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Nagpal J, Eachus H, Lityagina O, Ryu S. Optogenetic induction of chronic glucocorticoid exposure in early-life leads to blunted stress-response in larval zebrafish. Eur J Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38602078 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) exposure alters stress susceptibility in later life and affects vulnerability to stress-related disorders, but how ELS changes the long-lasting responsiveness of the stress system is not well understood. Zebrafish provides an opportunity to study conserved mechanisms underlying the development and function of the stress response that is regulated largely by the neuroendocrine hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal (HPA/I) axis, with glucocorticoids (GC) as the final effector. In this study, we established a method to chronically elevate endogenous GC levels during early life in larval zebrafish. To this end, we employed an optogenetic actuator, beggiatoa photoactivated adenylyl cyclase, specifically expressed in the interrenal cells of zebrafish and demonstrate that its chronic activation leads to hypercortisolaemia and dampens the acute-stress evoked cortisol levels, across a variety of stressor modalities during early life. This blunting of stress-response was conserved in ontogeny at a later developmental stage. Furthermore, we observe a strong reduction of proopiomelanocortin (pomc)-expression in the pituitary as well as upregulation of fkbp5 gene expression. Going forward, we propose that this model can be leveraged to tease apart the mechanisms underlying developmental programming of the HPA/I axis by early-life GC exposure and its implications for vulnerability and resilience to stress in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jatin Nagpal
- University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- APC Microbiome Ireland and School of Pharmacy and Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Helen Eachus
- Living Systems Institute & Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Olga Lityagina
- University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Soojin Ryu
- University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Living Systems Institute & Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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2
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Sze Y, Brunton PJ. How is prenatal stress transmitted from the mother to the fetus? J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246073. [PMID: 38449331 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal stress programmes long-lasting neuroendocrine and behavioural changes in the offspring. Often this programming is maladaptive and sex specific. For example, using a rat model of maternal social stress in late pregnancy, we have demonstrated that adult prenatally stressed male, but not prenatally stressed female offspring display heightened anxiety-like behaviour, whereas both sexes show hyperactive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to stress. Here, we review the current knowledge of the mechanisms underpinning dysregulated HPA axis responses, including evidence supporting a role for reduced neurosteroid-mediated GABAergic inhibitory signalling in the brains of prenatally stressed offspring. How maternal psychosocial stress is signalled from the mother to the fetuses is unclear. Direct transfer of maternal glucocorticoids to the fetuses is often considered to mediate the programming effects of maternal stress on the offspring. However, protective mechanisms including attenuated maternal stress responses and placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (which inactivates glucocorticoids) should limit materno-fetal glucocorticoid transfer during pregnancy. Moreover, a lack of correlation between maternal stress, circulating maternal glucocorticoid levels and circulating fetal glucocorticoid levels is reported in several studies and across different species. Therefore, here we interrogate the evidence for a role for maternal glucocorticoids in mediating the effects of maternal stress on the offspring and consider the evidence for alternative mechanisms, including an indirect role for glucocorticoids and the contribution of changes in the placenta in signalling the stress status of the mother to the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sze
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Paula J Brunton
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Joint Institute, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, P.R. China
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Morley-Fletcher S, Gaetano A, Gao V, Gatta E, Van Camp G, Bouwalerh H, Thomas P, Nicoletti F, Maccari S. Postpartum Oxytocin Treatment via the Mother Reprograms Long-Term Behavioral Disorders Induced by Early Life Stress on the Plasma and Brain Metabolome in the Rat. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3014. [PMID: 38474260 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25053014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The rat model of perinatal stress (PRS), in which exposure of pregnant dams to restraint stress reduces maternal behavior, is characterized by a metabolic profile that is reminiscent of the "metabolic syndrome". We aimed to identify plasma metabolomic signatures linked to long-term programming induced by PRS in aged male rats. This study was conducted in the plasma and frontal cortex. We also investigated the reversal effect of postpartum carbetocin (Cbt) on these signatures, along with its impact on deficits in cognitive, social, and exploratory behavior. We found that PRS induced long-lasting changes in biomarkers of secondary bile acid metabolism in the plasma and glutathione metabolism in the frontal cortex. Cbt treatment demonstrated disease-dependent effects by reversing the metabolite alterations. The metabolomic signatures of PRS were associated with long-term cognitive and emotional alterations alongside endocrinological disturbances. Our findings represent the first evidence of how early life stress may alter the metabolomic profile in aged individuals, thereby increasing vulnerability to CNS disorders. This raises the intriguing prospect that the pharmacological activation of oxytocin receptors soon after delivery through the mother may rectify these alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Morley-Fletcher
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, GlycoStress Team, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Alessandra Gaetano
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, GlycoStress Team, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Vance Gao
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, GlycoStress Team, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Eleonora Gatta
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, GlycoStress Team, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Gilles Van Camp
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, GlycoStress Team, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Hammou Bouwalerh
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, GlycoStress Team, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Pierre Thomas
- INSERM (U-1172) Laboratoire Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, équipe Plasticity & Subjectivity, Plateforme CURE, Hôpital Fontan, CHU de Lille, Psychiatry Department, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", University Sapienza of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Stefania Maccari
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, GlycoStress Team, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- Department of Science and Medical-Surgical Biotechnology, University Sapienza of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
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Li Y, Huang X, Hu Y, Yang L, Zhang X, Chen Q. Alleviating Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Stress: A Chinese Medicine Approach in Neonatal Rats. Biomed Res Int 2024; 2024:2733884. [PMID: 38464682 PMCID: PMC10924680 DOI: 10.1155/2024/2733884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Premature infants are exposed to numerous stressors in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during a crucial period for brain development; this period exerts long-term influences on cognitive and behavioral development. Aims To evaluate the effect of NICU-related stress on neonatal rat pups and explore the effect of Chinese medicine treatment (CMT). Methods Sixty male rat pups were randomly assigned to three groups: the control group, the NICU group (NICU-related stress), and the CMT group (NICU-related stress plus CMT). All stressors and interventions were administered from 0 to 7 days after birth. Body weight, serum corticosterone levels, and behavior in the open field (OF) test, elevated plus maze (EPM) test, sucrose preference test, and Morris water maze (MWM) test were recorded, and blood samples were collected at five different time points (T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4). Results The body weights of rats in the CMT and control groups were heavier than those in the NICU group in both early life and adulthood (P < 0.05). Serum corticosterone levels significantly differed with time (except T0 vs. T1 and T3 vs. T4) but did not significantly differ among the three groups (F = 0.441, P = 0.894). Regardless of age, spatial memory and anxiety-like and depression-like behavior did not differ among the three groups. Conclusion NICU-related stress exerted a long-term effect on rat growth and development but did not affect spatial memory, anxiety-like behavior, depression-like behavior, or serum corticosterone levels. CMT alleviated the impact of NICU-related stress on rats and promoted the growth and development of neonatal rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxin Li
- Department of Neonatology Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xi Huang
- Department of Neonatology Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanlin Hu
- Department of Neonatology Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Liming Yang
- Department of Neonatology Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiujuan Zhang
- Department of Neonatology Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiong Chen
- Department of Neonatology Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Breton JM, Cort Z, Demaestri C, Critz M, Nevins S, Downend K, Ofray D, Romeo RD, Bath KG. Early life adversity reduces affiliative behavior with a stressed cagemate and leads to sex-specific alterations in corticosterone responses in adult mice. Horm Behav 2024; 158:105464. [PMID: 38070354 PMCID: PMC10872397 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Experiencing early life adversity (ELA) alters stress physiology and increases the risk for developing psychiatric disorders. The social environment can influence dynamics of stress responding and buffer and/or transfer stress across individuals. Yet, the impact of ELA on sensitivity to the stress of others and social behavior following stress is unknown. Here, to test the impact of ELA on social and physiological responses to stress, circulating blood corticosterone (CORT) and social behaviors were assessed in adult male and female mice reared under limited bedding and nesting (LBN) or control conditions. To induce stress, one cagemate of a pair-housed cage underwent a footshock paradigm and was then returned to their unshocked partner. CORT was measured in both groups of mice 20 or 90 min after stress exposure, and social behaviors were recorded and analyzed. ELA rearing influenced the CORT response to stress in a sex-specific manner. In males, both control and ELA-reared mice exhibited similar stress transfer to unshocked cagemates and similar CORT dynamics. In contrast, ELA females showed a heightened stress transfer to unshocked cagemates, and sustained elevation of CORT relative to controls, indicating enhanced stress contagion and a failure to terminate the stress response. Behaviorally, ELA females displayed decreased allogrooming and increased investigative behaviors, while ELA males showed reduced huddling. Together, these findings demonstrate that ELA influenced HPA axis dynamics, social stress contagion and social behavior. Further research is needed to unravel the underlying mechanisms and long-term consequences of ELA on stress systems and their impact on behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn M Breton
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Zoey Cort
- Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, New York, NY, USA
| | - Camila Demaestri
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Madalyn Critz
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Samuel Nevins
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kendall Downend
- Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dayshalis Ofray
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Russell D Romeo
- Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin G Bath
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Bjørklund G, Tippairote T, Hangan T, Chirumbolo S, Peana M. Early-Life Lead Exposure: Risks and Neurotoxic Consequences. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:1620-1633. [PMID: 37031386 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230409135310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead (Pb) does not have any biological function in a human, and it is likely no safe level of Pb in the human body. The Pb exposure impacts are a global concern for their potential neurotoxic consequences. Despite decreasing both the environmental Pb levels and the average blood Pb levels in the survey populations, the lifetime redistribution from the tissues-stored Pb still poses neurotoxic risks from the low-level exposure in later life. The growing fetus and children hold their innate high-susceptible to these Pb-induced neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral effects. OBJECTIVE This article aims to evaluate cumulative studies and insights on the topic of Pb neurotoxicology while assessing the emerging trends in the field. RESULTS The Pb-induced neurochemical and neuro-immunological mechanisms are likely responsible for the high-level Pb exposure with the neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral impacts at the initial stages. Early-life Pb exposure can still produce neurodegenerative consequences in later life due to the altered epigenetic imprints and the ongoing endogenous Pb exposure. Several mechanisms contribute to the Pb-induced neurotoxic impacts, including the direct neurochemical effects, the induction of oxidative stress and inflammation through immunologic activations, and epigenetic alterations. Furthermore, the individual nutritional status, such as macro-, micro-, or antioxidant nutrients, can significantly influence the neurotoxic impacts even at low-level exposure to Pb. CONCLUSION The prevention of early-life Pb exposure is, therefore, the critical determinant for alleviating various Pb-induced neurotoxic impacts across the different age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Toften 24, Mo i Rana, 8610, Norway
