Study Finds Possible Biological Cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – trendswire

NEW DELHI: Researchers have found an altered serotonin 2A/C receptor in babies who died of sudden infant death syndrome (SMSL), a biological abnormality that they believe makes these babies vulnerable to death under certain circumstances.
SIDS is the unexplained death of a baby, usually while sleeping, before its first birthday despite an exhaustive investigation into his cause.
Previous research in rodents has shown that 2A/C receptor signaling contributes to arousal and self-animation, protecting the brain’s oxygen status during sleep.
In this study, researchers, including those at Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts, USA, examined the brainstems of 70 infants, who died between 2004 and 2011, and tested them for consistent abnormalities.
They discovered that the serotonin 2A/C receptor was suddenly altered infant death cases compared to control cases of infant deaths.
They have published their findings in the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology.
Researchers believe that sudden baby death syndrome It occurs when three things happen together: a child is in a critical period of cardiorespiratory development in their first year, the child is faced with an external stressor, such as sleeping on their stomach or sharing a bed, and the child has a biological abnormality which makes you vulnerable to respiratory problems while you sleep.
“The presented work builds on previous work from our laboratory and others showing abnormalities in the serotonergic system of some SIDS infants.
“Although we have identified serotonin 2A/C receptor abnormalities in SIDS, the relationship between the abnormalities and cause of death remains unknown.
“Much work remains to be done to determine the consequences of abnormalities in this receptor in the context of a larger network of serotonin and non-serotonin receptors that protect vital functions in cardiac and respiratory control when challenged.
“Currently, we do not have the means to identify infants with biological abnormalities in the serotonergic system. Therefore, adherence to safe sleep practices remains critical,” said the paper’s lead author, Robin Haynes.