1
|
Ruiz-Raya F, Noguera JC, Velando A. Covariation between glucocorticoid levels and receptor expression modulates embryo development and postnatal phenotypes in gulls. Horm Behav 2023; 149:105316. [PMID: 36731260 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis can translate, through glucocorticoid secretion, the prenatal environment to development to produce phenotypes that match prevailing environmental conditions. However, whether developmental plasticity is modulated by the interaction between circulating glucocorticoids and receptor expression remains unclear. Here, we tested whether covariation between plasma corticosterone (CORT) and glucocorticoid receptor gene (Nr3c1) expression in blood underlies embryonic developmental programming in yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis). We examined variations in circulating levels of CORT and the expression and DNA methylation patterns of Nr3c1 in response to two ecologically relevant prenatal factors: adult alarm calls (a cue of predator presence) and changes in prenatal light environment (a cue of competitive disadvantage). We then determined whether embryonic development and postnatal phenotypes were associated with CORT levels and Nr3c1 expression, and explored direct and indirect relationships between the prenatal environment, hormone-receptor covariation, and postnatal phenotypes. Prenatal exposure to alarm calls increased CORT levels and up-regulated Nr3c1 expression in gull chicks, while exposure to light cues reduced both hormone levels and receptor expression. Chicks prenatally exposed to alarm calls showed altered DNA methylation profiles in the Nr3c1 regulatory region, but patterns varied throughout the breeding season and between years. Moreover, our results suggest a negative relationship between DNA methylation and expression in Nr3c1 , at least at specific CpG sites. The interplay between circulating CORT and Nr3c1 expression affected embryo developmental timing and vocalizations, as well as hatchling mass and fitness-relevant behaviours. These findings provide a link between prenatal inputs, glucocorticoid function and phenotypic outcomes, suggesting that hormone-receptor interaction may underlie developmental programming in free-living animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Ruiz-Raya
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Grupo de Ecoloxía Animal, Vigo 36310, Spain.
| | - Jose C Noguera
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Grupo de Ecoloxía Animal, Vigo 36310, Spain
| | - Alberto Velando
- Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Grupo de Ecoloxía Animal, Vigo 36310, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Paul B, Dockery R, Valverde VM, Buchholz DR. Characterization of a novel corticosterone response gene in Xenopus tropicalis tadpole tails. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1121002. [PMID: 36777337 PMCID: PMC9910334 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1121002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Corticosteroids are critical for development and for mediating stress responses across diverse vertebrate taxa. Study of frog metamorphosis has made significant breakthroughs in our understanding of corticosteroid signaling during development in non-mammalian vertebrate species. However, lack of adequate corticosterone (CORT) response genes in tadpoles make identification and quantification of CORT responses challenging. Here, we characterized a CORT-response gene frzb (frizzled related protein) previously identified in Xenopus tropicalis tadpole tail skin by an RNA-seq study. We validated the RNA-seq results that CORT and not thyroid hormone induces frzb in the tails using quantitative PCR. Further, maximum frzb expression was achieved by 100-250 nM CORT within 12-24 hours. frzb is not significantly induced in the liver and brain in response to 100 nM CORT. We also found no change in frzb expression across natural metamorphosis when endogenous CORT levels peak. Surprisingly, frzb is only induced by CORT in X. tropicalis tails and not in Xenopus laevis tails. The exact downstream function of increased frzb expression in tails in response to CORT is not known, but the specificity of hormone response and its high mRNA expression levels in the tail render frzb a useful marker of exogenous CORT-response independent of thyroid hormone for exogenous hormone treatments and in-vivo endocrine disruption studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bidisha Paul
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Rejenae Dockery
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Valery M. Valverde
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences TecSalud Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Daniel R. Buchholz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ghaffari MH. Developmental programming: prenatal and postnatal consequences of hyperthermia in dairy cows and calves. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2022; 80:106723. [PMID: 35339732 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2022.106723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
With global warming, the incidence of heat stress in dairy cows is increasing in many countries. Temperatures outside the thermoneutral zone (heat stress) are one of the environmental factors with the greatest impact on milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows. In addition to several biological mechanisms that may contribute to the effects of fetal programming, epigenetic modifications have also been investigated as possible mediators of the observed associations between maternal heat stress during late gestation and performance and health later in life. In utero programming of these offspring may coordinate changes in thermoregulation, mammary gland development, and milk production ability at different developmental stages. This review examines the effects of prenatal and postnatal hyperthermia on the developmental outcomes of dairy cows, as well as the physiological and molecular mechanisms that may be responsible for the negative phenotypic consequences of heat stress that persist throughout the neonatal and adult periods and may have multigenerational implications. The physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the negative phenotypic consequences of heat stress are discussed. Research challenges in this area, future research recommendations, and therapeutic applications are also discussed. In summary, strategies to reduce heat stress during the dry period should consider not only the productivity of the pregnant cow but also the well-being of the newborn calf.
Collapse
|
4
|
Karlsson L, Wallensteen L, Nordenström A, Krmar RT, Lajic S. Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Children and Adults Prenatally Exposed to Dexamethasone Treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e2481-e2487. [PMID: 35148399 PMCID: PMC9113802 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The clinical use of dexamethasone (DEX) prenatally to reduce virilization of external genitalia in female fetuses with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is efficient but still controversial. It remains challenging to prevent the excessive exposure of DEX in unborn healthy babies during the first trimester of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE Since endogenous glucocorticoids contribute to the maintenance of blood pressure (BP) and since events during fetal life may program the fetus and affect future metabolic health, the aim of this study was to analyze ambulatory BP measurements in CAH-unaffected children and adults that were prenatally exposed to DEX treatment. METHODS Ambulatory BP measurements were analyzed in 33 (16 female) DEX-treated participants aged 5.1 to 26.3 years (19 participants aged ≤ 18 years) and in 54 (28 female) age- and sex-matched apparently healthy controls aged 5.5 to 25.3 years (27 participants aged ≤ 18 years) with ambulatory normotension. RESULTS Participants' age, height, weight, and body mass index were similar between the DEX-treated group and the control group. Heart rate, 24-hour BP, pulse pressure, and nighttime dipping did not statistically significantly differ between DEX-treated participants and controls. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that prenatal DEX treatment in CAH-unaffected children and adults does not appear to adversely affect ambulatory BP later in life. Our observations need to be confirmed in larger studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leif Karlsson
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lena Wallensteen
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Nordenström
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rafael T Krmar
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedicum 5B, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Svetlana Lajic
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ji B, Lei J, Xu T, Zhao M, Cai H, Qiu J, Gao Q. Effects of prenatal hypoxia on placental glucocorticoid barrier: mechanistic insight from experiments in rats. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 110:78-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
6
|
Nowotny H, Neumann U, Tardy-Guidollet V, Ahmed SF, Baronio F, Battelino T, Bertherat J, Blankenstein O, Bonomi M, Bouvattier C, Brac de la Perrière A, Brucker S, Cappa M, Chanson P, Claahsen-van der Grinten HL, Colao A, Cools M, Davies JH, Dörr HG, Fenske WK, Ghigo E, Giordano R, Gravholt CH, Huebner A, Husebye ES, Igbokwe R, Juul A, Kiefer FW, Léger J, Menassa R, Meyer G, Neocleous V, Phylactou LA, Rohayem J, Russo G, Scaroni C, Touraine P, Unger N, Vojtková J, Yeste D, Lajic S, Reisch N. Prenatal dexamethasone treatment for classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency in Europe. Eur J Endocrinol 2022; 186:K17-K24. [PMID: 35235536 PMCID: PMC9010809 DOI: 10.1530/eje-21-0554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the current medical practice in Europe regarding prenatal dexamethasone (Pdex) treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. DESIGN AND METHODS A questionnaire was designed and distributed, including 17 questions collecting quantitative and qualitative data. Thirty-six medical centres from 14 European countries responded and 30 out of 36 centres were reference centres of the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions, EndoERN. RESULTS Pdex treatment is currently provided by 36% of the surveyed centres. The treatment is initiated by different specialties, that is paediatricians, endocrinologists, gynaecologists or geneticists. Regarding the starting point of Pdex, 23% stated to initiate therapy at 4-5 weeks postconception (wpc), 31% at 6 wpc and 46 % as early as pregnancy is confirmed and before 7 wpc at the latest. A dose of 20 µg/kg/day is used. Dose distribution among the centres varies from once to thrice daily. Prenatal diagnostics for treated cases are conducted in 72% of the responding centres. Cases treated per country and year vary between 0.5 and 8.25. Registries for long-term follow-up are only available at 46% of the centres that are using Pdex treatment. National registries are only available in Sweden and France. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals a high international variability and discrepancy in the use of Pdex treatment across Europe. It highlights the importance of a European cooperation initiative for a joint international prospective trial to establish evidence-based guidelines on prenatal diagnostics, treatment and follow-up of pregnancies at risk for CAH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Nowotny
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, Munich, Germany
| | - Uta Neumann
- Centre for Chronic Sick Children, Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Véronique Tardy-Guidollet
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre National de Référence ‘Développement Génital: du fœtus à l’adulte DEV-GEN’ Université Lyon I, Lyon, France
| | - S Faisal Ahmed
- Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Federico Baronio
- Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S.Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tadej Battelino
