1
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Kim NH, Choo HI, Lee YA. Effect of nanoplastic intake on the dopamine system during the development of male mice. Neuroscience 2024; 555:11-22. [PMID: 39033990 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental microplastics has been demonstrated to impact health. However, its effect on development remains unclear. This study investigated whether consumption of nanoplastics (NPx) during development affects social and cognitive functions in rodents. In this study, we utilized male Institute of Cancer Research mice; they were divided into five subgroups based on the duration of NPx administration. NPx (100 nm) was orally administered via gavage for 6 days from gestational day (GTD) 7, representing the mid-gestation period, and for 5-6 days from GTD13 to birth, representing the late-gestation period; the male offspring were used for experiments. NPx was orally administered for 15 days starting at postnatal day (PND) 21 as the juvenile, PND38 as the adolescent, and PND56 as adulthood. On PND77, offspring were assessed for locomotion, social behavior, and nest-building tests. We observed that NPx administration altered dopamine system responses in GTD13 and PND56 groups. Social behavior was similarly affected by NPx treatment, with GTD13 and PND56 groups displaying decreased familiarity. Additionally, NPx treatment enhanced local field potentials in the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala of GTD7 group and in the striatum of GTD13 group, while amphetamine treatment induced changes of local field potentials compared to saline treatment in the prefrontal cortex and the ventral tegmental area of CTR, GTD7, PND21, and PND56 groups. Taken together, these results showed that NPx treatment induced changes in social behavior partly depending on developmental stage, and these changes are associated with neural circuits innervated by the dopamine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na-Hyun Kim
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Daegu Catholic University, 13-13 Hayang-Ro, Hayang-Eup, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38430, South Korea
| | - Hye-In Choo
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Daegu Catholic University, 13-13 Hayang-Ro, Hayang-Eup, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38430, South Korea
| | - Young-A Lee
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Daegu Catholic University, 13-13 Hayang-Ro, Hayang-Eup, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38430, South Korea.
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2
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Collins JM, Keane JM, Deady C, Khashan AS, McCarthy FP, O'Keeffe GW, Clarke G, Cryan JF, Caputi V, O'Mahony SM. Prenatal stress impacts foetal neurodevelopment: Temporal windows of gestational vulnerability. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105793. [PMID: 38971516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal stressors ranging in severity from everyday occurrences/hassles to the experience of traumatic events negatively impact neurodevelopment, increasing the risk for the onset of psychopathology in the offspring. Notably, the timing of prenatal stress exposure plays a critical role in determining the nature and severity of subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this review, we evaluate the empirical evidence regarding temporal windows of heightened vulnerability to prenatal stress with respect to motor, cognitive, language, and behavioural development in both human and animal studies. We also explore potential temporal windows whereby several mechanisms may mediate prenatal stress-induced neurodevelopmental effects, namely, excessive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, altered serotonin signalling and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system, changes in placental function, immune system dysregulation, and alterations of the gut microbiota. While broadly defined developmental windows are apparent for specific psychopathological outcomes, inconsistencies arise when more complex cognitive and behavioural outcomes are considered. Novel approaches to track molecular markers reflective of the underlying aetiologies throughout gestation to identify tractable biomolecular signatures corresponding to critical vulnerability periods are urgently required.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Collins
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - James M Keane
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Clara Deady
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Ali S Khashan
- School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Fergus P McCarthy
- The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Gerard W O'Keeffe
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Valentina Caputi
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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3
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Kral TRA, Williams CY, Wylie AC, McLaughlin K, Stephens RL, Mills-Koonce WR, Birn RM, Propper CB, Short SJ. Intergenerational effects of racism on amygdala and hippocampus resting state functional connectivity. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17034. [PMID: 39043776 PMCID: PMC11266580 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66830-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Racism is an insidious problem with far-reaching effects on the lives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The pervasive negative impact of racism on mental health is well documented. However, less is known about the potential downstream impacts of maternal experiences of racism on offspring neurodevelopment. This study sought to examine evidence for a biological pathway of intergenerational transmission of racism-related trauma. This study examined the effects of self-reported maternal experiences of racism on resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) in n = 25 neonates (13 female, 12 male) birthed by BIPOC mothers. Amygdala and hippocampus are brain regions involved in fear, memory, and anxiety, and are central nodes in brain networks associated with trauma-related change. We used average scores on the Experiences of Racism Scale as a continuous, voxel-wise regressor in seed-based, whole-brain connectivity analysis of anatomically defined amygdala and hippocampus seed regions of interest. All analyses controlled for infant sex and gestational age at the 2-week scanning session. More maternal racism-related experiences were associated with (1) stronger right amygdala rsFC with visual cortex and thalamus; and (2) stronger hippocampus rsFC with visual cortex and a temporo-parietal network, in neonates. The results of this research have implications for understanding how maternal experiences of racism may alter neurodevelopment, and for related social policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- T R A Kral
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin -Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin -Madison, Madison, USA
| | - C Y Williams
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin -Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin -Madison, Madison, USA
| | - A C Wylie
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - K McLaughlin
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - R L Stephens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - W R Mills-Koonce
- School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - R M Birn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin -Madison, Madison, USA
| | - C B Propper
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - S J Short
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin -Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin -Madison, Madison, USA.
