The University of Virginia School of Medicine has released research that explains why a baby's first breath isn't just a means for bringing in that first burst of oxygen. It causes life-long changes in the brain and may offer insights into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.
Researchers found a signaling system within the brainstem that becomes activated almost immediately when a baby is born that supports the newborn's early breathing. This system is triggered by the first breath.
This discovery aids researchers in understanding how breathing shifts from a fragile state that can easily lead to brain damage when done incorrectly to a stable system that can provide the body with oxygen for a lifetime. While still in the womb, a baby only breathes intermittently. So the delivery is its first chance to take in oxygen. For a newborn, it can be a very vulnerable time.
"Birth is traumatic for the newborn, as the baby has to independently take control over various important body functions, including breathing. We think that activation of this support system at birth provides an extra safety factor for this critical period," explained Douglas A. Bayliss, one of the researchers behind the study.
Bayliss and the UVA team, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Alberta and Harvard University, have honed in on what the specific gene is that gets switched on immediately upon birth that regulates breathing in mice. The gene produces a peptide neurotransmitter, essentially a chain of amino acids to relay information between neurons. Called PACAP, the transmitter begins releasing the information as soon as the baby enters our world.
"The other thing that’s particularly interested about this peptide is that the gene had actually been previously associated with sudden infant death, particularly in African Americans," Bayliss continued. "There’s a clinical correlation that actually already exists."
The next step for scientists is to examine the mechanism and find if it could be used to help aid the breathing for infants struggling in cases of SIDS. They are also interested in seeing if the discovery can offer similar support systems in the functioning of other major body parts.
SIDS, also commonly referred to as crib death, is a sudden unexplained death of a child less than a year old. Currently, it is the number one cause of infant mortality in Western countries. SIDS has been attributed to a cross of genetic and environmental issues. UVA’s new research suggest that perhaps underlying problems with the neuropeptide system could increase an infant's susceptibility to SIDS or a host of other breathing problems. For an issue that has been identified since 1969, this is a major strep in combatting it through proactive and much-needed research.
Sources: WHSV, New-Medical, CBS 19 News