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, University Children’s Hospital, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jérôme Bertherat
- Service d’Endocinologie et Maladies Métaboliques, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Centre, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Oliver Blankenstein
- Centre for Chronic Sick Children, Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Bonomi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, IRCSS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Claire Bouvattier
- Service d’Endocrinologie de l’Enfant, GHU Paris-Sud, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Paris, France
- Centre National de Référence ‘Développement Génital: du fœtus à l’adulte DEV-GEN’, Paris, France
| | - Aude Brac de la Perrière
- Fédération d’Endocrinologie, de Diabétologie et des Maladies Métaboliques, Hospices Civils des Lyon, Centre National de Référence ‘Développement Génital: du fœtus à l’adulte DEV-GEN’, Lyon, France
| | - Sara Brucker
- Department of Women’s Health, University Women’s Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marco Cappa
- Endocrinology Unit, Paediatric University Department, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Philippe Chanson
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Service d’Endocrinologie et des Maladies de la Reproduction, Centre de Référence des Maladies Rares de Hypophyse, Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Hedi L Claahsen-van der Grinten
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Amalia Children’s Hospital, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Dipartimento Di Medicina Clinica E Chirurgia, Sezione Di Endocrinologia, Universita’ Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Martine Cools
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Justin H Davies
- Paediatric Endocrinology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Helmut-Günther Dörr
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wiebke K Fenske
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ezio Ghigo
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Roberta Giordano
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Claus H Gravholt
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Angela Huebner
- Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Eystein Sverre Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science and KG Jebsen Centre for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rebecca Igbokwe
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Florian W Kiefer
- Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Juliane Léger
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology and Reference Centre for Rare Diseases of Growth and Development, AP-HP Paris Nord Université de Paris, CHU Robert-Debre, Paris, France
| | - Rita Menassa
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre National de Référence ‘Développement Génital: du fœtus à l’adulte DEV-GEN’ Université Lyon I, Lyon, France
| | - Gesine Meyer
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine 1, Goethe University Frankfurt Faculty 16 Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Vassos Neocleous
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Function and Therapy, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Leonidas A Phylactou
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Function and Therapy, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Julia Rohayem
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Clinical and Operative Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Gianni Russo
- Department of Paediatrics, Endocrine Unit, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Scaroni
- Dipartimento di Medicina, U.O.C. Endocrinologia, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Philippe Touraine
- Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Centre for Rare Endocrine and Gynaecological Disorders, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nicole Unger
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jarmila Vojtková
- Department of Paediatrics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, University Hospital in Martin, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Diego Yeste
- Paediatric Endocrinology Service, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- CIBERER, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Svetlana Lajic
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet/Karolinska University Hospital, Paediatric Endocrinology Unit (QB83), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicole Reisch
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, Munich, Germany
- Correspondence should be addressed to N Reisch;
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Qiu J, Fan X, Ding H, Zhao M, Xu T, Lei J, Ji B, Zhuang Z, Gao Q. Antenatal dexamethasone retarded fetal long bones growth and development by down-regulating of insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling in fetal rats. Hum Exp Toxicol 2022; 41:9603271211072870. [PMID: 35148621 DOI: 10.1177/09603271211072870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, has been widely used as a medication for premature delivery. However, the side effects of antenatal DEX treatment on fetal bone development, as well as the underlying mechanisms still remain to be elucidated. Here, we aimed to explore the effects and the related mechanisms of antenatal DEX exposure during late pregnancy on fetal bone growth and development. METHODS Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into DEX group and vehicle group from gestational day 14 (GD14). Pregnant rats in DEX group were intraperitoneally injected once with DEX (200 µg/kg body weight) on GD14, 16, 18, and 20. The vehicle group rats were administered the same amount of normal saline at the same time. Pregnant rats were anesthetized at GD21 to harvest fetal femurs for analysis. RESULTS Antenatal DEX treatment delayed fetal skeletal growth via inhibiting extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and downregulating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling. Several components of IGF1 signaling pathway, including IGF1 receptor, insulin receptor substrate, as well as serine-threonine protein kinase, were down-regulated in fetal growth plate chondrocytes following DEX treatment. CONCLUSION This study indicated that antenatal DEX treatment-retarded fetal skeletal growth was associated with the down-regulation of IGF1 signaling in growth plate chondrocytes, providing important information about the impact of antenatal DEX application four courses on premature infant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junlan Qiu
- Institute for Fetology, 74566First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, 105860Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Oncology and Hematology, Affiliated Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaorong Fan
- Institute for Fetology, 74566First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongmei Ding
- Institute for Fetology, 74566First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Meng Zhao
- Institute for Fetology, 74566First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Institute for Fetology, 74566First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiahui Lei
- Institute for Fetology, 74566First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bingyu Ji
- Institute for Fetology, 74566First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhixiang Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, 105860Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qinqin Gao
- Institute for Fetology, 74566First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Anifantaki F, Pervanidou P, Lambrinoudaki I, Panoulis K, Vlahos N, Eleftheriades M. Maternal Prenatal Stress, Thyroid Function and Neurodevelopment of the Offspring: A Mini Review of the Literature. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:692446. [PMID: 34566560 PMCID: PMC8455916 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.692446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal brain is extremely plastic and vulnerable to environmental influences that may have long-term impact on health and development of the offspring. Both the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) axes are involved in stress responses, whereas, their final effectors, the Glucocorticoids (GCs) and the Thyroid Hormones (TH s), mediate several fundamental processes involved in neurodevelopment. The effects of these hormones on brain development are found to be time and dose-dependent. Regarding THs, the developing fetus depends on maternal supply of hormones, especially in the first half of pregnancy. It is acknowledged that inadequate or excess concentrations of both GCs and THs can separately cause abnormalities in the neuronal and glial structures and functions, with subsequent detrimental effects on postnatal neurocognitive function. Studies are focused on the direct impact of maternal stress and GC excess on growth and neurodevelopment of the offspring. Of particular interest, as results from recent literature data, is building understanding on how chronic stress and alterations of the HPA axis interacts and influences HPT axis and TH production. Animal studies have shown that increased GC concentrations related to maternal stress, most likely reduce maternal and thus fetal circulating THs, either directly or through modifications in the expression of placental enzymes responsible for regulating hormone levels in fetal microenvironment. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on data regarding maternal stress and its impact on fetal neurodevelopment, giving particular emphasis in the interaction of two axes and the subsequent thyroid dysfunction resulting from such circumstances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Anifantaki
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- First Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Irene Lambrinoudaki
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Panoulis
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikos Vlahos
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Makarios Eleftheriades
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ledón‐Rettig CC, Lagon SR. A novel larval diet interacts with nutritional stress to modify juvenile behaviors and glucocorticoid responses. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:10880-10891. [PMID: 34429887 PMCID: PMC8366881 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental plasticity can allow the exploitation of alternative diets. While such flexibility during early life is often adaptive, it can leave a legacy in later life that alters the overall health and fitness of an individual. Species of the spadefoot toad genus Spea are uniquely poised to address such carryover effects because their larvae can consume drastically different diets: their ancestral diet of detritus or a derived shrimp diet. Here, we use Spea bombifrons to assess the effects of developmental plasticity in response to larval diet type and nutritional stress on juvenile behaviors and stress axis reactivity. We find that, in an open-field assay, juveniles fed shrimp as larvae have longer latencies to move, avoid prey items more often, and have poorer prey-capture abilities. While juveniles fed shrimp as larvae are more exploratory, this effect disappears if they also experienced a temporary nutritional stressor during early life. The larval shrimp diet additionally impairs juvenile jumping performance. Finally, larvae that were fed shrimp under normal nutritional conditions produce juveniles with higher overall glucocorticoid levels, and larvae that were fed shrimp and experienced a temporary nutritional stressor produce juveniles with higher stress-induced glucocorticoid levels. Thus, while it has been demonstrated that consuming the novel, alternative diet can be adaptive for larvae in nature, doing so has marked effects on juvenile phenotypes that may recalibrate an individual's overall fitness. Given that organisms often utilize diverse diets in nature, our study underscores the importance of considering how diet type interacts with early-life nutritional adversity to influence subsequent life stages.