| | - Torsak Tippairote
- Department of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, HP Medical Center, Bangkok 10540, Thailand
| | - Tony Hangan
- Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, 900470, Romania
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
- CONEM Scientific Secretary, Strada Le Grazie 9, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Peana
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, 07100, Italy
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Gundacker A, Glat M, Wais J, Stoehrmann P, Pollak A, Pollak DD. Early-life iron deficiency persistently disrupts affective behaviour in mice. Ann Med 2023; 55:1265-1277. [PMID: 37096819 PMCID: PMC10132221 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2191003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutrient deficiency, affecting two billion people worldwide, including about 30% of pregnant women. During gestation, the brain is particularly vulnerable to environmental insults, which can irrevocably impair critical developmental processes. Consequently, detrimental consequences of early-life ID for offspring brain structure and function have been described. Although early life ID has been associated with an increased long-term risk for several neuropsychiatric disorders, the effect on depressive disorders has remained unresolved. MATERIALS AND METHODS A mouse model of moderate foetal and neonatal ID was established by keeping pregnant dams on an iron-deficient diet throughout gestation until postnatal day 10. The ensuing significant decrease of iron content in the offspring brain, as well as the impact on maternal behaviour and offspring vocalization was determined in the first postnatal week. The consequences of early-life ID for depression- and anxiety-like behaviour in adulthood were revealed employing dedicated behavioural assays. miRNA sequencing of hippocampal tissue of offspring revealed specific miRNAs signatures accompanying the behavioural deficits of foetal and neonatal ID in the adult brain. RESULTS Mothers receiving iron-deficient food during pregnancy and lactation exhibited significantly less licking and grooming behaviour, while active pup retrieval and pup ultrasonic vocalizations were unaltered. Adult offspring with a history of foetal and neonatal ID showed an increase in depression- and anxiety-like behaviour, paralleled by a deranged miRNA expression profile in the hippocampus, specifically levels of miR200a and miR200b. CONCLUSION ID during the foetal and neonatal periods has life-long consequences for affective behaviour in mice and leaves a specific and persistent mark on the expression of miRNAs in the brain. Foetal and neonatal ID needs to be further considered as risk factor for the development of depression and anxiety disorders later in life.Key MessagesMarginal reduction of gestational alimentary iron intake decreases brain iron content of the juvenile offspring.Early-life ID is associated with increased depression- and anxiety-like behaviour in adulthood.Reduction of maternal alimentary iron intake during pregnancy is reflected in an alteration of miRNA signatures in the adult offspring brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gundacker
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Micaela Glat
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonathan Wais
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Stoehrmann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arnold Pollak
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela D. Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Brosens N, Simon C, Kessels HW, Lucassen PJ, Krugers HJ. Early life stress lastingly alters the function and AMPA-receptor composition of glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus of male mice. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13346. [PMID: 37901923 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Early postnatal life is a sensitive period of development that shapes brain structure and function later in life. Exposure to stress during this critical time window can alter brain development and may enhance the susceptibility to psychopathology and neurodegenerative disorders later in life. The developmental effects of early life stress (ELS) on synaptic function are not fully understood, but could provide mechanistic insights into how ELS modifies later brain function and disease risk. We here assessed the effects of ELS on synaptic function and composition in the hippocampus of male mice. Mice were subjected to ELS by housing dams and pups with limited bedding and nesting material from postnatal days (P) 2-9. Synaptic strength was measured in terms of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus at three different developmental stages: the early postnatal phase (P9), preadolescence (P21, at weaning) and adulthood at 3 months of age (3MO). Hippocampal synaptosome fractions were isolated from P9 and 3MO tissue and analyzed for protein content to assess postsynaptic composition. Finally, dendritic spine density was assessed in the DG at 3MO. At P9, ELS increased mEPSC frequency and amplitude. In parallel, synaptic composition was altered as PSD-95, GluA3 and GluN2B content were significantly decreased. The increased mEPSC frequency was sustained up to 3MO, at which age, GluA3 content was significantly increased. No differences were found in dendritic spine density. These findings highlight how ELS affects the development of hippocampal synapses, which could provide valuable insight into mechanisms how ELS alters brain function later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niek Brosens
- SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carla Simon
- SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Paul J Lucassen
- SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harm J Krugers
- SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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LaDage LD, McCormick GL, Robbins TR, Longwell AS, Langkilde T. The effects of early-life and intergenerational stress on the brain. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231356. [PMID: 38018110 PMCID: PMC10685117 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress experienced during ontogeny can have profound effects on the adult phenotype. However, stress can also be experienced intergenerationally, where an offspring's phenotype can be moulded by stress experienced by the parents. Although early-life and intergenerational stress can alter anatomy, physiology, and behaviour, nothing is known about how these stress contexts interact to affect the neural phenotype. Here, we examined how early-life and intergenerational stress affect the brain in eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus). Some lizard populations co-occur with predatory fire ants, and stress from fire ant attacks exerts intergenerational physiological and behavioural changes in lizards. However, it is unclear if intergenerational stress, or the interaction between intergenerational and early-life stress, modulates the brain. To test this, we captured gravid females from fire ant invaded and uninvaded populations, and subjected offspring to three early-life stress treatments: (1) fire ant attack, (2) corticosterone, or (3) a control. Corticosterone and fire ant attack decreased some aspects of the neural phenotype while population of origin and the interaction of early-life stress and population had no effects on the brain. These results suggest that early-life stressors may better predict adult brain variation than intergenerational stress in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara D. LaDage
- Division of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Penn State Altoona, 3000 Ivyside Dr., Altoona, PA 16601, USA
| | - Gail L. McCormick
- Eberly College of Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Travis R. Robbins
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Anna S. Longwell
- Division of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Penn State Altoona, 3000 Ivyside Dr., Altoona, PA 16601, USA
| | - Tracy Langkilde
- Eberly College of Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Gundacker A, Cuenca Rico L, Stoehrmann P, Tillmann KE, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Pollak DD. Interaction of the pre- and postnatal environment in the maternal immune activation model. Discov Ment Health 2023; 3:15. [PMID: 37622027 PMCID: PMC10444676 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-023-00042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Adverse influences during pregnancy are associated with a range of unfavorable outcomes for the developing offspring. Maternal psychosocial stress, exposure to infections and nutritional imbalances are known risk factors for neurodevelopmental derangements and according psychiatric and neurological manifestations later in offspring life. In this context, the maternal immune activation (MIA) model has been extensively used in preclinical research to study how stimulation of the maternal immune system during gestation derails the tightly coordinated sequence of fetal neurodevelopment. The ensuing consequence of MIA for offspring brain structure and function are majorly manifested in behavioral and cognitive abnormalities, phenotypically presenting during the periods of adolescence and adulthood. These observations have been interpreted within the framework of the "double-hit-hypothesis" suggesting that an elevated risk for neurodevelopmental disorders results from an individual being subjected to two adverse environmental influences at distinct periods of life, jointly leading to the emergence of pathology. The early postnatal period, during which the caregiving parent is the major determinant of the newborn´s environment, constitutes a window of vulnerability to external stimuli. Considering that MIA not only affects the developing fetus, but also impinges on the mother´s brain, which is in a state of heightened malleability during pregnancy, the impact of MIA on maternal brain function and behavior postpartum may importantly contribute to the detrimental consequences for her progeny. Here we review current information on the interaction between the prenatal and postnatal maternal environments in the modulation of offspring development and their relevance for the pathophysiology of the MIA model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gundacker
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Cuenca Rico
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Stoehrmann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina E. Tillmann
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniela D. Pollak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse, 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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11
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Heng V, Zigmond M, Smeyne RJ. Neuroanatomical and neurochemical effects of prolonged social isolation in adult mice. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1190291. [PMID: 37662476 PMCID: PMC10471319 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1190291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction As social animals, our health depends in part on interactions with other human beings. Yet millions suffer from chronic social isolation, including those in nursing/assisted living facilities, people experiencing chronic loneliness as well as those in enforced isolation within our criminal justice system. While many historical studies have examined the effects of early isolation on the brain, few have examined its effects when this condition begins in adulthood. Here, we developed a model of adult isolation using mice (C57BL/6J) born and raised in an enriched environment. Methods From birth until 4 months of age C57BL/6J mice were raised in an enriched environment and then maintained in that environment or moved to social isolation for 1 or 3 months. We then examined neuronal structure and catecholamine and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels from different regions of the brain, comparing animals from social isolation to enriched environment controls. Results We found significant changes in neuronal volume, dendritic length, neuronal complexity, and spine density that were dependent on brain region, sex, and duration of the isolation. Isolation also altered dopamine in the striatum and serotonin levels in the forebrain in a sex-dependent manner, and also reduced levels of BDNF in the motor cortex and hippocampus of male but not female mice. Conclusion These studies show that isolation that begins in adulthood imparts a significant change on the homeostasis of brain structure and chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibol Heng
- Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michael Zigmond
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Richard Jay Smeyne
- Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Breton JM, Cort Z, Demaestri C, Critz M, Nevins S, Downend K, Ofray D, Romeo RD, Bath KG. Early life adversity reduces affiliative behavior towards a distressed cagemate and leads to sex-specific alterations in corticosterone responses. bioRxiv 2023:2023.07.20.549876. [PMID: 37502995 PMCID: PMC10370200 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.20.549876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Experiencing early life adversity (ELA) alters stress physiology and increases the risk for developing psychiatric disorders. The social environment can influence dynamics of stress responding and buffer and/or transfer stress across individuals. Yet, the impact of ELA on sensitivity to the stress of others and social behavior following stress is unknown. Here, to test the impact of ELA on social and physiological responses to stress, circulating blood corticosterone (CORT) and social behaviors were assessed in adult male and female mice reared under limited bedding and nesting (LBN) or control conditions. To induce stress, one cagemate of a pair-housed cage underwent a footshock paradigm and was then returned to their unshocked partner. CORT was measured in both mice 20 or 90 minutes after stress exposure, and social behaviors were recorded and analyzed. ELA rearing influenced the CORT response to stress in a sex-specific manner. In males, both control and ELA-reared mice exhibited similar stress transfer to unshocked cagemates and similar CORT dynamics. In contrast, ELA females showed a heightened stress transfer to unshocked cagemates, and sustained elevation of CORT relative to controls, indicating enhanced stress contagion and a failure to terminate the stress response. Behaviorally, ELA females displayed decreased allogrooming and increased investigative behaviors, while ELA males showed reduced huddling. Together, these findings demonstrate that ELA influenced HPA axis dynamics, social stress contagion and social behavior. Further research is needed to unravel the underlying mechanisms and long-term consequences of ELA on stress systems and their impact on behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn M Breton
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zoey Cort
- Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, New York, NY, USA
| | - Camila Demaestri
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Madalyn Critz
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel Nevins
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kendall Downend
- Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dayshalis Ofray
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Russell D Romeo
- Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin G Bath
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
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13
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Jyothi AK, Thotakura B, Priyadarshini C S, Subramanian M, Rajila HS. Evidence of alterations in the learning and memory in offspring of stress-induced male rats. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2023; 34:473-487. [PMID: 34428362 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is extensive data pointing to offspring outcomes related to maternal life incidents, but there is less research concerning the association between paternal life events and progeny brain development and behaviour. As male gametogenesis is a continuous process, the incidences happening in life can modify the epigenetic regulation, altering the offspring's development and behaviour. The present study evaluates the effects of paternal stress during different life periods on their offspring's learning ability, memory, morphological and biochemical changes in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in the rat model. METHODS Four weeks' old male rats were subjected to five variable stressors at the rate of one per day. Stress received male rats were bred with naive female rats for 1 to 3 nights. The offspring's learning and memory were assessed by the Morris water maze test and automated Y maze. Following behavioural studies, offspring were euthanized to examine global DNA methylation, neurotransmitter levels, namely acetylcholine, glutamate in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. RESULTS The offspring of stress-induced animals exhibited a delay in acquiring learning and defect in memory and altered global DNA methylation in the hippocampus (p=0.000124). There was significant reduction of acetylcholine and glutamate levels in hippocampus (p=0.000018, p=0.00001, respectively) and in prefrontal cortex (p=0.00001, p=0.00001, respectively). HPA axis of offspring was altered considerably (p=0.00001). The histomorphometry of the prefrontal cortex and different hippocampal regions revealed a statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in neuronal numbers in the offspring of stressed animals compared to that of control. These impacts were markedly high in the offspring of fathers who received stress during both pubertal and adult periods. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study demonstrate that paternal stress can impact offspring learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Kumar Jyothi
- Department of Anatomy, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India
- Department of Anatomy, Tagore Medical College & Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Balaji Thotakura
- Department of Anatomy, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Manickam Subramanian
- Department of Anatomy, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Downey BC, Tucker CB. Early life access to hay does not affect later life oral behavior in feed-restricted heifers. J Dairy Sci 2023:S0022-0302(23)00354-5. [PMID: 37331875 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Dairy cattle are often raised in environments that lack natural feeding opportunities, and they perform abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) as a result. Early life restriction can affect later life behavior. We evaluated whether access to hay in the milk-fed period would affect later life behavior in heifers experiencing short-term feed restriction and whether individuals were consistent in behavioral expression over time. We had 2 competing ideas about how this would unfold. First, being raised with hay, which reduced early life ARBs, could lead to fewer ARBs later in life. Alternatively, heifers that were raised without hay and performed more ARBs in early life might be more prepared for a later feed-restricted environment and thus engage in fewer ARBs than those raised with hay. We studied 24 pair-housed Holstein heifers. As calves, they were fed milk and grain from 0 to 7 wk of age (control) or given additional forage (hay). Tongue rolling, tongue flicking, nonnutritive oral manipulation (NNOM) of pen fixtures, self-grooming, and water drinking were recorded for 12 h (0800-2000 h) during wk 4 and 6 of life using 1-0 sampling at 5-s intervals. At the start of weaning at d 50, all calves were fed a total mixed ration. All calves were fully weaned at d 60 and socially housed by d 65 to 70. After this point, all individuals were raised the same way, according to farm protocol, in groups that included both treatments. At 12.4 ± 0.6 mo of age (mean ± standard deviation), heifers were restricted to 50% of their ad libitum total mixed ration intake for 2 d as part of a short-term feed challenge. Using continuous video recording from 0800 to 2000 h on d 2 of feed restriction, we scored time spent performing oral behaviors: the 5 previously scored while they were calves, along with intersucking, allogrooming, drinking urine, NNOM of rice hull bedding, and NNOM of feed bins. We found that early life access to hay did not affect behavior performed by heifers experiencing short-term feed restriction 1 yr later. Most heifers performed a wide variety of behaviors that appeared abnormal. All heifers performed tongue rolling and NNOM, and at higher levels than when they were calves, while tongue flicks and self-grooming were performed less by heifers. Individual performance of NNOM and tongue rolling were not related across age classes [correlation coefficient (r) = 0.17 and 0.11, respectively], but tongue flicks tended to be correlated (r = 0.37). Intersucking was recorded in 67% of heifers, despite their not being able to suckle a conspecific or dam in early life. Oral behaviors were highly variable across heifers, particularly tongue rolling and intersucking. Outliers, or extreme performance of oral behaviors relative to the rest of the population, were present for many behaviors. Most outliers were expressed by unique heifers that were not extreme in other behaviors. Overall, feeding individually housed, milk-limited calves hay for their first 7 wk did not affect later life performance of oral behaviors. The considerable variability, inconsistency across ages, and excessive performance of some behaviors raises additional questions about how these develop in cattle across life stages and about what we label "abnormal."
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair C Downey
- Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis 95616; Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - Cassandra B Tucker
- Center for Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis 95616.
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15
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Tkaczynski PJ, Mafessoni F, Girard-Buttoz C, Samuni L, Ackermann CY, Fedurek P, Gomes C, Hobaiter C, Löhrich T, Manin V, Preis A, Valé PD, Wessling EG, Wittiger L, Zommers Z, Zuberbuehler K, Vigilant L, Deschner T, Wittig RM, Crockford C. Shared community effects and the non-genetic maternal environment shape cortisol levels in wild chimpanzees. Commun Biol 2023; 6:565. [PMID: 37237178 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04909-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms of inheritance remain poorly defined for many fitness-mediating traits, especially in long-lived animals with protracted development. Using 6,123 urinary samples from 170 wild chimpanzees, we examined the contributions of genetics, non-genetic maternal effects, and shared community effects on variation in cortisol levels, an established predictor of survival in long-lived primates. Despite evidence for consistent individual variation in cortisol levels across years, between-group effects were more influential and made an overwhelming contribution to variation in this trait. Focusing on within-group variation, non-genetic maternal effects accounted for 8% of the individual differences in average cortisol levels, significantly more than that attributable to genetic factors, which was indistinguishable from zero. These maternal effects are consistent with a primary role of a shared environment in shaping physiology. For chimpanzees, and perhaps other species with long life histories, community and maternal effects appear more relevant than genetic inheritance in shaping key physiological traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Tkaczynski
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Fabrizio Mafessoni
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Cédric Girard-Buttoz
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- The Ape Social Mind Lab, Institut des Sciences Cognitives, CNRS UMR 5229, Lyon, France
| | - Liran Samuni
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Centre for Social Learning & Cognitive Evolution, School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Corinne Y Ackermann
- Universite de Neuchatel, Institut de Biologie, Cognition Compare, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Pawel Fedurek
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Cristina Gomes
- Tropical Conservation Institute, Institute of Environment, College of Arts, Science and Education, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Catherine Hobaiter
- Centre for Social Learning & Cognitive Evolution, School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Therese Löhrich
- World Wide Fund for Nature, Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas, BP 1053, Bangui, Central African Republic
- Robert Koch Institute, Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Berlin, Germany
| | - Virgile Manin
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Anna Preis
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Prince D Valé
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- Unité de Formation et de Recherche Agroferesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Erin G Wessling
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Zinta Zommers
- Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Klaus Zuberbuehler
- Universite de Neuchatel, Institut de Biologie, Cognition Compare, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Linda Vigilant
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Institute of Cognitive Science, Comparative BioCognition, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Roman M Wittig
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- The Ape Social Mind Lab, Institut des Sciences Cognitives, CNRS UMR 5229, Lyon, France
| | - Catherine Crockford
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- The Ape Social Mind Lab, Institut des Sciences Cognitives, CNRS UMR 5229, Lyon, France
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Abstract
According to several theories, people differ in their sensitivity to environmental influences with some more susceptible than others to both supportive and adverse contextual conditions. Such differences in environmental sensitivity have a genetic basis but are also shaped by environmental factors. Herein we narratively build on our previous work proposing that prenatal experiences contribute to the development of environmental sensitivity. This hypothesis of prenatal programming of postnatal plasticity has considerable empirical support. After presenting illustrative animal and human evidence consistent with this claim, we discuss a range of biological mechanisms likely involved in the pathway from prenatal stress exposure to postnatal environmental sensitivity. We also consider work suggesting that genetic differences, gender, as well as the timing, duration and intensity of prenatal exposures may moderate the effects of prenatal programming on postnatal environmental susceptibility or sensitivity. Before concluding, we highlight "unknowns in the prenatal programming of environmental sensitivity" and their practical implications. Ultimately, we conclude that prenatal stress does not necessarily predispose individuals to problematical development, but rather increases sensitivity to both adverse and supportive postnatal contexts. Thus, prenatal stress may actually foster positive development if paired with supportive and caring postnatal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hartman