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4
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Brown ER, Gettler LT, Rosenbaum S. Effects of social environments on male primate HPG and HPA axis developmental programming. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22491. [PMID: 38698633 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity is particularly important for humans and other primates because of our extended period of growth and maturation, during which our phenotypes adaptively respond to environmental cues. The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes are likely to be principal targets of developmental "programming" given their roles in coordinating fitness-relevant aspects of the phenotype, including sexual development, adult reproductive and social strategies, and internal responses to the external environment. In social animals, including humans, the social environment is believed to be an important source of cues to which these axes may adaptively respond. The effects of early social environments on the HPA axis have been widely studied in humans, and to some extent, in other primates, but there are still major gaps in knowledge specifically relating to males. There has also been relatively little research examining the role that social environments play in developmental programming of the HPG axis or the HPA/HPG interface, and what does exist disproportionately focuses on females. These topics are likely understudied in males in part due to the difficulty of identifying developmental milestones in males relative to females and the general quiescence of the HPG axis prior to maturation. However, there are clear indicators that early life social environments matter for both sexes. In this review, we examine what is known about the impact of social environments on HPG and HPA axis programming during male development in humans and nonhuman primates, including the role that epigenetic mechanisms may play in this programming. We conclude by highlighting important next steps in this research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella R Brown
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lee T Gettler
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Stacy Rosenbaum
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Yu Z, Dong Y, Chen Y, Aleya L, Zhao Y, Yao L, Gu W. It is time to explore the impact of length of gestation and fetal health on the human lifespan. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14157. [PMID: 38558485 PMCID: PMC11019132 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
A recently proposed principal law of lifespan (PLOSP) proposes to extend the whole human lifespan by elongating different life stages. As the preborn stage of a human being, gestation is the foundation for the healthy development of the human body. The antagonistic pleiotropy (AP) theory of aging states that there is a trade-off between early life fitness and late-life mortality. The question is whether slower development during the gestation period would be associated with a longer lifespan. Among all living creatures, the length of the gestation period is highly positively correlated to the length of the lifespan, although such a correlation is thought to be influenced by the body sizes of different species. While examining the relationship between lifespan length and body size within the same species, dogs exhibit a negative correlation between lifespans and body sizes, while there is no such correlation among domestic cats. For humans, most adverse gestational environments shorten the period of gestation, and their impacts are long-term. While many issues remain unsolved, various developmental features have been linked to the conditions during the gestation period. Given that the length of human pregnancies can vary randomly by as long as 5 weeks, it is worth investigating whether a slow steady healthy gestation over a longer period will be related to a longer and healthier lifespan. This article discusses the potential benefits, negative impacts, and challenges of the relative elongation of the gestation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Yu
- Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese MedicineHarbinChina
| | - Yushan Dong
- Graduate School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese MedicineHarbinHeilongjiangChina
| | - Yuhan Chen
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Chrono‐Environnement Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249Bourgogne Franche‐Comté UniversityBesançon CedexFrance
| | - Yinhuan Zhao
- Department of Rheumatism, Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated HospitalShanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Lan Yao
- College of Health Management, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangChina
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and BME‐Campbell ClinicUniversity of Tennessee Health Science CentreMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Weikuan Gu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and BME‐Campbell ClinicUniversity of Tennessee Health Science CentreMemphisTennesseeUSA
- Research Lt. Col. Luke WeathersJr. VA Medical CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
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6
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Jimenez-Gonzalez A, Ansaloni F, Nebendahl C, Alavioon G, Murray D, Robak W, Sanges R, Müller F, Immler S. Paternal starvation affects metabolic gene expression during zebrafish offspring development and lifelong fitness. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17296. [PMID: 38361456 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Dietary restriction in the form of fasting is a putative key to a healthier and longer life, but these benefits may come at a trade-off with reproductive fitness and may affect the following generation(s). The potential inter- and transgenerational effects of long-term fasting and starvation are particularly poorly understood in vertebrates when they originate from the paternal line. We utilised the externally fertilising zebrafish amenable to a split-egg clutch design to explore the male-specific effects of fasting/starvation on fertility and fitness of offspring independently of maternal contribution. Eighteen days of fasting resulted in reduced fertility in exposed males. While average offspring survival was not affected, we detected increased larval growth rate in F1 offspring from starved males and more malformed embryos at 24 h post-fertilisation in F2 offspring produced by F1 offspring from starved males. Comparing the transcriptomes of F1 embryos sired by starved and fed fathers revealed robust and reproducible increased expression of muscle composition genes but lower expression of lipid metabolism and lysosome genes in embryos from starved fathers. A large proportion of these genes showed enrichment in the yolk syncytial layer suggesting gene regulatory responses associated with metabolism of nutrients through paternal effects on extra-embryonic tissues which are loaded with maternal factors. We compared the embryo transcriptomes to published adult transcriptome datasets and found comparable repressive effects of starvation on metabolism-associated genes. These similarities suggest a physiologically relevant, directed and potentially adaptive response transmitted by the father, independently from the offspring's nutritional state, which was defined by the mother.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada Jimenez-Gonzalez
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Federico Ansaloni
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
- Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Ghazal Alavioon
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David Murray
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Weronika Robak
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Remo Sanges
- Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
- Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Ferenc Müller
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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Rice RC, Gil DV, Baratta AM, Frawley RR, Hill SY, Farris SP, Homanics GE. Inter- and transgenerational heritability of preconception chronic stress or alcohol exposure: Translational outcomes in brain and behavior. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 29:100603. [PMID: 38234394 PMCID: PMC10792982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress and alcohol (ethanol) use are highly interrelated and can change an individual's behavior through molecular adaptations that do not change the DNA sequence, but instead change gene expression. A recent wealth of research has found that these nongenomic changes can be transmitted across generations, which could partially account for the "missing heritability" observed in genome-wide association studies of alcohol use disorder and other stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we summarize the molecular and behavioral outcomes of nongenomic inheritance of chronic stress and ethanol exposure and the germline mechanisms that could give rise to this heritability. In doing so, we outline the need for further research to: (1) Investigate individual germline mechanisms of paternal, maternal, and biparental nongenomic chronic stress- and ethanol-related inheritance; (2) Synthesize and dissect cross-generational chronic stress and ethanol exposure; (3) Determine cross-generational molecular outcomes of preconception ethanol exposure that contribute to alcohol-related disease risk, using cancer as an example. A detailed understanding of the cross-generational nongenomic effects of stress and/or ethanol will yield novel insight into the impact of ancestral perturbations on disease risk across generations and uncover actionable targets to improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C. Rice
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniela V. Gil
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Annalisa M. Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Remy R. Frawley
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shirley Y. Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sean P. Farris
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Gregg E. Homanics
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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He Z, Zhang J, Chen Y, Ai C, Gong X, Xu D, Wang H. Transgenerational inheritance of adrenal steroidogenesis inhibition induced by prenatal dexamethasone exposure and its intrauterine mechanism. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:294. [PMID: 37853416 PMCID: PMC10585925 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01303-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenal gland is the synthesis and secretion organ of glucocorticoid, which is crucial to fetal development and postnatal fate. Recently, we found that prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) could cause adrenal dysfunction in offspring rats, but its multigenerational genetic effects and related mechanisms have not been reported. METHODS The PDE rat model was established, and female filial generation 1 (F1) rats mate with wild males to produce the F2, the same way for the F3. Three generation rats were sacrificed for the related detection. SW-13 cells were used to clarify the epigenetic molecular mechanism. RESULTS This study confirmed that PDE could activate fetal adrenal glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The activated GR, on the one hand, up-regulated Let-7b (in human cells) to inhibit steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression directly; on the other hand, down-regulated CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) and up-regulated DNA methyltransferase 3a/3b (Dnmt3a/3b), resulting in H19 hypermethylation and low expression. The decreased interaction of H19 and let-7 can further inhibit adrenal steroidogenesis. Additionally, oocytes transmitted the expression change of H19/let-7c axis to the next generation rats. Due to its genetic stability, F2 generation oocytes indirectly exposed to dexamethasone also inhibited H19 expression, which could be inherited to the F3 generation. CONCLUSIONS This cascade effect of CTCF/H19/Let-7c ultimately resulted in the transgenerational inheritance of adrenal steroidogenesis inhibition of PDE offspring. This study deepens the understanding of the intrauterine origin of adrenal developmental toxicity, and it will provide evidence for the systematic analysis of the transgenerational inheritance effect of acquired traits induced by PDE. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng He
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jinzhi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yawen Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Can Ai
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaohan Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China.