Collapse
|
10
|
Ráčková L, Kuruczová D, Jarkovský J, Bienertová-Vašků J. Birth weight rather than birth length is associated with childhood behavioural problems in a Czech ELSPAC cohort. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253607. [PMID: 34324515 PMCID: PMC8321223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many physical and psychological characteristics are influenced by prenatal development. Some studies have located links between low birth parameters and behavioural problems, with the latter in turn associated with educational progress, career success, overall health, and subsequent life events. However, few studies have investigated whether this association also applies to children in the normal birth growth range. This study thus investigates the relationship between normal-range birth length, weight, and behavioural problems at the age of seven. We use data from the Czech part of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC) cohort, which provides comprehensive insight into a post-communist country undergoing a period of economic transition. Childhood behavioural problems were measured in 1,796 children using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Associations were modelled using weighted logistic regression. Birth weight was found to be linked to the total difficulties score, hyperactivity, and peer relationship problems subscales in a fully adjusted model while birth length was not significantly associated with any subscale in the fully adjusted model. We thus conclude that normal-range birth weight is associated with behavioural problems. It can therefore be assumed that the odds of behavioural problems and their consequences can be mitigated by preventive programs targeting pregnant women and children with lower but still normal weight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Ráčková
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Kuruczová
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Jarkovský
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Julie Bienertová-Vašků
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pankey CL, Odhiambo JF, Smith AM, Ford SP. Effects of maternal obesity in an ovine model on metabolic outcomes in F2 adults and F3 neonates. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2021; 76:106628. [PMID: 33895699 PMCID: PMC8169583 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2021.106628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that indications of metabolic syndrome can be inherited through the germline as a result of maternal obesity. We hypothesized that diet-induced maternal obesity during gestation would program metabolic consequences for multiple generations of offspring, even when first, second, and third generation offspring (F1, F2, F3, respectively) were fed only to requirements. Control (CON) and obese (OB) ewes (generation 0; F0) were bred to a single ram to produce the first generation of offspring (F1). From 60 d prior to conception through term, CONF0 ate 100% National Research Council recommendations (NRC), while OBF0 ewes ate 150% NRC. All F1, F2, and F3 ate 100% NRC after weaning. All mature F1 ewes were bred to a single ram to generate CONF2 (n = 6) and OBF2 (n = 10). All mature F2 ewes were bred to a single ram to produce CONF3 (n = 6) and OBF3 (n = 10). OBF2 ewes exhibited greater (P < 0.0001) plasma cortisol than CONF2 throughout gestation. A glucose tolerance test at 90% gestation revealed OBF2 ewes had higher (P < 0.05) insulin response with similar glucose, resulting in greater (P < 0.05) insulin resistance. OBF3 neonates had similar weight, lean mass, and body fat mass to CONF3 neonates. These data suggest that multigenerational programming of adverse metabolic phenotypes occur in association with F0 maternal obesity, yet adiposity may return to CON levels in F3 neonates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C L Pankey
- Department of Biomedical Science, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV, USA; Center for the Study of Fetal Programming, Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
| | - J F Odhiambo
- Center for the Study of Fetal Programming, Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA; College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - A M Smith
- Center for the Study of Fetal Programming, Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - S P Ford
- Center for the Study of Fetal Programming, Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Fitzgerald E, Hor K, Drake AJ. Maternal influences on fetal brain development: The role of nutrition, infection and stress, and the potential for intergenerational consequences. Early Hum Dev 2020; 150:105190. [PMID: 32948364 PMCID: PMC7481314 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
An optimal early life environment is crucial for ensuring ideal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Brain development consists of a finely tuned series of spatially and temporally constrained events, which may be affected by exposure to a sub-optimal intra-uterine environment. Evidence suggests brain development may be particularly vulnerable to factors such as maternal nutrition, infection and stress during pregnancy. In this review, we discuss how maternal factors such as these can affect brain development and outcome in offspring, and we also identify evidence which suggests that the outcome can, in many cases, be stratified by socio-economic status (SES), with individuals in lower brackets typically having a worse outcome. We consider the relevant epidemiological evidence and draw parallels to mechanisms suggested by preclinical work where appropriate. We also discuss possible transgenerational effects of these maternal factors and the potential mechanisms involved. We conclude that modifiable factors such as maternal nutrition, infection and stress are important contributors to atypical brain development and that SES also likely has a key role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eamon Fitzgerald
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Kahyee Hor
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Amanda J Drake
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hartig EI, Zhu S, King BL, Coffman JA. Chronic cortisol exposure in early development leads to neuroendocrine dysregulation in adulthood. BMC Res Notes 2020; 13:366. [PMID: 32746894 PMCID: PMC7398215 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-05208-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Chronic early life stress can affect development of the neuroendocrine stress system, leading to its persistent dysregulation and consequently increased disease risk in adulthood. One contributing factor is thought to be epigenetic programming in response to chronic cortisol exposure during early development. We have previously shown that zebrafish embryos treated chronically with cortisol develop into adults with constitutively elevated whole-body cortisol and aberrant immune gene expression. Here we further characterize that phenotype by assessing persistent effects of the treatment on cortisol tissue distribution and dynamics, chromatin accessibility, and activities of glucocorticoid-responsive regulatory genes klf9 and fkbp5. To that end cortisol levels in different tissues of fed and fasted adults were measured using ELISA, open chromatin in adult blood cells was mapped using ATAC-seq, and gene activity in adult blood and brain cells was measured using qRT-PCR. Results Adults derived from cortisol-treated embryos have elevated whole-body cortisol with aberrantly regulated tissue distribution and dynamics that correlate with differential activity of klf9 and fkbp5 in blood and brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Shusen Zhu
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, Maine, USA
| | - Benjamin L King
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, Maine, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.,Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - James A Coffman
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, Maine, USA. .,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Neonatal glucocorticoid overexposure alters cardiovascular function in young adult horses in a sex-linked manner. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:309-318. [PMID: 32489168 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420000446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal glucocorticoid overexposure has been shown to programme adult cardiovascular function in a range of species, but much less is known about the long-term effects of neonatal glucocorticoid overexposure. In horses, prenatal maturation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and the normal prepartum surge in fetal cortisol occur late in gestation compared to other precocious species. Cortisol levels continue to rise in the hours after birth of full-term foals and increase further in the subsequent days in premature, dysmature and maladapted foals. Thus, this study examined the adult cardiovascular consequences of neonatal cortisol overexposure induced by adrenocorticotropic hormone administration to full-term male and female pony foals. After catheterisation at 2-3 years of age, basal arterial blood pressures (BP) and heart rate were measured together with the responses to phenylephrine (PE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). These data were used to assess cardiac baroreflex sensitivity. Neonatal cortisol overexposure reduced both the pressor and bradycardic responses to PE in the young adult males, but not females. It also enhanced the initial hypotensive response to SNP, slowed recovery of BP after infusion and reduced the gain of the cardiac baroreflex in the females, but not males. Basal diastolic pressure and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity also differed with sex, irrespective of neonatal treatment. The results show that there is a window of susceptibility for glucocorticoid programming during the immediate neonatal period that alters cardiovascular function in young adult horses in a sex-linked manner.
Collapse
|
15
|
Fetal programming in dairy cows: Effect of heat stress on progeny fertility and associations with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functions. Anim Reprod Sci 2020; 216:106348. [PMID: 32414470 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Ambient temperatures that result in body temperatures beyond those of the thermo-neutral zone for dairy cattle can lead to reduced reproductive efficiencies that have negative effects on economic and productive efficiencies of dairy farms. In addition, in pregnant cows, ambient temperature-induced heat stress leads to modifications in the epigenome of the developing embryo, which, in turn, could lead to phenotypic variations in the sexually mature animal and its offspring. In the mammalian response to stress, adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulates the synthesis and secretion of glucocorticoids, which may have detrimental effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the female estrous cycle. The aim of this review is to describe the effects of ambient heat stress on the reproductive system of dairy cattle and its potential trans-generational effects. There are many heat stress occurrences in dairy cattle during a large portion of the year in many countries and there is an increase in incidence with the onset of global warming. These heat stress conditions make it possible that the embryo/fetus of cows may be affected when heat stress conditions prevail in ways that there is impaired fertility of the sexually mature cows that develop from these embryos/fetuses. This is the outcome because of molecular changes in ovarian glucocorticoid response caused by epigenetic modifications established during fetal development.