- Department of Human Eology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jay Belsky
- Department of Human Eology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michael Pluess
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
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17
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Edelmann S, Wiegand A, Hentrich T, Pasche S, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Munk MHJ, Fallgatter AJ, Kreifelts B, Nieratschker V. Blood transcriptome analysis suggests an indirect molecular association of early life adversities and adult social anxiety disorder by immune-related signal transduction. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1125553. [PMID: 37181876 PMCID: PMC10168183 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1125553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by severe fear in social situations and avoidance of these. Multiple genetic as well as environmental factors contribute to the etiopathology of SAD. One of the main risk factors for SAD is stress, especially during early periods of life (early life adversity; ELA). ELA leads to structural and regulatory alterations contributing to disease vulnerability. This includes the dysregulation of the immune response. However, the molecular link between ELA and the risk for SAD in adulthood remains largely unclear. Evidence is emerging that long-lasting changes of gene expression patterns play an important role in the biological mechanisms linking ELA and SAD. Therefore, we conducted a transcriptome study of SAD and ELA performing RNA sequencing in peripheral blood samples. Analyzing differential gene expression between individuals suffering from SAD with high or low levels of ELA and healthy individuals with high or low levels of ELA, 13 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified with respect to SAD while no significant differences in expression were identified with respect to ELA. The most significantly expressed gene was MAPK3 (p = 0.003) being upregulated in the SAD group compared to control individuals. In contrary, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified only modules significantly associated with ELA (p ≤ 0.05), not with SAD. Furthermore, analyzing interaction networks of the genes from the ELA-associated modules and the SAD-related MAPK3 revealed complex interactions of those genes. Gene functional enrichment analyses indicate a role of signal transduction pathways as well as inflammatory responses supporting an involvement of the immune system in the association of ELA and SAD. In conclusion, we did not identify a direct molecular link between ELA and adult SAD by transcriptional changes. However, our data indicate an indirect association of ELA and SAD mediated by the interaction of genes involved in immune-related signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Edelmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ariane Wiegand
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Max Planck Fellow Group Precision Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Hentrich
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Genetics and Epigenetics, Faculty NT, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Sarah Pasche
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Julia Maria Schulze-Hentrich
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Genetics and Epigenetics, Faculty NT, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Matthias H. J. Munk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Andreas J. Fallgatter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Kreifelts
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Nieratschker
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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18
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Andrews J, Marcoul P. The long-term effects of climate shocks on social preferences. Personality and Individual Differences 2023; 203:112010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.112010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Dachew BA, Heron JE, Alati R. Parental depressive symptoms across the first three years of a child's life and emotional and behavioural problem trajectories in children and adolescents. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 159:135-144. [PMID: 36716565 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk associated with parental perinatal depressive symptoms and the continuum of emotional and behavioural problems in offspring is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal and paternal perinatal depressive symptoms and behavioural problem trajectories in offspring aged 3-16 years. METHODS We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in Bristol, Avon, United Kingdom (UK). Parental perinatal depressive symptoms in the first three years of a child's life were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Offspring emotional- and behavioural problems were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) when the child was 3.5, 7, 9, 11, and 16 years. A group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify the distinct trajectories of emotional and behavioural problems. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations, and z-scores were calculated to compare maternal and paternal associations. RESULTS We identified three trajectories of emotional and behavioural problems in offspring between the ages of 3.5 and 16: low, moderate and high symptom trajectories. We found that maternal and paternal antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms were associated with high levels of emotional and behavioural problem trajectories in offspring. We also found that children exposed to maternal (adjusted RR = 8.11; 95% CI: 5.26-12.48) and paternal (adjusted RR = 2.32; 1.05-5.14) persistent depressive symptoms were more likely to be in high levels of total behavioural problem trajectory group than in the normal trajectory group. The maternal-effect was stronger (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that exposure to parental depressive symptoms were associated with high levels of emotional and behavioural problem trajectories in offspring, with the maternal effect being stronger than the paternal effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jon E Heron
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Rosa Alati
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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20
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Lu WT, Zhao XC, Wang R, Li N, Song M, Wang L, Yu LL, Gao YY, Wang YM, An CX, Wang XY. Long-term effects of early stress due to earthquake exposure on depression symptoms in adulthood: a cross-sectional study. Injury 2023; 54:207-213. [PMID: 35989117 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2022.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of early stress by Tangshan earthquake on symptoms of depression in adulthood. METHOD A total of 1534 volunteers born and raised in Tangshan were investigated; finally, 1328 subjects were enrolled in the study. They were divided into three groups according to their birth dates: infant exposure, prenatal exposure, and non-exposure. The questionnaires and psychological evaluation of all subjects were completed using a one-on-one psychological test. RESULTS The rate of depressive symptoms in the prenatal exposure group was the highest, and the lowest in the non-exposure group, with statistical differences among the three groups (P = 0.002). Moreover, the incidences of depressed mood, suicide ideation and work and loss of interest in the prenatal exposure group were significantly higher than those in the infant exposure group and the non-exposure group (P = 0.008, P = 0.001, P = 0.038, respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that male could be a protective factor for symptoms of depression in adulthood, and earthquake exposure was an important predictor of the incidence of depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Fetal or infancy exposure to earthquake might correlate to depression symptoms in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ting Lu
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xiao-Chuan Zhao
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Na Li
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Mei Song
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Lan Wang
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Lu-Lu Yu
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Gao
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yu-Mei Wang
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Cui-Xia An
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
| | - Xue-Yi Wang
- Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
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G Modrak C, S Wilkinson C, L Blount H, Schwendt M, A Knackstedt L. The role of mGlu receptors in susceptibility to stress-induced anhedonia, fear, and anxiety-like behavior. Int Rev Neurobiol 2023; 168:221-264. [PMID: 36868630 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Stress and trauma exposure contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in a subset of people. A large body of preclinical work has found that the metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) family of G protein-coupled receptors regulate several behaviors that are part of the symptom clusters for both PTSD and MDD, including anhedonia, anxiety, and fear. Here, we review this literature, beginning with a summary of the wide variety of preclinical models used to assess these behaviors. We then summarize the involvement of Group I and II mGlu receptors in these behaviors. Bringing together this extensive literature reveals that mGlu5 signaling plays distinct roles in anhedonia, fear, and anxiety-like behavior. mGlu5 promotes susceptibility to stress-induced anhedonia and resilience to stress-induced anxiety-like behavior, while serving a fundamental role in the learning underlying fear conditioning. The medial prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and ventral hippocampus are key regions where mGlu5, mGlu2, and mGlu3 regulate these behaviors. There is strong support that stress-induced anhedonia arises from decreased glutamate release and post-synaptic mGlu5 signaling. Conversely, decreasing mGlu5 signaling increases resilience to stress-induced anxiety-like behavior. Consistent with opposing roles for mGlu5 and mGlu2/3 in anhedonia, evidence suggests that increased glutamate transmission may be therapeutic for the extinction of fear learning. Thus, a large body of literature supports the targeting of pre- and post-synaptic glutamate signaling to ameliorate post-stress anhedonia, fear, and anxiety-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra G Modrak
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Courtney S Wilkinson
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Harrison L Blount
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Marek Schwendt
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Lori A Knackstedt
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for Addiction Research and Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
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22
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Fidilio A, Grasso M, Caruso G, Musso N, Begni V, Privitera A, Torrisi SA, Campolongo P, Schiavone S, Tascedda F, Leggio GM, Drago F, Riva MA, Caraci F. Prenatal stress induces a depressive-like phenotype in adolescent rats: The key role of TGF-β1 pathway. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1075746. [DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1075746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressful experiences early in life, especially in the prenatal period, can increase the risk to develop depression during adolescence. However, there may be important qualitative and quantitative differences in outcome of prenatal stress (PNS), where some individuals exposed to PNS are vulnerable and develop a depressive-like phenotype, while others appear to be resilient. PNS exposure, a well-established rat model of early life stress, is known to increase vulnerability to depression and a recent study demonstrated a strong interaction between transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) gene and PNS in the pathogenesis of depression. Moreover, it is well-known that the exposure to early life stress experiences induces brain oxidative damage by increasing nitric oxide levels and decreasing antioxidant factors. In the present work, we examined the role of TGF-β1 pathway in an animal model of adolescent depression induced by PNS obtained by exposing pregnant females to a stressful condition during the last week of gestation. We performed behavioral tests to identify vulnerable or resilient subjects in the obtained litters (postnatal day, PND > 35) and we carried out molecular analyses on hippocampus, a brain area with a key role in the pathogenesis of depression. We found that female, but not male, PNS adolescent rats exhibited a depressive-like behavior in forced swim test (FST), whereas both male and female PNS rats showed a deficit of recognition memory as assessed by novel object recognition test (NOR). Interestingly, we found an increased expression of type 2 TGF-β1 receptor (TGFβ-R2) in the hippocampus of both male and female resilient PNS rats, with higher plasma TGF-β1 levels in male, but not in female, PNS rats. Furthermore, PNS induced the activation of oxidative stress pathways by increasing inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1) and NOX2 levels in the hippocampus of both male and female PNS adolescent rats. Our data suggest that high levels of TGF-β1 and its receptor TGFβ-R2 can significantly increase the resiliency of adolescent rats to PNS, suggesting that TGF-β1 pathway might represent a novel pharmacological target to prevent adolescent depression in rats.
