Cerebral Morphometric Markers and Molecular Profiles in Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Pregnancy induces a range of hormonal and physiological changes and also affect the brain. Yet the specific cerebral morphometric markers and their associated molecular profiles throughout pregnancy remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the cerebral morphometric changes in 23 pregnant women using T1-weighted MRI scans, with pregnancy progression quantified by post-menstrual age (PMA). We performed a whole-brain regression analysis to examine how gray matter volume (GMV) was influenced by PMA, and further explored the molecular profiles of these changes by integrating GMV findings with the JuSpace toolbox. Our analysis revealed that with PMA increased, there was a significant reduction in the left medial frontal gyrus (MFG) GMV, suggesting structural brain changes associated with pregnancy progression. Spatial correlation analyses did not reveal any significant associations between neurotransmitter distribution and the observed GMV changes. Gene enrichment analysis pointed to an important molecular shift: protein binding was the most significantly enriched term during pregnancy. This suggests that molecular mechanisms related to protein binding may play a crucial role in the neurobiological adaptations observed during pregnancy. In conclusion, our findings provide new insights into how pregnancy is associated with alterations in both brain structure and molecular profiles. The decreased GMV in the left MFG and the changes in molecular functions contribute to our understanding of the neural and biological mechanisms underlying pregnancy. These findings offer a foundation for future research into maternal brain health and the long-term effects of pregnancy on brain structure and function.