Collapse
|
16
|
Barra R, Morgan C, Sáez-Briones P, Reyes-Parada M, Burgos H, Morales B, Hernández A. Facts and hypotheses about the programming of neuroplastic deficits by prenatal malnutrition. Nutr Rev 2020; 77:65-80. [PMID: 30445479 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuy047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies in rats have shown that a decrease in either protein content or total dietary calories results in molecular, structural, and functional changes in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, among other brain regions, which lead to behavioral disturbances, including learning and memory deficits. The neurobiological bases underlying those effects depend at least in part on fetal programming of the developing brain, which in turn relies on epigenetic regulation of specific genes via stable and heritable modifications of chromatin. Prenatal malnutrition also leads to epigenetic programming of obesity, and obesity on its own can lead to poor cognitive performance in humans and experimental animals, complicating understanding of the factors involved in the fetal programming of neuroplasticity deficits. This review focuses on the role of epigenetic mechanisms involved in prenatal malnutrition-induced brain disturbances, which are apparent at a later postnatal age, through either a direct effect of fetal programming on brain plasticity or an indirect effect on the brain mediated by the postnatal development of obesity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Barra
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Morgan
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Regulation, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricio Sáez-Briones
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel Reyes-Parada
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
| | - Héctor Burgos
- Núcleo Disciplinar Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Center of Innovation on Information Technologies for Social Applications (CITIAPS), University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bernardo Morales
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Hernández
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Coffman JA. Chronic stress, physiological adaptation and developmental programming of the neuroendocrine stress system. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl-2019-0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress undermines physical and mental health, in part via dysregulation of the neuroendocrine stress system. Key to understand this dysregulation is recognizing that the problem is not stress per se, but rather its chronicity. The optimally functioning stress system is highly dynamic, and negative feedback regulation enforces transient responses to acute stressors. Chronic stress overrides this, and adaptation to the chronicity can result in persistent dysregulation by altering sensitivity thresholds critical for control of system dynamics. Such adaptation involves plasticity within the central nervous system (CNS) as well as epigenetic regulation. When it occurs during development, it can have persistent effects on neuroendocrine regulation. Understanding how chronic stress programs development of the neuroendocrine stress system requires elucidation of stress-responsive gene regulatory networks that control CNS plasticity and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A Coffman
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Kathryn W Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Aging, Salisbury Cove, ME 04672, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Napso T, Hung YP, Davidge ST, Care AS, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Advanced maternal age compromises fetal growth and induces sex-specific changes in placental phenotype in rats. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16916. [PMID: 31780670 PMCID: PMC6882885 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53199-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced maternal age is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications. It programmes sex-specific cardiovascular dysfunction in rat offspring, however the intrauterine mechanisms involved remain unknown. This study in the rat assessed the impact of advanced maternal age on placental phenotype in relation to the growth of female and male fetuses. We show that relative to young (3-4 months) dams, advanced maternal age (9.5-10 months) compromises growth of both female and male fetuses but affects the placental phenotype sex-specifically. In placentas from aged versus young dams, the size of the placental transport and endocrine zones were increased and expression of Igf2 (+41%) and placental lactogen (Prl3b1: +59%) genes were upregulated in female, but not male fetuses. Placental abundance of IGF2 protein also decreased in the placenta of males only (-95%). Moreover, in placentas from aged versus young dams, glucocorticoid metabolism (11β-hsd2: +63% and 11β-hsd1: -33%) was higher in females, but lower in males (11β-hsd2: -50% and 11β-hsd1: unaltered). There was however, no change in the placental abundance of 11β-HSD2 protein in aged versus young dams regardless of fetal sex. Levels of oxidative stress in the placenta were increased in female and male fetuses (+57% and +90%, respectively) and apoptosis increased specifically in the placenta of males from aged rat dams (+700%). Thus, advanced maternal age alters placental phenotype in a sex-specific fashion. These sexually-divergent changes may play a role in determining health outcomes of female and male offspring of aged mothers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Napso
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yin-Po Hung
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alison S Care
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Active behaviour during early development shapes glucocorticoid reactivity. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12796. [PMID: 31488853 PMCID: PMC6728389 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49388-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are the final effectors of the stress axis, with numerous targets in the central nervous system and the periphery. They are essential for adaptation, yet currently it is unclear how early life events program the glucocorticoid response to stress. Here we provide evidence that involuntary swimming at early developmental stages can reconfigure the cortisol response to homotypic and heterotypic stress in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio), also reducing startle reactivity and increasing spontaneous activity as well as energy efficiency during active behaviour. Collectively, these data identify a role of the genetically malleable zebrafish for linking early life stress with glucocorticoid function in later life.
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Fertility rates in classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency are substantially decreased for various reasons, including hormonal, anatomic, psychosocial, and psychosexual causes. However, fecundity is comparable with the general population. Under optimal hormone replacement, the course and outcome of pregnancies is also good. This article summarizes successful gestational management, including preconceptional considerations, adjustment of hormone replacement during pregnancy, delivery and lactation, as well as the prevention of adrenal crises. In nonclassic 21-hydroxylase deficiency, preconceptional low-dose hydrocortisone replacement normalizes the otherwise increased miscarriage rate. Pregnancy reports in rarer forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia are summarized as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Reisch
- Medizinische Klinik IV, Department of Endocrinology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ziemssenstraße 1, München 80336, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Fu L, Chen YH, Bo QL, Song YP, Ma L, Wang B, Xu S, Zhang C, Wang H, Xu DX. Lipopolysaccharide Downregulates 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 2 Expression through Inhibiting Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-γ in Placental Trophoblasts. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 203:1198-1207. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
22
|
Abul M, Al-Bader MD, Mouihate A. Exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids during pregnancy alters the expression of p73 gene variants in fetal brains in a sex-specific manner. Brain Res 2018; 1707:117-123. [PMID: 30476470 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Fetal exposure to dexamethasone (DEX) alters brain plasticity and cognitive functions during adulthood in a sex-dependent manner. The mechanisms underlying such long-lasting sex-dependent change of prenatal DEX is not well understood. The p73 gene plays an important role in brain development. It encodes for two protein variants; the neural cell death protein (TAp73) and the anti-neural cell death protein (ΔNp73). Therefore, we sought to determine how prenatal exposure to DEX alters the expression of these p73 gene variants in the brain of male and female fetuses. Pregnant dams received daily injections of either DEX (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline from gestation day (GD) 14 until GD21. On GD21, body and brain weights were monitored and mRNA and protein levels of TAp73 and ΔNp73 were measured in male and female fetal brains using RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Prenatal exposure to DEX significantly reduced the body and brain weights of both male and female fetuses, although reduction in brain weight was less severe than that of the body weight. Administration of DEX to pregnant dams led to enhanced expression of both TAp73 and ΔNp73 gene/protein variants in the brain of male but not in that of female fetuses. Dexamethasone induced a sex-dependent effect on the expression of p73 gene variants. DEX-induced growth restriction in the brain of female fetuses is independent of p73 gene. This study strongly suggests that survival/death programs operate differently during the development of male and female brains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mai Abul
- Department of Physiology, Health Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait
| | - Maie D Al-Bader
- Department of Physiology, Health Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait
| | - Abdeslam Mouihate