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23
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Houdelier C, Charrier M, Le Bot O, Aigueperse N, Marasco V, Lumineau S. The presence of a mother counteracts prenatal stress in a precocial bird. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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24
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Sze Y, Fernandes J, Kołodziejczyk ZM, Brunton PJ. Maternal glucocorticoids do not directly mediate the effects of maternal social stress on the fetus. J Endocrinol 2022; 255:143-158. [PMID: 36256689 PMCID: PMC9716396 DOI: 10.1530/joe-22-0226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Stress during pregnancy negatively affects the fetus and increases the risk for affective disorders in adulthood. Excess maternal glucocorticoids are thought to mediate fetal programming; however, whether they exert their effects directly or indirectly remains unclear. During pregnancy, protective mechanisms including maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyporesponsiveness and placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD) type 2, which inactivates glucocorticoids, limit mother-to-fetus glucocorticoid transfer. However, whether repeated stress negatively impacts these mechanisms is not known. Pregnant rats were exposed to repeated social stress on gestational days (GD) 16-20 and several aspects of HPA axis and glucocorticoid regulation, including concentrations of glucocorticoids, gene expression for their receptors (Nr3c1, Nr3c2), receptor chaperones (Fkbp51, Fkbp52) and enzymes that control local glucocorticoid availability (Hsd11b1, Hsd11b2), were investigated in the maternal, placental and fetal compartments on GD20. The maternal HPA axis was activated following stress, though the primary driver was vasopressin, rather than corticotropin-releasing hormone. Despite the stress-induced increase in circulating corticosterone in the dams, only a modest increase was detected in the circulation of female fetuses, with no change in the fetal brain of either sex. Moreover, there was no change in the expression of genes that mediate glucocorticoid actions or modulate local concentrations in the fetal brain. In the placenta labyrinth zone, stress increased Hsd11b2 expression only in males and Fkbp51 expression only in females. Our results indicate that any role glucocorticoids play in fetal programming is likely indirect, perhaps through sex-dependent alterations in placental gene expression, rather than exerting effects via direct crossover into the fetal brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sze
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, UK
| | - Joana Fernandes
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, UK
| | | | - Paula J Brunton
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, UK
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, International Campus, Haining, Zhejiang, P.R. China
- Correspondence should be addressed to P J Brunton:
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25
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Abstract
The experience of prolonged stress changes how individuals interact with their environment and process interoceptive cues, with the end goal of optimizing survival and well-being in the face of a now-hostile world. The chronic stress response includes numerous changes consistent with limiting further damage to the organism, including development of passive or active behavioral strategies and metabolic adjustments to alter energy mobilization. These changes are consistent with symptoms of pathology in humans, and as a result, chronic stress has been used as a translational model for diseases such as depression. While it is of heuristic value to understand symptoms of pathology, we argue that the chronic stress response represents a defense mechanism that is, at its core, adaptive in nature. Transition to pathology occurs only after the adaptive capacity of an organism is exhausted. We offer this perspective as a means of framing interpretations of chronic stress studies in animal models and how these data relate to adaptation as opposed to pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Radley
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - James P Herman
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
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26
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Dunn KE, Turner GM, Oswald LM. Effects of Early Life Trauma on Risks for Adult Opioid Use Disorder Are Mediated by Stress and Occur Independent of Depression and Anxiety. J Addict Med 2022; 16:709-715. [PMID: 35914024 PMCID: PMC10834051 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Adverse childhood experiences, or early life trauma (ELT), may be a potential risk factor for opioid use disorders (OUDs) that could be further influenced by depression, anxiety, and stress. The prevalence and strength of these associations are largely unknown. METHODS This study examined the association between current OUD severity and lifetime history of ELT, and the degree to which current depression, anxiety, and stress influenced this association, in persons (n = 310) with at least 1 lifetime exposure to opioids using an online survey. RESULTS Ninety-three percent of respondents experienced at least 1 trauma in their lifetime, and 65% met the criteria for OUD. Early life trauma was largely unassociated with demographics but demonstrated an almost "dose-dependent" association among all forms of ELT (total, general, physical, emotional, sexual), whereby more ELT was associated with more severe current OUD. A multivariate mediation model found perceived stress to be a robust mediator of this association. Current psychiatric functioning did not significantly moderate the relationship between ELT and OUD, suggesting that ELT may impact OUD severity at varying levels of psychiatric functioning. CONCLUSIONS These data support existing evidence that greater ELT may influence adult OUD severity and identify perceived stress as a potential mechanistic contributor to this association. Results are preliminary in nature but support continued research into mechanisms underlying the association between ELT and OUD, particularly conformational changes in the stress system resultant from ELT, and interventions to mitigate the impact of ELT on OUD development and/or develop trauma-informed OUD treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Dunn
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (KED, GMT); and Department of Family and Community Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD (LMO)
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27
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Pizarro Meléndez GP, Valero-Jara V, Acevedo-Hernández P, Thomas-Valdés S. Impact of polyphenols on stress and anxiety: a systematic review of molecular mechanisms and clinical evidence. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 64:2340-2357. [PMID: 36154755 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2122925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Mental health is a global public concern that contributes raising disability and premature death. Anxiety undertakes around 3.6% of the global population, while psychological stress is a condition associated to anxiety with a prevalence of 36.5%. Treatment for both mental conditions consist mainly of psychological therapy and pharmacotherapy, but the long-term drugs use can trigger adverse effects. Growing evidence shows the effect of specific food compounds on stress and anxiety treatment. The aim of this systematic review is to describe the molecular mechanisms related to dietary polyphenols administration from food matrix (considering food, juices or herbal/food extracts) and their effects on stress and/or anxiety, as well as review the available clinical evidence. Search was based on PRISMA Guidelines using peer-reviewed journal articles sourced from PubMed and Web of Science. A total of 38 articles were considered as eligible. The major effects for anxiety management were: reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation; HPA axis modulation; and regulation of some serotonergic/adrenergic pathways. There is a very limited evidence to conclude about the real effect of dietary polyphenols on stress. Although pharmacological treatment for mood disorders is essential, alternative therapies are necessary using non-pharmacological compounds to improve the long-term treatment effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viviana Valero-Jara
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias e Ingeniería para la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Paula Acevedo-Hernández
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias mención Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Samanta Thomas-Valdés
- Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
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28
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Nazzari S, Grumi S, Mambretti F, Villa M, Giorda R, Provenzi L; MOM-COPE Study Group. Maternal and infant NR3C1 and SLC6A4 epigenetic signatures of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: when timing matters. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:386. [PMID: 36114180 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02160-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress exposure during pregnancy is critically linked with maternal mental health and child development. The effects might involve altered patterns of DNA methylation in specific stress-related genes (i.e., glucocorticoid receptor gene, NR3C1, and serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4) and might be moderated by the gestational timing of stress exposure. In this study, we report on NR3C1 and SLC6A4 methylation status in Italian mothers and infants who were exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown during different trimesters of pregnancy. From May 2020 to February 2021, 283 mother-infant dyads were enrolled at delivery. Within 24 h from delivery, buccal cells were collected to assess NR3C1 (44 CpG sites) and SLC6A4 (13 CpG sites) methylation status. Principal component (PC) analyses were used to reduce methylation data dimension to one PC per maternal and infant gene methylation. Mother-infant dyads were split into three groups based on the pregnancy trimester (first, second, third), during which they were exposed to the COVID-19 lockdown. Mothers and infants who were exposed to the lockdown during the first trimester of pregnancy had lower NR3C1 and SLC6A4 methylation when compared to counterparts exposed during the second or third trimesters. The effect remained significant after controlling for confounders. Women who were pregnant during the pandemic and their infants might present altered epigenetic biomarkers of stress-related genes. As these epigenetic marks have been previously linked with a heightened risk of maternal psychiatric problems and less-than-optimal child development, mothers and infants should be adequately monitored for psychological health during and after the pandemic.
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29
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Eskandari F, Salimi M, Binayi F, Abdollahifar MA, Eftekhary M, Hedayati M, Ghanbarian H, Zardooz H. Investigating the Effects of Maternal Separation on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Glucose Homeostasis under Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Young Adult Male Rat Offspring. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 113:361-380. [PMID: 36088912 DOI: 10.1159/000526989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Given the suggested metabolic regulatory effects of stress-responsive genes and based on the impacts of early-life stress on HPA axis development, this study aimed to characterize the maternal separation (MS) impact on the communication between glucose metabolism and HPA axis dysregulations under chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). METHODS During the first 2 weeks of life, male Wistar rats were either exposed to MS or left undisturbed with their mothers (Std). Starting on postnatal day 50, the animals of each group were either left undisturbed in the standard group housing (Con) or underwent CSDS for 3 weeks. There were four groups (n = 10/group): Std-Con, MS-Con, Std-CSDS, and MS-CSDS. RESULTS Early and/or adult life adversity reduced β-cell number, muscular FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51) content, and BMI in adulthood. The reduction of β-cell number and BMI in the MS-CSDS rats were more profound than MS-Con group. CSDS either alone or in combination with MS reduced locomotor activity and increased and decreased corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRFR1) content, respectively, in hypothalamus and pancreas. Although, under CSDS, MS intensified HPA axis overactivity and reduced isolated islets' insulin secretion, it could promote resilience to depression symptoms. No differences were observed in hypothalamic Fkbp5 gene DNA methylation and glucose tolerance among groups. CONCLUSION MS exacerbated HPA axis overactivity and the endocrine pancreas dysfunctions under CSDS. The intensified corticosterone secretion and the diminished content of pancreatic CRFR1 protein could be involved in the reduced β-cell number and islets' insulin secretion under CSDS. The decreased muscular FKBP51 content might be a homeostatic response to slow down insulin resistance development under chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Eskandari
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Salimi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fateme Binayi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Amin Abdollahifar
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohamad Eftekhary
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Hedayati
- Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Ghanbarian
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Homeira Zardooz
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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30
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Zou Z, Xiang M, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Wang J, He Y, Min W, Zhou B. Associations of DNA methylation of HPA axis-related genes and neuroendocrine abnormalities in panic disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 142:105777. [PMID: 35504198 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of aberrant DNA methylation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-related genes (CRHR1, CRHR2, CRH, FKBP5, HSP90AA1, NR3C1, and POMC) in panic disorder (PD) development. We investigated the correlation among gene methylation levels, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and PD severity in patients. METHODS We compared the methylation levels of HPA axis-related genes between 178 patients with PD and 184 healthy controls using MethylTarget. We then measured ACTH and cortisol levels using chemiluminescence. Disease severity was assessed using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, patients with PD displayed significantly higher levels of ACTH and cortisol, and significantly reduced methylation levels of CRHR1, FKBP5, HSP90AA1, and NR3C1 after correcting for multiple testing using the false discovery method. A significant positive correlation was observed between the methylation of CRHR1, CRHR2, and NR3C1 and ACTH levels in patients with PD, and methylation levels of CRHR1 and NR3C1 were significantly positively related to cortisol levels. In addition, a negative correlation was observed between PD severity and the methylation of CRH, CRHR1, CRHR2, and HSP90AA1. CONCLUSION Aberrant methylation of HPA axis-related genes may predict PD development and impact ACTH and cortisol levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhili Zou
- Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
| | - Miao Xiang
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Yulan Huang
- Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Jinyu Wang
- Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Ying He
- Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Wenjiao Min
- Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Bo Zhou
- Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China; Key Laboratory of psychosomatic medicine,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610072, China.
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31
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Werthman EH, Colloca L, Oswald LM. Adverse childhood experiences and burn pain: a review of biopsychosocial mechanisms that may influence healing. Pain Rep 2022; 7:e1013. [PMID: 38304399 PMCID: PMC10833651 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect over half of the adults in the United States and are known to contribute to the development of a wide variety of negative health and behavioral outcomes. The consequences of ACE exposure have been studied in patient populations that include individuals with gynecologic, orthopedic, metabolic, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal conditions among others. Findings indicate that ACEs not only increase risks for chronic pain but also influence emotional responses to pain in many of these individuals. A growing body of research suggests that these effects may be the result of long-lasting changes induced by ACEs in neurobiological systems during early development. However, one area that is still largely unexplored concerns the effects of ACEs on burn patients, who account for almost 450,000 hospitalizations in the United States annually. Patients with severe burns frequently suffer from persistent pain that affects their well-being long after the acute injury, but considerable variability has been observed in the experience of pain across individuals. A literature search was conducted in CINAHL and PubMed to evaluate the possibility that previously documented ACE-induced changes in biological, psychological, and social processes might contribute to these differences. Findings suggest that better understanding of the role that ACEs play in burn outcomes could lead to improved treatment strategies, but further empirical research is needed to identify the predictors and mechanisms that dictate individual differences in pain outcomes in patients with ACE exposure and to clarify the role that ACE-related alterations play in early healing and recovery from burn injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H. Werthman
- Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, The Johns Hopkins Burn Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Luana Colloca
- Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research (CACPR), University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lynn M. Oswald
- Department of Family and Community Health, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
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32
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Yu P, Zhou J, Ge C, Fang M, Zhang Y, Wang H. Differential expression of placental 11β-HSD2 induced by high maternal glucocorticoid exposure mediates sex differences in placental and fetal development. Sci Total Environ 2022; 827:154396. [PMID: 35259391 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A variety of adverse environmental factors during pregnancy cause maternal chronic stress. Caffeine is a common stressor, and its consumption during pregnancy is widespread. Our previous study showed that prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) increased maternal blood glucocorticoid levels and caused abnormal development of offspring. However, the placental mechanism for fetal development inhibition caused by PCE-induced high maternal glucocorticoid has not been reported. This study investigated the effects of PCE-induced high maternal glucocorticoid level on placental and fetal development by regulating placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2) expression and its underlying mechanism. First, human placenta and umbilical cord blood samples were collected from women without prenatal use of synthetic glucocorticoids. We found that placental 11β-HSD2 expression was significantly correlated with umbilical cord blood cortisol level and birth weight in male newborns but not in females. Furthermore, we established a rat model of high maternal glucocorticoids induced by PCE (caffeine, 60 mg/kg·d, ig), and found that the expression of 11β-HSD2 in male PCE placenta was decreased and negatively correlated with the maternal/fetal/placental corticosterone levels. Meanwhile, we found abnormal placental structure and nutrient transporter expression. In vitro, BeWo cells were used and confirm that 11β-HSD2 mediated inhibition of placental nutrient transporter expression induced by high levels of glucocorticoid. Finally, combined with the animal and cell experiments, we further confirmed that high maternal glucocorticoid could activate the GR-C/EBPα-Egr1 signaling pathway, leading to decreased expression of 11β-HSD2 in males. However, there was no significant inhibition of placental 11β-HSD2 expression, placental and fetal development in females. In summary, we confirmed that high maternal glucocorticoids could regulate placental 11β-HSD2 expression in a sex-specific manner, leading to differences in placental and fetal development. This study provides the theoretical and experimental basis for analyzing the inhibition of fetoplacental development and its sex difference caused by maternal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxia Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Caiyun Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Man Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yuanzhen Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China.
