Morphological and inflammatory changes in the skin of autopsied fetuses according to the type of stress.

Introduction: The fetal skin acts on the development and activation of the immune response via immune-neuroendocrine communication coordinated by corticotropin-releasing hormone.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the morphological and inflammatory changes in the skin due to acute stress and chronic stress, associated with perinatal asphyxia, ascending infection and congenital malformation.

Methods: We measured dermal and epidermal thickness, the diameter of keratinocytes, and the percentage of collagen and elastic fibers. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate both Langerhans cell and mast cell density, and corticotropin-releasing hormone expression in the epidermis, sebaceous gland, sebaceous duct, sudoriparous gland and in the hair follicle.

Results: The epidermis was thinner in the cases with perinatal asphyxia, ascending infection and chronic stress. The diameter of keratinocytes was smaller in ascending infection and chronic stress. Mast cell density showed an indirect correlation with gestational age. Corticotropin-releasing hormone expression was significantly higher in ascending infection and chronic stress.

Conclusions: Chronic stress is associated with immunological and morphological changes in the skin of fetuses with perinatal asphyxia and ascending infection. Thus, corticotropin-releasing hormone seems to play a vital role in the differentiation and activation of innate and adaptive immune cells of the skin of fetuses.