- Department of Physiology, Health Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ni L, Pan Y, Tang C, Xiong W, Wu X, Zou C. Antenatal exposure to betamethasone induces placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression and the adult metabolic disorders in mice. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203802. [PMID: 30212527 PMCID: PMC6136781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Antenatal overexposure to glucocorticoids causes fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and adult metabolic disorders. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) 1 and 2 are key enzymes for glucocorticoid metabolism, however, the detailed effects of antenatal overexposure to glucocorticoids on placental 11β-HSD1 and 2 expression and adult metabolic disorders remain obscure. Here, we report that, in placenta 11β-HSD1 is diffusely localized, whereas 11β-HSD2 is specifically expressed in labyrinthine layer. Exposure of pregnant dams to betamethasone significantly increases the expression of placental 11β-HSD2 but not 11β-HSD1, and decreases the weights of fetuses but not placentas. Antenatal exposure to betamethasone leads to either significant weight loss in the offspring younger than 10-week-old, or weight gain in those older than 14-week-old. Furthermore, antenatal exposure to betamethasone results in coexistence of various metabolic disorders in adult offspring, including hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, low insulin secretory capacity and hyperlipidemia. The present study demonstrates that exposure of pregnant dams to betamethasone induces the expression of placental 11β-HSD2 but not 11β-HSD1, leads to fetal IUGR and causes adult metabolic disorders, providing evidence for fetal origins of adult diseases and the potential role of placental 11β-HSD2 in them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Ni
- Department of Endocrinology, the Children Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Jiaxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yibin Pan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Tang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenyi Xiong
- Department of Endocrinology, the Children Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ximei Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (XW); (CZ)
| | - Chaochun Zou
- Department of Endocrinology, the Children Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (XW); (CZ)
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Fishman R, Vortman Y, Shanas U, Koren L. Cortisol advantage of neighbouring the opposite sex in utero. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:171636. [PMID: 30839724 PMCID: PMC6170571 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Population sex ratios naturally fluctuate around equality. It is argued that the production of an equal number of male and female offspring by individual parents should be favoured by selection, if all costs and benefits are equal. Theoretically, an even sex ratio should yield the highest probability for a fetus to be adjacent to a fetus of the opposite sex in utero. This may cause developmental costs or benefits that have been overlooked. We examined the physiological and developmental parameters associated with in utero sex ratios in the nutria (Myocastor coypus), an invasive wildlife species with a strong reproductive output. Using hair testing, we found that litters with even sex ratios had the highest average cortisol levels. Fetuses neighbouring the opposite sex exhibited longer trunks than those neighbouring the same sex, which might imply better lung development. Our results are the first, to our knowledge, to link intra-utero sex ratios and fetal cortisol and suggest that fetal cortisol might be a mechanism by which even sex ratios are maintained via developmental advantages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R. Fishman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Y. Vortman
- Hula Research Center, Department of Animal Sciences, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee 1220800, Israel
| | - U. Shanas
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Haifa—Oranim, Tivon 3600600, Israel
| | - L. Koren
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Prenatal Maternal Stress from a Natural Disaster Alters Urinary Metabolomic Profiles in Project Ice Storm Participants. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12932. [PMID: 30154530 PMCID: PMC6113208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31230-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress is known to epigenetically program offspring physiology and behaviour, and may become a risk factor for adult complex diseases. To gain insight into the underlying environment-gene interactions, we used proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to analyze urinary metabolomes of male and female adolescents who were in utero during the 1998 Quebec Ice Storm. Metabolomic profiles in adolescent groups were found to be significantly different. Higher prenatal stress exposure generated alterations in metabolic pathways involved in energy metabolism and protein biosynthesis, such as branched-chain amino acid synthesis, alanine metabolism, and ketone body metabolism. Dysregulation of energy and protein metabolism suggests an increased risk of metabolic diseases like insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity. These findings are consistent with prior observations of physiological phenotypes from this cohort. Understanding the impact of natural disasters on health risks will provide new and improved therapeutic strategies to mitigate stress-associated adverse health outcomes. Using metabolomic biomarkers may also assist in the prediction and prevention of these adverse outcomes.
Collapse
|
26
|
Motta K, Gomes PRL, Sulis PM, Bordin S, Rafacho A. Dexamethasone Administration During Late Gestation Has No Major Impact on Lipid Metabolism, but Reduces Newborn Survival Rate in Wistar Rats. Front Physiol 2018; 9:783. [PMID: 30018561 PMCID: PMC6038799 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A rise in plasma triacylglycerol levels is a common physiological occurrence during late gestation and excess of glucocorticoids (GCs) has been shown to impair lipid metabolism. Based on those observations, we investigated whether the administration of dexamethasone during the late gestational period could exacerbate this pregnancy associated hypertriacylglycerolemia in rats. For this, female Wistar rats were treated with dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg of body mass in the drinking water on days 14-19 of pregnancy; DP group) or equivalent days in the virgin rats (DV group). Untreated pregnant rats (control pregnant group) and age-matched virgin rats (control virgin group) were used as controls. Functional, biochemical, and molecular analyses were carried out after treatment with GC and in the control groups. Euthanasia was performed on day 20 of pregnancy. The metabolic parameters of the mothers (dams) at the time of weaning and 6 months later, as well as newborn survival, were evaluated. We observed that neither dexamethasone nor pregnancy affected blood glucose or glucose tolerance. Hypertriacylglycerolemia associated with lipid intolerance or reduced hepatic triacylglycerol clearance was observed during the late gestational period. GC treatment caused a further increase in basal plasma triacylglycerol levels, but did not have a significant effect on lipid tolerance and hepatic triacylglycerol clearance in pregnant rats. GC, but not pregnancy, caused few significant changes in mRNA expression of proteins involved in lipid metabolism. Dexamethasone during pregnancy had no impact on lipid metabolism later in the dams' life; however, it led to intra-uterine growth restriction and reduced pup survival rate. In conclusion, GC exposure during the late gestational period in rats has no major impact on maternal lipid homeostasis, soon after parturition at weaning, or later in the dams' life, but GC exposure is deleterious to the newborn when high doses are administered at late gestation. These data highlight the importance of performing an individualized and rigorous control of a GC treatment during late pregnancy considering its harmful impact on the fetuses' health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katia Motta
- Multicenter Postgraduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Laboratory of Investigation in Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Patricia R L Gomes
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paola M Sulis
- Multicenter Postgraduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Laboratory of Investigation in Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Silvana Bordin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alex Rafacho
- Multicenter Postgraduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Laboratory of Investigation in Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
de Barros JWF, Borges CDS, Missassi G, Pacheco TL, De Grava Kempinas W. Impact of intrauterine exposure to betamethasone on the testes and epididymides of prepubertal rats. Chem Biol Interact 2018; 291:202-211. [PMID: 29953847 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Therapy with betamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, is used in cases of preterm birth risk, in order to promote fetal lung maturation, and decrease neonatal mortality and morbidity. However, late reproductive disorders related to the prenatal exposure to this compound have been reported by our Laboratory, in both male and female rats. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of betamethasone on postnatal reproductive development, during pre-puberty, of male offspring exposed in utero to this synthetic glucocorticoid. For this purpose, pregnant Wistar rats were allocated into two groups: Control, treated with saline, and the group treated with betamethasone at 0.1 mg/kg/day. Control and betamethasone groups were treated with intramuscular injection on gestational days 12, 13, 18 and 19, critical days of prenatal reproductive development. The treatment is associated with reduced body and organ weights, disorders in initial reproductive parameters of pre-pubertal male offspring exposed in utero to betamethasone, such as reduction of anogenital distance, alterations in histomorphometric parameters and immunostaining pattern of androgen and estrogen receptors on testicles and epididymides. Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to betamethasone potentially causes reproductive reprogramming and impairs male postnatal reproductive development. This data raise concerns about the use of betamethasone for human antenatal therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cibele Dos Santos Borges
- Department of Morphology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Missassi
- Department of Morphology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Tainá Louise Pacheco
- Department of Morphology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Wilma De Grava Kempinas
