Brain abnormalities due to genetic alterations or developmental exposure to environmental factors

Structural and functional development of the brain is altered by genetic factors and by various environmental factors such as drugs, industrial chemicals, nutrition, infections, irradiation, prenatal stress, and maternal separation. These factors can influence various neurodevelopmental events, i.e., neurogenesis, neural differentiation, neural migration, apoptosis, axonal connections, and synaptogenesis; these effects can be direct and/or via epigenetic dysregulation, and can often cause irreversible changes to the brain. Typically, mice and rats are used as experimental animals for investigating the effects of gene and environmental factors on brain development. Mice with spontaneous gene mutations and gene manipulations serve as models for human neurodevelopmental disorders, and they are often useful for investigating the roles played by specific genes in key neurodevelopmental events. In many cases, environmental factors affect the developing cerebral cortex, which is known to be a brain region particularly susceptible to such factors, sometimes causing distinctive microcephaly and hydrocephaly. In addition, animal models of human neurodevelopmental disorders can be produced via developmental exposure to environmental factors. For example, mice and rat models of autism spectrum disorder can be produced by prenatal exposure of the animals to valproic acid or lippopolysaccaride.

This research topic is focused on congenital brain abnormalities caused by genetic and environmental alterations in all vertebrate species; therefore, it is not limited to mammals such as rodents. This approach may improve understanding of the evolution of brain development by various genetic and environmental factors. The research also focuses on the neurotoxic and epigenetic effects of chemical and physical agents on the developing brain and takes into consideration the gross structural and histological characterizations of the brain in spontaneous gene-mutated and gene-manipulated animals. Such research will provide new information that will aid the assessment of brain abnormalities caused by genetic and environmental factors. We encourage the submission of both research and review articles that quantitatively investigate congenital brain abnormalities using multifaceted approaches such as conventional and functional MRI, voxel-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, histomorphometry, stereology, and assessments of cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Favorable outcomes will include the discussion of the specific roles played by genetic and environmental factors in brain development and discovery of new insights into congenital brain abnormalities.