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Abstract
Early life conditions can have a decisive influence on viability later in life. However, the influence of embryo density within a nest or body cavity on subsequent viability has received little attention within an ecological setting. This is surprising given that embryos often compete for limited resources, such as nutrients and oxygen, and this could influence their viability later in life through carry-over and compensatory effects. We show that the density of fertilized eggs within the nests of threespine stickleback males (Gasterosteus aculeatus) influences their viability after hatching. Embryos from larger broods hatch earlier and at a smaller size than those from smaller broods, which reduces their survival until the age of four weeks. This indicates a trade-off between the number and viability of offspring that males can raise to the hatching stage, which could explain the high incidence of partial egg cannibalism in nest-brooding fishes-as a strategy to improve the survival of remaining offspring. These results highlight the importance of considering conditions at the embryonic stage when evaluating the impact of early life conditions on viability and the adaptive value of reproductive decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Candolin
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sara Goncalves
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pankaj Pant
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Merlot E, Meunier-Salaün MC, Peuteman B, Père MC, Louveau I, Perruchot MH, Prunier A, Gardan-Salmon D, Gondret F, Quesnel H. Improving maternal welfare during gestation has positive outcomes on neonatal survival and modulates offspring immune response in pigs. Physiol Behav 2022; 249:113751. [PMID: 35217067 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Improving the housing of pregnant sows by giving them more space and access to deep straw had positive effects on their welfare, influenced their maternal behavior and improved the survival of their offspring. The present study aimed at determining whether these effects were actually due to environmental enrichment and whether the provision of straw pellets and wood can partly mimic the effects of straw bedding during gestation. Three graded levels of enrichment were used, that were, collective conventional pens on slatted floor (C, n = 26), the same pens with manipulable wood materials and distribution of straw pellets after the meals (CE, n = 30), and larger pens on deep straw litter (E, n = 27). Sows were then housed in identical farrowing crates from 105 days of gestation until weaning. Decreased stereotypies, blood neutrophils, and salivary cortisol, and increased behavioral investigation indicated that health and welfare of sows during gestation were improved in the E environment compared with the C environment. The CE sows responded as C or E sows depending on the trait. Piglet mortality rate in the first 12 h after birth was lower in E and CE litters than in C litters, but enrichment level during gestation had only small effects on lactating sow behavior and milk composition postpartum. On days 2 and 3 of lactation, E sows interrupted less often their nursing sequences than C and CE sows. On day 2, milk from both E and CE sows contained more minerals than that from C sows. In one-day-old piglets, the expression levels of genes encoding toll-like receptors (TLR2, TLR4) and cytokines (interleukin-1, -6 and -10) in whole blood after 20-h culture, were greater in E piglets than in CE or C piglets. In conclusion, housing sows in an enriched environment during gestation improved early neonatal survival, probably via moderate and cumulative positive effects on sow behavior, milk composition, and offspring innate immune response. The gradation in the effects observed in C, CE and E housing environment reinforced the hypothesis of a causal relationship between maternal environmental enrichment, sow welfare and postnatal piglet traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Merlot
- PEGASE, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35590, Saint Gilles, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hélène Quesnel
- PEGASE, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35590, Saint Gilles, France
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Keogh TM, Howard S, Gallagher S, Ginty AT. Cluster analysis reveals distinct patterns of childhood adversity, behavioral disengagement, and depression that predict blunted heart rate reactivity to acute psychological stress. Ann Behav Med 2022; 57:61-73. [PMID: 35568985 PMCID: PMC9773378 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is considerable evidence documenting associations between early life adversity, behavioral disengagement, and depression with blunted cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress. However, while often examined as independent predictors, it is also likely that a combination of these factors uniquely relate to cardiovascular reactivity. PURPOSE The present study employed multivariate cluster analysis to examine if distinct combinations of these outcomes relate to cardiovascular stress reactivity. METHODS Participants (N = 467) were predominantly female (60.6%) with a mean age of 19.30 years (SD = 0.82). Measures of early life adversity, behavioral disengagement, and depression were completed; in addition, participants had their blood pressure and heart rate monitored throughout a standardized stress testing session. Cardiovascular reactivity was calculated as the difference between mean stress and mean baseline cardiovascular values. RESULTS Analyses revealed two clusters with distinct patterns of exposure to early life adversity, levels of behavioral disengagement and depression, uniquely related to cardiovascular reactivity. In unadjusted models, Cluster 1 that was characterized by greater exposure to early life adversity, higher levels of behavioral disengagement and depression, was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) reactivity. Cluster 2 was characterized by reactivity values similar to the sample means. In fully adjusted models, Cluster 1 predicted heart rate reactivity to stress. CONCLUSIONS The present study identifies a behavioral cluster that is characteristic of a blunted heart rate reactivity profile, significantly extending the research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siobhán Howard
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland,Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Stephen Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland,Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Annie T Ginty
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
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Eskandari F, Salimi M, Hedayati M, Zardooz H. Maternal separation induced resilience to depression and spatial memory deficit despite intensifying hippocampal inflammatory responses to chronic social defeat stress in young adult male rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 425:113810. [PMID: 35189174 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Early life adversity has been suggested to affect neuroendocrine responses to subsequent stressors and accordingly vulnerability for behavioral disorders. This is the first work to study the effects of maternal separation (MS) stress on the co-occurrence of depression and cognitive impairments along with hippocampal inflammatory response under chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) in young adult male rats. During the first two postnatal weeks, the male pups were either exposed to MS or left undisturbed with their mothers (Std). Subsequently, starting on postnatal day 50, the animals of each group were either left undisturbed in the standard group housing (Con) or underwent CSDS for three weeks. Totally, there were four groups (n = 10/group), namely Std-Con, Ms-Con, Std-CSDS, and MS-CSDS. Pup retrieval test was performed on daily basis from PND1 to PND14. During the last week of the CSDS exposure, in the light phase, the behavioral tests and the retro-orbital blood sampling were performed to assess basal plasma corticosterone levels. Afterwards, the hippocampus of the animals was removed to measure the interleukin 1β (IL-1β) content. Exposure to CSDS increased the plasma corticosterone levels and induced social avoidance along with memory deficit. Maternal separation intensified hippocampal IL-1β contents as well as the plasma corticosterone levels in response to CSDS. Meanwhile, it facilitated the spatial learning and potentiated resilience to social avoidance and memory deficit. In conclusion, although maternal separation increased the basal plasma corticosterone levels, it could facilitate the learning process and induce resilience to the onset of depression and memory deficit in response to CSDS, probably through the compensatory increase in maternal care and the induction of mild hippocampal inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Eskandari
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Salimi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Hedayati
- Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Homeira Zardooz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Musillo C, Berry A, Cirulli F. Prenatal psychological or metabolic stress increases the risk for psychiatric disorders: the "funnel effect" model. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 136:104624. [PMID: 35304226 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Adverse stressful experiences in utero can redirect fetal brain development, ultimately leading to increased risk for psychiatric disorders. Obesity during pregnancy can have similar effects as maternal stress, affecting mental health in the offspring. In order to explain how similar outcomes may originate from different prenatal conditions, we propose a "funnel effect" model whereby maternal psychological or metabolic stress triggers the same evolutionarily conserved response pathways, increasing vulnerability for psychopathology. In this context, the placenta, which is the main mother-fetus interface, appears to facilitate such convergence, re-directing "stress" signals to the fetus. Characterizing converging pathways activated by different adverse environmental conditions is fundamental to assess the emergence of risk signatures of major psychiatric disorders, which might enable preventive measures in risk populations, and open up new diagnostics, and potentially therapeutic approaches for disease prevention and health promotion already during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Musillo
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; PhD Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Berry
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cirulli
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Lallai V, Manca L, Sherafat Y, Fowler CD. Effects of Prenatal Nicotine, THC, or Co-Exposure on Cognitive Behaviors in Adolescent Male and Female Rats. Nicotine Tob Res 2022; 24:1150-1160. [PMID: 35090174 PMCID: PMC9278841 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although there has been a decrease in the prevalence of tobacco smoking, exposure to nicotine during pregnancy remains a substantial problem worldwide. Further, given the recent escalation in e-cigarette use and legalization of cannabis, it has become essential to understand the effects of nicotine and cannabinoid co-exposure during early developmental stages. AIMS AND METHODS We systematically examined the effects of nicotine and/or THC prenatal exposure on cognitive behaviors in male and female offspring. Dams were exposed to nicotine vape or vehicle, and oral edible THC or vehicle, throughout pregnancy. Adolescent offspring were then tested in the prepulse inhibition test, novel object recognition task, and novelty suppressed feeding task. RESULTS At birth, pups from mothers exposed to nicotine vape or oral THC exhibited reduced body weight, compared to control pups. Prenatal nicotine vape exposure resulted in a decreased baseline startle reactivity in adolescent male and female rats, and in females, enhanced sensorimotor gating in the prepulse inhibition test. Prenatal nicotine and THC co-exposure resulted in significant deficits in the prepulse inhibition test in males. Deficits in short-term memory were also found in males prenatally exposed to THC, either alone or with nicotine co-exposure, and in females exposed to THC alone. Finally, in males, a modest increase in anxiety-associated behaviors was found with THC or nicotine exposure in the latency to approach a novel palatable food. CONCLUSIONS These studies demonstrate differential effects of prenatal exposure to e-cigarette nicotine vape and/or edible THC on cognitive function, with differing effects within male and female groups. IMPLICATIONS These studies demonstrate an impact of nicotine, THC, or co-exposure during early developmental stages in utero on behavioral outcomes in adolescence. These findings have important translational implications given the continued use of nicotine and THC containing products by pregnant women worldwide, which can be applied to support healthcare and policy efforts restricting nicotine and THC use during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Lallai
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Letizia Manca
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Yasmine Sherafat
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Christie D Fowler
- Corresponding Author: Christie D. Fowler, PhD, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, 1232 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-4550, USA. Telephone: 949-824-8363; Fax: 949-824-2447; E-mail:
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Condon EM, Dettmer A, Baker E, McFaul C, Stover CS. Early Life Adversity and Males: Biology, Behavior, and Implications for Fathers' Parenting. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104531. [PMID: 35063493 PMCID: PMC9236197 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Fathers have an important and unique influence on child development, but influences on fathers' parenting have been vastly understudied in the scientific literature. In particular, very little empirical research exists on the effects of early life adversity (ELA; e.g. childhood maltreatment, parental separation) on later parenting among fathers. In this review, we draw from both the human and non-human animal literature to examine the effects of ELA, specifically among males, in the following areas: 1) neurobiology and neurocognitive functioning, 2) hormones and hormone receptors, 3) gene-environment interactions and epigenetics, and 4) behavior and development. Based on these findings, we present a conceptual model to describe the biological and behavioral pathways through which exposure to ELA may influence parenting among males, with a goal of guiding future research and intervention development in this area. Empirical studies are needed to improve understanding of the relationship between ELA and father's parenting, inform the development of paternal and biparental interventions, and prevent intergenerational transmission of ELA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Condon
- University of Connecticut School of Nursing, 231 Glenbrook Rd, Storrs CT 06269, United States; Yale Early Stress and Adversity Consortium, United States.