- Department of Morphology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Yang F, Dai Y, Min C, Li X. Neonatal overfeeding induced glucocorticoid overexposure accelerates hepatic lipogenesis in male rats. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2018; 15:30. [PMID: 29743929 PMCID: PMC5930793 DOI: 10.1186/s12986-018-0272-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Postnatal overfeeding activates tissue glucocorticoid (GC) activity by up-regulating 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) and increasing sensitivity to high-fat (HF) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of postnatal overfeeding on GC regulation and lipogenesis in the liver and to observe the impact of GC on hepatocyte lipid metabolism. Methods In vivo, Male Sprague-Dawley rat pup litters were adjusted to litter sizes of three (small litter, SL) or ten (normal litter, NL) on postnatal day 3 and then given standard chow from postnatal week 3 (W3) to W13. In vitro, HepG2 cells were stimulated by GC, mifepristone (Mi) or GC + Mi within 48 h, followed by sodium oleate (OA) intervention (or not) for 24 h. Intracellular lipid droplets, triglyceride (TG) concentrations and gene expression related to lipid metabolism were measured in hepatic tissues or HepG2 cells. Results In vivo, weight gain in the body and liver and TG concentrations in the liver were significantly increased in the SL rats compared to the NL rats at W3 and W13 (p < 0.05); mRNA expression of hepatic 11β-HSD1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), fatty acid synthase (FASN) and their nuclear transcription factor, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) (p < 0.05), was also increased. In vitro, intracellular lipid droplets and TG content in HepG2 cells increased under stimulation with GC or OA (p < 0.05); the increase was more significant following treatment with GC and OA together (p < 0.05). The ACC, SCD1, FASN and SREBP-1c mRNA expression changes were highly similar to the changes in TG content in cells. All the changes induced by GC disappeared when the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was blocked by Mi. Conclusions Postnatal overfeeding induced GC overexposure through 11β-HSD1 up-regulation in the liver. GC activated hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) via GR and led to hepatic lipid accumulation, which increased the risk of NAFLD during adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- 1Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanyan Dai
- 1Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, China
| | - Cuiting Min
- 1Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaonan Li
- 1Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, China.,2Institute of Paediatric Research, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Cartier J, Smith T, Thomson JP, Rose CM, Khulan B, Heger A, Meehan RR, Drake AJ. Investigation into the role of the germline epigenome in the transmission of glucocorticoid-programmed effects across generations. Genome Biol 2018; 19:50. [PMID: 29636086 PMCID: PMC5891941 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1422-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early life exposure to adverse environments affects cardiovascular and metabolic systems in the offspring. These programmed effects are transmissible to a second generation through both male and female lines, suggesting germline transmission. We have previously shown that prenatal overexposure to the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) in rats reduces birth weight in the first generation (F1), a phenotype which is transmitted to a second generation (F2), particularly through the male line. We hypothesize that Dex exposure affects developing germ cells, resulting in transmissible alterations in DNA methylation, histone marks and/or small RNA in the male germline. Results We profile epigenetic marks in sperm from F1 Sprague Dawley rats expressing a germ cell-specific GFP transgene following Dex or vehicle treatment of the mothers, using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, small RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing for H3K4me3, H3K4me1, H3K27me3 and H3K9me3. Although effects on birth weight are transmitted to the F2 generation through the male line, no differences in DNA methylation, histone modifications or small RNA were detected between germ cells and sperm from Dex-exposed animals and controls. Conclusions Although the phenotype is transmitted to a second generation, we are unable to detect specific changes in DNA methylation, common histone modifications or small RNA profiles in sperm. Dex exposure is associated with more variable 5mC levels, particularly at non-promoter loci. Although this could be one mechanism contributing to the observed phenotype, other germline epigenetic modifications or non-epigenetic mechanisms may be responsible for the transmission of programmed effects across generations in this model. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13059-018-1422-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessy Cartier
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Thomas Smith
- MRC Computational Genomics Analysis and Training Programme, University of Oxford, MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - John P Thomson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Catherine M Rose
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Batbayar Khulan
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Andreas Heger
- MRC Computational Genomics Analysis and Training Programme, University of Oxford, MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Richard R Meehan
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Amanda J Drake
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Spulber S, Raciti M, Dulko-Smith B, Lupu D, Rüegg J, Nam K, Ceccatelli S. Methylmercury interferes with glucocorticoid receptor: Potential role in the mediation of developmental neurotoxicity. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2018; 354:94-100. [PMID: 29499248 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2018.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Revised: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a widespread environmental contaminant with established developmental neurotoxic effects. Computational models have identified glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling to be a key mediator behind the birth defects induced by Hg, but the mechanisms were not elucidated. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we found that MeHg can bind to the GR protein at Cys736 (located close to the ligand binding site) and distort the conformation of the ligand binging site. To assess the functional consequences of MeHg interaction with GR, we used a human cell line expressing a luciferase reporter system (HeLa AZ-GR). We found that 100 nM MeHg does not have any significant effect on GR activity alone, but the transactivation of gene expression by GR upon Dex (a synthetic GR agonist) administration was reduced in cells pre-treated with MeHg. Similar effects were found in transgenic zebrafish larvae expressing a GR reporter system (SR4G). Next we asked whether the effects of developmental exposure to MeHg are mediated by the effects on GR. Using a mutant zebrafish line carrying a loss-of-function mutation in the GR (grS357) we could show that the effects of developmental exposure to 2.5 nM MeHg are mitigated in absence of functional GR signaling. Taken together, our data indicate that inhibition of GR signaling may have a role in the developmental neurotoxic effects of MeHg.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Spulber
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - M Raciti
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B Dulko-Smith
- Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Umeå, Sweden; University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - D Lupu
- Swetox, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Toxicology Science, Södertälje, Sweden; "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - J Rüegg
- Swetox, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Toxicology Science, Södertälje, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - K Nam
- Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Umeå, Sweden; University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - S Ceccatelli
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Associations Between Nurse-Guided Variables and Plasma Oxytocin Trajectories in Premature Infants During Initial Hospitalization. Adv Neonatal Care 2018; 18:E12-E23. [PMID: 29337699 DOI: 10.1097/anc.0000000000000452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin (OT) is a social hormone that may help researchers understand how nurse-guided interventions during initial infant hospitalization, such as supporting human milk expression, promoting comforting touch, and reducing exposure to stressors, affect preterm brain development. PURPOSE To determine whether factors related to human milk, touch, or stressor exposure are related to plasma OT trajectories in premature infants. METHODS Plasma from 33 premature infants, born gestational ages 25 to (Equation is included in full-text article.)weeks, was collected at 14 days of life and then weekly until 34 weeks' corrected gestational age (CGA). Variables related to feeding volumes of human milk and formula; touch, as indexed by skin-to-skin contact (SSC) and swaddled holding; and clinical stressors were extracted from the electronic medical record. Linear mixed-models tested associations between nurse-guided variables and plasma OT trajectories. RESULTS In the final model, same-day SSC was positively related not only to plasma OT levels at 27 weeks' CGA (β= .938, P = .002) but also to a decline in plasma OT levels over time (β=-.177, P = .001). Volume of enteral feeds (mL/kg/d), its interaction with CGA, and number of stressful procedures were not statistically significant (β= .011, P = .077; β=-.002, P = .066; and β= .007, P = .062, respectively). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Nurse-guided interventions are associated with infant plasma OT levels, suggesting nurses may impact the neurobiology of the developing premature infant. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH Replication with larger sample sizes and randomized controlled trial designs is needed to test effects of specific nursing interventions on infant OT.
Collapse
|
32
|
Evaluating Stress during Pregnancy: Do We Have the Right Conceptions and the Correct Tools to Assess It? J Pregnancy 2018; 2018:4857065. [PMID: 29484210 PMCID: PMC5816839 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4857065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gestational stress is believed to increase the risk of pregnancy failure and perinatal and adult morbidity and mortality in both the mother and her child or children. However, some contradictions might arise from methodological issues or even from differences in the philosophical grounds that guide the studies on gestational stress. Biased perspectives could lead us to use and/or design inadequate/incomplete panels of biochemical determinations and/or psychological instruments to diagnose it accurately during pregnancy, a psychoneuroimmune-endocrine state in which allostatic loads may be significant. Here, we review these notions and propose a model to evaluate and diagnose stress during pregnancy.
