are highlighting potential threats from other maternal viral infections, such as those caused by arboviruses, pointing to a continuous need for research into placental health.

Looking ahead, neuroplacentology research is poised to delve into the correlations between histopathology, clinical manifestations, gestational timing, and both standard and abnormally progressing pregnancy and development. The goal is to elaborate a detailed, multimodal map of the brain-placenta connection through various gestational stages. This mapping would include detailed data from histology, genetics, electron microscopy, and different imaging modalities.

This Research Topic aims to enhance our understanding of how the placenta influences brain development in utero and to develop strategies to enhance fetal neurological health.

Areas to be covered include but are not limited to:
o Neuroactive and immunomodulatory hormone production by the placenta.
o The placental exosomes' roles in signaling during fetal brain development.
o The neurological outcomes stemming from placental pathologies.
o The impact of maternal health, including genital microbiota, on fetal brain health.
o Studies utilizing advanced imaging technologies like intrauterine MRI and electron microscopy to explore placental ultrastructure.
o Genetic and epigenetic markers related to sudden intrauterine deaths and congenital disorders like channelopaties.

We encourage the submission of different article types including original research, (mini) reviews, and groundbreaking methods that will advance our understanding of the complex links between placental function and neurological outcomes across different stages of pregnancy. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.

Keywords: neuroplacentology, placenta, fetal brain development, placental dysfunction, neurodevelopmental disorders, brain sparing phenomenon, placental inefficiency phenotype, congenital heart disease (CHD), maternal-fetal interface, exosome signaling, intrauterine magnetic resonance imaging, placental neuroendocrine function, fetal growth restriction, channelopathies, sudden intrauterine fetal death (SIUD), multimodal placenta-fetal brain map, placenta-fetal brain animal models, morphogens

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.