| | - Amanda Dettmer
- Yale Early Stress and Adversity Consortium, United States; Yale Child Study Center, 230 S Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
| | - Ellie Baker
- Yale Child Study Center, 230 S Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06519, United States; Division of Psychology and Language Science, University College London (UCL), 26 Bedford Way, Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0AP, United Kingdom
| | - Ciara McFaul
- Yale Child Study Center, 230 S Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
| | - Carla Smith Stover
- Yale Early Stress and Adversity Consortium, United States; Yale Child Study Center, 230 S Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
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Gaszner T, Farkas J, Kun D, Ujvári B, Berta G, Csernus V, Füredi N, Kovács LÁ, Hashimoto H, Reglődi D, Kormos V, Gaszner B. Fluoxetine treatment supports predictive validity of the three hit model of depression in male PACAP heterozygous mice and underpins the impact of early life adversity on therapeutic efficacy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:995900. [PMID: 36213293 PMCID: PMC9537566 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.995900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the three hit concept of depression, interaction of genetic predisposition altered epigenetic programming and environmental stress factors contribute to the disease. Earlier we demonstrated the construct and face validity of our three hit concept-based mouse model. In the present work, we aimed to examine the predictive validity of our model, the third willnerian criterion. Fluoxetine treatment was applied in chronic variable mild stress (CVMS)-exposed (environmental hit) CD1 mice carrying one mutated allele of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide gene (genetic hit) that were previously exposed to maternal deprivation (epigenetic hit) vs. controls. Fluoxetine reduced the anxiety level in CVMS-exposed mice in marble burying test, and decreased the depression level in tail suspension test if mice were not deprived maternally. History of maternal deprivation caused fundamental functional-morphological changes in response to CVMS and fluoxetine treatment in the corticotropin-releasing hormone-producing cells of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and central amygdala, in tyrosine-hydroxylase content of ventral tegmental area, in urocortin 1-expressing cells of the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus, and serotonergic cells of the dorsal raphe nucleus. The epigenetic background of alterations was approved by altered acetylation of histone H3. Our findings further support the validity of both the three hit concept and that of our animal model. Reversal of behavioral and functional-morphological anomalies by fluoxetine treatment supports the predictive validity of the model. This study highlights that early life stress does not only interact with the genetic and environmental factors, but has strong influence also on therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Gaszner
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - József Farkas
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dániel Kun
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Balázs Ujvári
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gergely Berta
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Valér Csernus
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nóra Füredi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Ákos Kovács
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Hitoshi Hashimoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Molecular Research Center for Children’s Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Division of Bioscience, Institute for Datability Science, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Transdimensional Life Imaging Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Dóra Reglődi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- ELKH-PTE PACAP Research Group Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória Kormos
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School & Szentágothai Research Centre, Molecular Pharmacology Research Group, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Balázs Gaszner
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Balázs Gaszner,
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Chen W, Liu N, Shen S, Zhu W, Qiao J, Chang S, Dong J, Bai M, Ma L, Wang S, Jia W, Guo X, Li A, Xi J, Jiang C, Kang J. Fetal growth restriction impairs hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition via Tet1 in offspring. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109912. [PMID: 34731622 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) increases the risk for impaired cognitive function later in life. However, the precise mechanisms remain elusive. Using dexamethasone-induced FGR and protein restriction-influenced FGR mouse models, we observe learning and memory deficits in adult FGR offspring. FGR induces decreased hippocampal neurogenesis from the early post-natal period to adulthood by reducing the proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs). We further find a persistent decrease of Tet1 expression in hippocampal NSCs of FGR mice. Mechanistically, Tet1 downregulation results in hypermethylation of the Dll3 and Notch1 promoters and inhibition of Notch signaling, leading to reduced NSC proliferation. Overexpression of Tet1 activates Notch signaling, offsets the decline in neurogenesis, and enhances learning and memory abilities in FGR offspring. Our data indicate that a long-term decrease in Tet1/Notch signaling in hippocampal NSCs contributes to impaired neurogenesis following FGR and could serve as potential targets for the intervention of FGR-related cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Chen
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Nana Liu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shijun Shen
- Institute of Translational Research, Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, The School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jing Qiao
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shujuan Chang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jianfeng Dong
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Mingliang Bai
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Li Ma
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shanshan Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wenwen Jia
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xudong Guo
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ang Li
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiajie Xi
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Cizhong Jiang
- Institute of Translational Research, Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, The School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiuhong Kang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Park ES, Freeborn J, Venna VR, Roos S, Rhoads JM, Liu Y. Lactobacillus reuteri effects on maternal separation stress in newborn mice. Pediatr Res 2021; 90:980-8. [PMID: 33531679 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01374-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (LR 17938) is beneficial to infants with colic. To understand its mechanism of action, we assessed ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) and brain pain/stress genes in newborn mice exposed to maternal separation stress. METHODS Pups were exposed to unpredictable maternal separation (MSU or SEP) or MSU combined with unpredictable maternal stress (MSU + MSUS or S + S), from postnatal days 5 to 14. USV calls and pain/stress/neuroinflammation-related genes in the brain were analyzed. RESULTS We defined 10 different neonatal call patterns, none of which increased after MSU. Stress reduced overall USV calls. Orally feeding LR 17938 also did not change USV calls after MSU. However, LR 17938 markedly increased vocalizations in mice allowed to stay with their dams. Even though LR 17938 did not change MSU-related calls, LR 17938 modulated brain genes related to stress and pain. Up-regulated genes following LR 17938 treatment were opioid peptides, kappa-opioid receptor 1 genes, and CD200, important in anti-inflammatory signaling. LR 17938 down-regulated CCR2 transcripts, a chemokine receptor, in the stressed neonatal brain. CONCLUSIONS USV calls in newborn mice are interpreted as "physiological calls" instead of "cries." Feeding LR 17938 after MSU did not change USV calls but modulated cerebral genes favoring pain and stress reduction and anti-inflammatory signaling. IMPACT We defined mouse ultrasonic vocalization (USV) call patterns in this study, which will be important in guiding future studies in other mouse strains. Newborn mice with maternal separation stress have reduced USVs, compared to newborn mice without stress, indicating USV calls may represent "physiological calling" instead of "crying." Oral feeding of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 raised the number of calls when newborn mice continued to suckle on their dams, but not when mice were under stress. The probiotic bacteria had a dampening effect on monocyte activation and on epinephrine and glutamate-related stress gene expression in the mouse brain.