Collapse
|
33
|
Brajon S, Ringgenberg N, Torrey S, Bergeron R, Devillers N. Impact of prenatal stress and environmental enrichment prior to weaning on activity and social behaviour of piglets ( Sus scrofa ). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
|
34
|
Caetano L, Pinheiro H, Patrício P, Mateus-Pinheiro A, Alves ND, Coimbra B, Baptista FI, Henriques SN, Cunha C, Santos AR, Ferreira SG, Sardinha VM, Oliveira JF, Ambrósio AF, Sousa N, Cunha RA, Rodrigues AJ, Pinto L, Gomes CA. Adenosine A 2A receptor regulation of microglia morphological remodeling-gender bias in physiology and in a model of chronic anxiety. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1035-1043. [PMID: 27725661 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Developmental risk factors, such as the exposure to stress or high levels of glucocorticoids (GCs), may contribute to the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. The immunomodulatory role of GCs and the immunological fingerprint found in animals prenatally exposed to GCs point towards an interplay between the immune and the nervous systems in the etiology of these disorders. Microglia are immune cells of the brain, responsive to GCs and morphologically altered in stress-related disorders. These cells are regulated by adenosine A2A receptors, which are also involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety. We now compare animal behavior and microglia morphology in males and females prenatally exposed to the GC dexamethasone. We report that prenatal exposure to dexamethasone is associated with a gender-specific remodeling of microglial cell processes in the prefrontal cortex: males show a hyper-ramification and increased length whereas females exhibit a decrease in the number and in the length of microglia processes. Microglial cells re-organization responded in a gender-specific manner to the chronic treatment with a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, which was able to ameliorate microglial processes alterations and anxiety behavior in males, but not in females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Caetano
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - H Pinheiro
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - P Patrício
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A Mateus-Pinheiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - N D Alves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - B Coimbra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - F I Baptista
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S N Henriques
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - C Cunha
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A R Santos
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - S G Ferreira
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - V M Sardinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - J F Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A F Ambrósio
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - N Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - R A Cunha
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - A J Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - L Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - C A Gomes
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Shewade LH, Schneider KA, Brown AC, Buchholz DR. In-vivo regulation of Krüppel-like factor 9 by corticosteroids and their receptors across tissues in tadpoles of Xenopus tropicalis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 248:79-86. [PMID: 28232027 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Corticosteroids are critical for normal development and for mediating effects of stress during development in all vertebrates. Even though gene knockout studies in mouse and zebrafish have identified a number of developmental roles of corticosteroids and their receptors, the numerous pleiotropic actions of these hormones affecting various aspects of development are understudied. For the most part, neither the endogenous hormone(s) nor their receptor(s) regulating developmental processes during natural development have been determined. Here, we address this issue by elucidating the endogenous regulation of the transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 9 (klf9) across tissues during development by corticosteroid hormones (aldosterone and corticosterone) and their nuclear receptors (type-I and type-II receptors). First, we measured the developmental expression profiles of klf9 and type-I and type-II corticosteroid receptors in key target tissues, brain, lungs, and tail, during larval and metamorphic stages in Xenopus tropicalis. We also studied the corticosteroid regulation of klf9 in these tissues in-vivo using exogenous hormone treatments and receptor antagonists. Klf9 and the corticosteroid receptors were expressed in each tissue and significantly increased in expression reaching a peak at metamorphic climax, except for the type-II receptor in brain and tail whose expression did not change significantly across stages. Both corticosteroid hormones induced klf9 in each tissue, although aldosterone required a five times higher dose than corticosterone to cause a significant induction. The upregulation of klf9 by both corticosteroids was completely blocked by the use of the type-II receptor antagonist RU486 and not the type-I receptor antagonist spironolactone. These results are consistent with previous in-vitro studies and indicate for the first time in-vivo that corticosteroid regulation of klf9 occurs exclusively via corticosterone and type-II receptor interaction across tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leena H Shewade
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 312 Clifton Court, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Katelin A Schneider
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 312 Clifton Court, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Audrey C Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 312 Clifton Court, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Daniel R Buchholz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 312 Clifton Court, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Weber A, Harrison TM, Steward D, Sinnott L, Shoben A. Oxytocin trajectories and social engagement in extremely premature infants during NICU hospitalization. Infant Behav Dev 2017; 48:78-87. [PMID: 28552589 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Extremely premature infants, born 28 weeks gestation or less, are at high risk for impaired socioemotional development, due in part to exposure to early stressful social experiences that alter brain development. Understanding mediators that link experience with outcomes is necessary to assess premature infant responses to social experiences that are critical to brain development. The hormone oxytocin (OT), released during supportive interactions, has potential as a biomarker of the premature infant's responses to social experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine associations among infant plasma OT trajectories and maternal-infant social engagement behaviors during initial hospitalization. This study also examined demographic correlates of engagement behaviors in mothers and infants. Plasma from 28 extremely premature infants, born gestational ages 25-28 6/7 weeks, was collected at 14 days of life, then weekly until 34 weeks. Social engagement behaviors were measured by the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment during a videotaped feeding when the infant was receiving one-quarter full oral feeds. Maternal-infant demographics were extracted from the medical record. Higher infant plasma OT was associated with lower infant social engagement, but no associations were found with maternal social engagement. Infant social engagement was positively related to maternal social engagement. Maternal parity was related to maternal social engagement, and infant demographics did not predict infant social engagement. The significant, yet negative, association between infant OT and engagement provides support for the measurement of OT as a neurobiological antecedent to infant social behaviors. Finally, this research suggests that during the earliest period of infant socio-behavioral development, premature infants are behaviorally reactive to the social engagement behaviors of their mothers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Weber
- Case Western Reserve University, N0B040 Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, 2120 Cornell Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Tondi M Harrison
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Newton Hall, 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Deborah Steward
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Newton Hall, 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Loraine Sinnott
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Newton Hall, 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Abigail Shoben
- The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Cunz Hall, 1841 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can be considered the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. NAFLD represents a spectrum of disease, from the relatively benign simple steatosis to the more serious non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which can progress to liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver failure, necessitating liver transplantation. Although the increasing prevalence of NAFLD in developed countries has substantial implications for public health, many of the precise mechanisms accounting for the development and progression of NAFLD are unclear. The environment in early life is an important determinant of cardiovascular disease risk in later life and studies suggest this also extends to NAFLD. Here we review data from animal models and human studies which suggest that fetal and early life exposure to maternal under- and overnutrition, excess glucocorticoids and environmental pollutants may confer an increased susceptibility to NAFLD development and progression in offspring and that such effects may be sex-specific. We also consider studies aimed at identifying potential dietary and pharmacological interventions aimed at reducing this risk. We suggest that further human epidemiological studies are needed to ensure that data from animal models are relevant to human health.
Collapse
|
38
|
Carson R, Monaghan-Nichols AP, DeFranco DB, Rudine AC. Effects of antenatal glucocorticoids on the developing brain. Steroids 2016; 114:25-32. [PMID: 27343976 PMCID: PMC5052110 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2016.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate distinct physiological processes in the developing fetus, in particular accelerating organ maturation that enables the fetus to survive outside the womb. In preterm birth, the developing fetus does not receive sufficient exposure to endogenous GCs in utero for proper organ development predisposing the neonate to complications including intraventricular hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Synthetic GCs (sGCs) have proven useful in the prevention of these complications since they are able to promote the rapid maturation of underdeveloped organs present in the fetus. While these drugs have proven to be clinically effective in the prevention of IVH, RDS and NEC, they may also trigger adverse developmental side effects. This review will examine the current clinical use of antenatal sGC therapy in preterm birth, their placental metabolism, and their effects on the developing brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ross Carson
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - A Paula Monaghan-Nichols
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Neurobiology, United States
| | - Donald B DeFranco
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, United States
| | - Anthony C Rudine
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Hartig EI, Zhu S, King BL, Coffman JA. Cortisol-treated zebrafish embryos develop into pro-inflammatory adults with aberrant immune gene regulation. Biol Open 2016; 5:1134-41. [PMID: 27444789 PMCID: PMC5004618 DOI: 10.1242/bio.020065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic early-life stress increases adult susceptibility to numerous health problems linked to chronic inflammation. One way that this may occur is via glucocorticoid-induced developmental programming. To gain insight into such programming we treated zebrafish embryos with cortisol and examined the effects on both larvae and adults. Treated larvae had elevated whole-body cortisol and glucocorticoid signaling, and upregulated genes associated with defense response and immune system processes. In adulthood the treated fish maintained elevated basal cortisol levels in the absence of exogenous cortisol, and constitutively mis-expressed genes involved in defense response and its regulation. Adults derived from cortisol-treated embryos displayed defective tailfin regeneration, heightened basal expression of pro-inflammatory genes, and failure to appropriately regulate those genes following injury or immunological challenge. These results support the hypothesis that chronically elevated glucocorticoid signaling early in life directs development of a pro-inflammatory adult phenotype, at the expense of immunoregulation and somatic regenerative capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen I Hartig
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, 04672, USA
| | - Shusen Zhu
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, 04672, USA
| | - Benjamin L King
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, 04672, USA
| | - James A Coffman
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, 04672, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Fowden AL, Valenzuela OA, Vaughan OR, Jellyman JK, Forhead AJ. Glucocorticoid programming of intrauterine development. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2016; 56 Suppl:S121-32. [PMID: 27345310 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are important environmental and maturational signals during intrauterine development. Toward term, the maturational rise in fetal glucocorticoid receptor concentrations decreases fetal growth and induces differentiation of key tissues essential for neonatal survival. When cortisol levels rise earlier in gestation as a result of suboptimal conditions for fetal growth, the switch from tissue accretion to differentiation is initiated prematurely, which alters the phenotype that develops from the genotype inherited at conception. Although this improves the chances of survival should delivery occur, it also has functional consequences for the offspring long after birth. Glucocorticoids are, therefore, also programming signals that permanently alter tissue structure and function during intrauterine development to optimize offspring fitness. However, if the postnatal environmental conditions differ from those signaled in utero, the phenotypical outcome of early-life glucocorticoid receptor overexposure may become maladaptive and lead to physiological dysfunction in the adult. This review focuses on the role of GCs in developmental programming, primarily in farm species. It examines the factors influencing GC bioavailability in utero and the effects that GCs have on the development of fetal tissues and organ systems, both at term and earlier in gestation. It also discusses the windows of susceptibility to GC overexposure in early life together with the molecular mechanisms and long-term consequences of GC programming with particular emphasis on the cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine phenotype of the offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A L Fowden
- Centre for Trophoblast and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.
| | - O A Valenzuela
- Centre for Trophoblast and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - O R Vaughan
- Centre for Trophoblast and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - J K Jellyman
- Centre for Trophoblast and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - A J Forhead
- Centre for Trophoblast and Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Abstract
The Symposium on the Comparative Biology of Tissue Repair, Regeneration and Aging, held 26 June to 28 June 2015 at the MDI Biological Laboratory in Salisbury Cove, Maine, brought together a diverse group of biologists with a common interest in understanding why regenerative capacity varies among animal species, why it is progressively lost in senescence, and how answers obtained from studies that address those questions might be applied in regenerative medicine.