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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Jagtap A, Jagtap B, Jagtap R, Lamture Y, Gomase K. Effects of Prenatal Stress on Behavior, Cognition, and Psychopathology: A Comprehensive Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e47044. [PMID: 38022302 PMCID: PMC10643752 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress is increasingly recognized as a significant factor impacting an individual's life from the beginning. This comprehensive review explores the intricate relationship between prenatal stress and its effects on behaviour, cognition, and psychopathology. Key findings reveal that prenatal stress can lead to a wide range of adverse outcomes in offspring, including neurodevelopmental disorders, emotional dysregulation, cognitive deficits, mood disorders, and an increased risk of psychopathological conditions. These effects' mechanisms involve epigenetic modifications, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, neurodevelopmental alterations, inflammatory processes, and changes in brain structure and function. Moreover, moderating factors such as maternal stress levels, maternal mental health, socioeconomic status, social support, and early-life adversity can significantly influence the impact of prenatal stress. The review also discusses intervention and prevention strategies, emphasizing the importance of prenatal stress reduction programs, maternal mental health support, nutritional interventions, and targeted early interventions for at-risk populations. These findings have substantial implications for public health and clinical practice, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to prenatal care that prioritizes maternal well-being and mitigates the lasting effects of prenatal stress. Addressing this critical issue promises healthier generations and stronger communities in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniket Jagtap
- Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Balasaheb Jagtap
- Medical Intern, Annasaheb Chaudaman Patil Memorial Medical College, Dhule, IND
| | - Rajlaxmi Jagtap
- Medical Student, Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Sangali, IND
| | - Yashwant Lamture
- Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, wardha, IND
| | - Kavita Gomase
- Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing, Srimati Radhikabai Meghe Memorial College of Nursing, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
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10
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Yeramilli V, Cheddadi R, Shah J, Brawner K, Martin C. A Review of the Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress on Offspring Microbiota and Metabolites. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13040535. [PMID: 37110193 PMCID: PMC10142778 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal prenatal stress exposure affects the development of offspring. We searched for articles in the PubMed database and reviewed the evidence for how prenatal stress alters the composition of the microbiome, the production of microbial-derived metabolites, and regulates microbiome-induced behavioral changes in the offspring. The gut-brain signaling axis has gained considerable attention in recent years and provides insights into the microbial dysfunction in several metabolic disorders. Here, we reviewed evidence from human studies and animal models to discuss how maternal stress can modulate the offspring microbiome. We will discuss how probiotic supplementation has a profound effect on the stress response, the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and how psychobiotics are emerging as novel therapeutic targets. Finally, we highlight the potential molecular mechanisms by which the effects of stress are transmitted to the offspring and discuss how the mitigation of early-life stress as a risk factor can improve the birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata Yeramilli
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Riadh Cheddadi
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Juhi Shah
- Burnett School of Medicine, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA
| | - Kyle Brawner
- Department of Biology, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA
| | - Colin Martin
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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11
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Švorcová J. Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Traumatic Experience in Mammals. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:120. [PMID: 36672861 PMCID: PMC9859285 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, we have seen an increasing amount of evidence pointing to the existence of a non-genetic heredity of the effects of events such as separation from parents, threat to life, or other traumatising experiences such as famine. This heredity is often mediated by epigenetic regulations of gene expression and may be transferred even across several generations. In this review, we focus on studies which involve transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), with a short detour to intergenerational studies focused on the inheritance of trauma or stressful experiences. The reviewed studies show a plethora of universal changes which stress exposure initiates on multiple levels of organisation ranging from hormonal production and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis modulation all the way to cognition, behaviour, or propensity to certain psychiatric or metabolic disorders. This review will also provide an overview of relevant methodology and difficulties linked to implementation of epigenetic studies. A better understanding of these processes may help us elucidate the evolutionary pathways which are at work in the course of emergence of the diseases and disorders associated with exposure to trauma, either direct or in a previous generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Švorcová
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
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