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Pallarés ME, Monteleone MC, Pastor V, Grillo Balboa J, Alzamendi A, Brocco MA, Antonelli MC. Early-Life Stress Reprograms Stress-Coping Abilities in Male and Female Juvenile Rats. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5837-5856. [PMID: 34409559 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02527-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal stress (PS) is a major risk factor for the development of emotional disorders in adulthood that may be mediated by an altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress. Although the early onset of stress-related disorders is recognized as a major public health problem, to date, there are relatively few studies that have examined the incidence of early-life stressors in younger individuals. In this study, we assessed PS impact on the stress-coping response of juvenile offspring in behavioral tests and in the induced molecular changes in the hippocampus. Furthermore, we assessed if pregnancy stress could be driving changes in patterns of maternal behavior during early lactation. We found that PS modified stress-coping abilities of both sex offspring. In the hippocampus, PS increased the expression of bdnf-IV and crfr1 and induced sex difference changes on glucocorticoids and BDNF mRNA receptor levels. PS changed the hippocampal epigenetic landscape mainly in male offspring. Stress during pregnancy enhanced pup-directed behavior of stressed dams. Our study indicates that exposure to PS, in addition to enhanced maternal behavior, induces dynamic neurobehavioral variations at juvenile ages of the offspring that should be considered adaptive or maladaptive, depending on the characteristics of the confronting environment. Our present results highlight the importance to further explore risk factors that appear early in life that will be important to allow timely prevention strategies to later vulnerability to stress-related disorders.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Female
- Male
- Pregnancy
- Rats
- Adaptation, Psychological
- Anxiety/etiology
- Anxiety/genetics
- Anxiety/physiopathology
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/biosynthesis
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/genetics
- Corticosterone/blood
- Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/biosynthesis
- Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/genetics
- Elevated Plus Maze Test
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Glucocorticoids/biosynthesis
- Glucocorticoids/genetics
- Hippocampus/embryology
- Hippocampus/physiology
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/embryology
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiopathology
- Lactation/physiology
- Lactation/psychology
- Maternal Behavior
- Pituitary-Adrenal System/embryology
- Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiopathology
- Pregnancy Complications/physiopathology
- Pregnancy Complications/psychology
- Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
- Rats, Wistar
- Receptor, trkB/biosynthesis
- Receptor, trkB/genetics
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/genetics
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics
- Restraint, Physical/adverse effects
- Sex Characteristics
- Stress, Physiological/physiology
- Stress, Psychological/physiopathology
- Swimming
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Affiliation(s)
- María Eugenia Pallarés
- Laboratorio de Neuroprogramación Perinatal del Neurodesarrollo, Instituto de Biología Celular Y Neurociencias "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (IBCN)- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 2155 Paraguay St. CABA, C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Melisa Carolina Monteleone
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIB), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Verónica Pastor
- Laboratorio de Neuroprogramación Perinatal del Neurodesarrollo, Instituto de Biología Celular Y Neurociencias "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (IBCN)- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 2155 Paraguay St. CABA, C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jazmín Grillo Balboa
- Laboratorio de Neuroprogramación Perinatal del Neurodesarrollo, Instituto de Biología Celular Y Neurociencias "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (IBCN)- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 2155 Paraguay St. CABA, C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana Alzamendi
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcela Adriana Brocco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIB), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marta Cristina Antonelli
- Laboratorio de Neuroprogramación Perinatal del Neurodesarrollo, Instituto de Biología Celular Y Neurociencias "Prof. Eduardo De Robertis" (IBCN)- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 2155 Paraguay St. CABA, C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Lo Iacono L, Mancini C, Babicola L, Pietrosanto M, Di Segni M, D'Addario SL, Municchi D, Ielpo D, Pascucci T, Cabib S, Ferlazzo F, D'Amato FR, Andolina D, Helmer-Citterich M, Cifani C, Ventura R. Early life adversity affecting the attachment bond alters ventral tegmental area transcriptomic patterning and behavior almost exclusively in female mice. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100406. [PMID: 34660854 PMCID: PMC8503667 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life experiences that affect the attachment bond formation can alter developmental trajectories and result in pathological outcomes in a sex-related manner. However, the molecular basis of sex differences is quite unknown. The dopaminergic system originating from the ventral tegmental area has been proposed to be a key mediator of this process. Here we exploited a murine model of early adversity (Repeated Cross Fostering, RCF) to test how interfering with the attachment bond formation affects the VTA-related functions in a sex-specific manner. Through a comprehensive behavioral screening, within the NiH RDoC framework, and by next-generation RNA-Seq experiments, we analyzed the long-lasting effect of RCF on behavioral and transcriptional profiles related to the VTA, across two different inbred strains of mouse in both sexes. We found that RCF impacted to an extremely greater extent VTA-related behaviors in females than in males and this result mirrored the transcriptional alterations in the VTA that were almost exclusively observed in females. The sexual dimorphism was conserved across two different inbred strains in spite of their divergent long lasting consequences of RCF exposure. Our data suggest that to be female primes a sub-set of genes to respond to early environmental perturbations. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence of an almost exclusive effect of early life experiences on females, thus mirroring the extremely stronger impact of precocious aversive events reported in clinical studies in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Lo Iacono
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Lucy Babicola
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Pietrosanto
- Centre for Molecular Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sebastian Luca D'Addario
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Diana Municchi
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Donald Ielpo
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.,Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Programme, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pascucci
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Cabib
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Fabio Ferlazzo
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca R D'Amato
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Institute, National Research Council, Via E Ramarini 32, 00015, Monterotondo Scalo, Roma, Italy
| | - Diego Andolina
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - Manuela Helmer-Citterich
- Centre for Molecular Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- University of Camerino School of Pharmacy, Camerino, Italy
| | - Rossella Ventura
- Dept. of Psychology and Center "Daniel Bovet", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
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Su X, Li W, Lv L, Li X, Yang J, Luo XJ, Liu J. Transcriptome-Wide Association Study Provides Insights Into the Genetic Component of Gene Expression in Anxiety. Front Genet 2021; 12:740134. [PMID: 34650599 PMCID: PMC8505959 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.740134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are common mental disorders that often result in disability. Recently, large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified several novel risk variants and loci for anxiety disorders (or anxiety traits). Nevertheless, how the reported risk variants confer risk of anxiety remains unknown. To identify genes whose cis-regulated expression levels are associated with risk of anxiety traits, we conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) by integrating genome-wide associations from a large-scale GWAS (N = 175,163) (which evaluated anxiety traits based on Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item scale (GAD-2) score) and brain expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data (from the PsychENCODE and GTEx). We identified 19 and 17 transcriptome-wide significant (TWS) genes in the PsychENCODE and GTEx, respectively. Intriguingly, 10 genes showed significant associations with anxiety in both datasets, strongly suggesting that genetic risk variants may confer risk of anxiety traits by regulating the expression of these genes. Top TWS genes included RNF123, KANSL1-AS1, GLYCTK, CRHR1, DND1P1, MAPT and ARHGAP27. Of note, 25 TWS genes were not implicated in the original GWAS. Our TWAS identified 26 risk genes whose cis-regulated expression were significantly associated with anxiety, providing important insights into the genetic component of gene expression in anxiety disorders/traits and new clues for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Su
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jinfeng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xiong-Jian Luo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jiewei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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Chalfun G, Reis MM, de Oliveira MBG, de Araújo Brasil A, Dos Santos Salú M, da Cunha AJLA, Prata-Barbosa A, de Magalhães-Barbosa MC. Perinatal stress and methylation of the NR3C1 gene in newborns: systematic review. Epigenetics 2021; 17:1003-1019. [PMID: 34519616 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1980691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse experiences in the perinatal period have been associated with the methylation of the human glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and long-term diseases. We conducted a systematic review on the association between adversities in the perinatal period and DNA methylation in the 1 F region of the NR3C1 gene in newborns. We explored the MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, and Lilacs databases without time or language limitations. Two independent reviewers performed the selection of articles and data extraction. A third participated in the methodological quality assessment and consensus meetings at all stages. Finally, ten studies were selected. Methodological quality was considered moderate in six and low in four. Methylation changes were reported in 41 of the 47 CpG sites of exon 1 F. Six studies addressed maternal conditions during pregnancy: two reported methylation changes at the same sites (CpG 10, 13, 20, 21 and 47), and four at one or more sites from CpG 35 to 39. Four studies addressed neonatal parameters and morbidities: methylation changes at the same sites 4, 8, 10, 16, 25, and 35 were reported in two. Hypermethylation associated with stressful conditions prevailed. Hypomethylation was more often associated with protective conditions (maternal-foetal attachment during pregnancy, breast milk intake, higher birth weight or Apgar). In conclusion, methylation changes in several sites of the 1 F region of the NR3C1 gene in newborns and very young infants were associated with perinatal stress, but more robust and comparable results are needed to corroborate site-specific associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Chalfun
- Department of Pediatrics, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (Idor), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Ufrj), Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Martins Reis
- Department of Pediatrics, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (Idor), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Aline de Araújo Brasil
- Department of Pediatrics, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (Idor), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Margarida Dos Santos Salú
- Department of Pediatrics, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (Idor), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Antônio José Ledo Alves da Cunha
- Department of Pediatrics, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (Idor), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Ufrj), Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Arnaldo Prata-Barbosa
- Department of Pediatrics, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (Idor), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Ufrj), Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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McCormick CM. Methods and Challenges in Investigating Sex-Specific Consequences of Social Stressors in Adolescence in Rats: Is It the Stress or the Social or the Stage of Development? Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2021. [PMID: 34455576 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence is a time of social learning and social restructuring that is accompanied by changes in both the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The activation of these axes by puberty and stressors, respectively, shapes adolescent development. Models of social stress in rats are used to understand the consequences of perturbations of the social environment for ongoing brain development. This paper reviews the challenges in investigating the sex-specific consequences of social stressors, sex differences in the models of social stress used in rats and the sex-specific effects on behaviour and provides an overview of sex differences in HPA responding to stressors, the variability in pubertal development and in strains of rats that require consideration in conducting such research, and directions for future research.
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48
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Patterson SK, Hinde K, Bond AB, Trumble BC, Strum SC, Silk JB. Effects of early life adversity on maternal effort and glucocorticoids in wild olive baboons. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021; 75. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03056-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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49
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Eachus H, Choi MK, Ryu S. The Effects of Early Life Stress on the Brain and Behaviour: Insights From Zebrafish Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:657591. [PMID: 34368117 PMCID: PMC8335398 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.657591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The early life period represents a window of increased vulnerability to stress, during which exposure can lead to long-lasting effects on brain structure and function. This stress-induced developmental programming may contribute to the behavioural changes observed in mental illness. In recent decades, rodent studies have significantly advanced our understanding of how early life stress (ELS) affects brain development and behaviour. These studies reveal that ELS has long-term consequences on the brain such as impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, altering learning and memory. Despite such advances, several key questions remain inadequately answered, including a comprehensive overview of brain regions and molecular pathways that are altered by ELS and how ELS-induced molecular changes ultimately lead to behavioural changes in adulthood. The zebrafish represents a novel ELS model, with the potential to contribute to answering some of these questions. The zebrafish offers some important advantages such as the ability to non-invasively modulate stress hormone levels in a whole animal and to visualise whole brain activity in freely behaving animals. This review discusses the current status of the zebrafish ELS field and its potential as a new ELS model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Min-Kyeung Choi
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Soojin Ryu
- Living Systems Institute and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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50
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Duffy KA, Bale TL, Epperson CN. Germ Cell Drivers: Transmission of Preconception Stress Across Generations. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:642762. [PMID: 34322003 PMCID: PMC8311293 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.642762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to stress can accelerate maturation and hasten reproduction. Although potentially adaptive, the trade-off is higher risk for morbidity and mortality. In humans, the intergenerational effects of stress have been demonstrated, but the precise mechanisms are unknown. Strikingly, even if parental stress occurs prior to conception, as adults, their offspring show worse mental and physical health. Emerging evidence primarily from preclinical models suggests that epigenetic programming may encode preconception stress exposures in germ cells, potentially impacting the phenotype of the offspring. In this narrative review, we evaluate the strength of the evidence for this mechanism across animals and humans in both males and females. The strongest evidence comes from studies of male mice, in which paternal preconception stress is associated with a host of phenotypic changes in the offspring and stress-induced changes in the small non-coding RNA content in sperm have been implicated. Two recent studies in men provide evidence that some small non-coding RNAs in sperm are responsive to past and current stress, including some of the same ones identified in mice. Although preliminary evidence suggests that findings from mice may map onto men, the next steps will be (1) considering whether stress type, severity, duration, and developmental timing affect germ cell epigenetic markers, (2) determining whether germ cell epigenetic markers contribute to disease risk in the offspring of stress-exposed parents, and (3) overcoming methodological challenges in order to extend this research to females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korrina A. Duffy
- Colorado Center for Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Tracy L. Bale
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, Department of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - C. Neill Epperson
- Colorado Center for Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Center for Women’s Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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