Front Matter

Release of fetal brain antigens

Early stage fetus

Environmental factors enter

pregnant mother’s circulatory

systems at early stages of

gestation and damage

certain brain progenitor

neurons.

Neuronal antigens from the damaged

neurons leak out into mother’s

circulation and adaptive

immune system develop

antibodies to the fetal

neuronal antigens.

Mother’s lgG enters the

fetal brain and interferes

in the normal development

of fetal brain, resulting in

ASD.

(^123)

• Figure 8.1 Illustration of neuroantigens released from the fetal brain and role of maternal
  neuroantibodies that can damage a developing fetal brain and may cause autism spectral
  disorder (ASD).