Tracing Maternal Nutrition's Legacy on Neuroinflammation from Neurodevelopment to Adult life

It has been well established that in mammals the nutritional status plays an important role in the processes associated with several brain functions. Considering the mother-pup relationship, maternal malnutrition impairs fetal development, affecting the pup’s brain functioning; this effect can be long-lasting. On the other hand, other external factors such as maternal pharmacological treatment and physical exercise protects the brain against the detrimental effects of protein malnutrition on the progeny. The electrophysiological and behavioral patterns of mothers and pups subjected to prenatal protein malnutrition benefited from maternal physical exercise during the gestation period.

The above background supports our research topic’s goal: to provide an update on maternal/progeny non-nutritional and nutritional interactions on short- and long-term Neuroinflammation, by examining the impact of dietary nutrients on controlling key mechanisms related to neuronal excitability, brain metabolism, and neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Importantly, this Topic also aims to elucidate how these early-life nutritional influences may shape the risk and mechanisms of neuroinflammation and neuropathic changes in aging, thereby contributing to our understanding of the developmental origins of age-related brain disorders. We welcome studies on the development of novel experimental models, and the translational application of new findings.

We welcome original research articles and mini or review articles on, but not limited to, the following topics:

1. Glia-Neuron metabolism processes under maternal dietary manipulations

2. Brain autophagic activity under maternal nutrient deficiency

3. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and neurogenesis, neurotransmission, and neurodegenerative disorders

4. Nutrition/brain excitability relationships and mechanisms

5. Cellular, electrophysiological and Behavioral aspects of the maternal nutrition/neuro-glial relationship

6. Maternal nutrition and brain redox imbalance in the mother-pup dyad

7. Maternal nutrition and brain energy-demanding processes

8. Neuro-glial/nutrition interaction on neurotransmitter function

9. Neuro-glial deleterious or toxic food substances

10. Morphological and morphometric consequences of the nutritional/neuro-glial exchange