Collapse
|
42
|
Khulan B, Liu L, Rose CM, Boyle AK, Manning JR, Drake AJ. Glucocorticoids accelerate maturation of the heme pathway in fetal liver through effects on transcription and DNA methylation. Epigenetics 2016; 11:103-9. [PMID: 26889791 PMCID: PMC4846099 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2016.1144006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are widely used in threatened preterm labor to promote maturation in many organ systems in preterm babies and have significant beneficial effects on morbidity and mortality. We performed transcriptional profiling in fetal liver in a rat model of prenatal glucocorticoid exposure and identified marked gene expression changes in heme biosynthesis, utilization, and degradation pathways in late gestation. These changes in gene expression associated with alterations in DNA methylation and with a reduction in hepatic heme concentration. There were no persistent differences in gene expression, DNA methylation, or heme concentrations at 4 weeks of age, suggesting that these are transient effects. Our findings are consistent with glucocorticoid-induced accelerated maturation of the haematopoietic system and support the hypothesis that glucocorticoids can drive changes in gene expression in association with alterations in DNA methylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Batbayar Khulan
- a University/BHF Center for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute , 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh , UK
| | - Lincoln Liu
- a University/BHF Center for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute , 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh , UK
| | - Catherine M Rose
- a University/BHF Center for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute , 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh , UK
| | - Ashley K Boyle
- a University/BHF Center for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute , 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh , UK
| | - Jonathan R Manning
- a University/BHF Center for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute , 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh , UK
| | - Amanda J Drake
- a University/BHF Center for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute , 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh , UK
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Valenzuela OA, Jellyman JK, Allen VL, Holdstock NB, Fowden AL. Effects of maternal dexamethasone treatment on pancreatic β cell function in the pregnant mare and post natal foal. Equine Vet J 2016; 49:99-106. [DOI: 10.1111/evj.12560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- O. A. Valenzuela
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience; University of Cambridge; CB2 3EG UK
| | - J. K. Jellyman
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience; University of Cambridge; CB2 3EG UK
| | - V. L. Allen
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience; University of Cambridge; CB2 3EG UK
| | - N. B. Holdstock
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine; University of Cambridge; CB2 3EG UK
| | - A. L. Fowden
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience; University of Cambridge; CB2 3EG UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Dörr HG, Binder G, Reisch N, Gembruch U, Oppelt PG, Wieacker P, Kratzsch J. Experts' Opinion on the Prenatal Therapy of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) Due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency - Guideline of DGKED in cooperation with DGGG (S1-Level, AWMF Registry No. 174/013, July 2015). Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2015; 75:1232-1238. [PMID: 28435171 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-109717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: This guideline of the German Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (DGKED) is designed to be experts' opinion on the current concept of prenatal therapy for congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH). Several scientific medical societies have also participated in the guideline. It aims to offer guidance to physicians when they counsel affected families about prenatal therapy. Methods: The experts commissioned by the medical societies developed a consensus in an informal process. The consensus was subsequently confirmed by the steering committees of the respective medical societies. Recommendations: Prenatal CAH therapy is an experimental therapy. We recommend designing and using standardized protocols for the prenatal diagnosis, therapy and long-term follow-up of women and children treated prenatally with dexamethasone. If long-term follow-up is not possible, then prenatal therapy should not be performed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H G Dörr
- Kinder- und Jugendklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen, Erlangen
| | - G Binder
- Univ.-Kinderklinik Tübingen, Sektion Endokrinologie, Tübingen
| | - N Reisch
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV. Klinikum der Universität München, München
| | - U Gembruch
- Abteilung für Geburtshilfe und Pränatalmedizin der Universität Bonn, Bonn
| | - P G Oppelt
- Kinder- und Jugendgynäkologie, Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen, Erlangen
| | - P Wieacker
- Institut für Humangenetik, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster
| | - J Kratzsch
- Institut für Laboratoriumsmedizin, Klinische Chemie und Molekulare Diagnostik der Universität Leipzig, Leipzig
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Williams TC, Drake AJ. What a general paediatrician needs to know about early life programming. Arch Dis Child 2015; 100:1058-63. [PMID: 25990501 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The process whereby early exposure to an adverse environment has an influence on later life outcomes has been called 'early life programming'. While epidemiological evidence for this has been available for decades, only in recent years have the mechanisms, in particular epigenetic modifications, for this process begun to be elucidated. We discuss the evidence for early life programming, the possible mechanisms, how effects may be transmitted across generations, and conclude by looking at some examples relevant to general paediatrics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Williams
- Neonatal Unit, Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Amanda J Drake
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Heindel JJ, Balbus J, Birnbaum L, Brune-Drisse MN, Grandjean P, Gray K, Landrigan PJ, Sly PD, Suk W, Cory Slechta D, Thompson C, Hanson M. Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Integrating Environmental Influences. Endocrinology 2015; 156:3416-21. [PMID: 26241070 PMCID: PMC4588819 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
There are now robust data supporting the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm. This includes human and animal data focusing on nutrition or environmental chemicals during development. However, the term DOHaD has not been generally accepted as the official term to be used when one is concerned with understanding the pathophysiological basis for how environmental influences acting during early development influence the risk of later noncommunicable diseases. Similarly, there is no global research or public health program built around the DOHaD paradigm that encompasses all aspects of environment. To better inform the global health efforts aimed at addressing the growing epidemic of chronic noncommunicable diseases of environmental origin, we propose a two-pronged approach: first, to make it clear that the current concept of DOHaD comprehensively includes a range of environmental factors and their relevance to disease occurrence not just throughout the life span but potentially across several generations; and second, to initiate the discussion of how adoption of DOHaD can promote a more realistic, accurate, and integrative approach to understanding environmental disruption of developmental programming and better inform clinical and policy interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerrold J Heindel
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - John Balbus
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Birnbaum
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Marie Noel Brune-Drisse
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Kimberly Gray
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J Landrigan
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Peter D Sly
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - William Suk
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah Cory Slechta
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Thompson
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Hanson
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (J.J.H., J.B., L.B., K.G., W.S., C.T.), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health (M.N.B.-D.), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Health (P.G.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Preventative Medicine (P.J.L.), The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029; Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (P.D.S.), University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; Department of Environmental Medicine (D.C.S.), University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642; and Institute of Developmental Sciences (M.H.), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Justus G, Sloboda DM, Henrich W, Plagemann A, Dudenhausen JW, Braun T. Avoiding the prenatal programming effects of glucocorticoids: are there alternative treatments for the induction of antenatal lung maturation? J Perinat Med 2015; 43:503-23. [PMID: 25405717 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2014-0295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The long-term outcomes of antenatal glucocorticoids (GCs) vary between reports, and have generated controversy in terms of repeated and single-course events, causing irreversible effects on endocrine set points. AIM This study aimed to assess the effects of alternative therapeutic agents other than synthetic glucocorticoid GC administration for fetal lung maturation. METHODS A review of literature from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was conducted to assess the use of alternative therapies to synthetic GCs using recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA). End points included the rates of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), mRNA expression for pneumocyte type II, concentration of surfactant proteins in alveolar lavage, morphological differences, histological proof of lung maturation, and angiogenesis or quantification of the surfactant pool. RESULTS In all 41 studies examined, we found that ambroxol showed positive effects on lung maturation, but it has yet to be analyzed with sufficient significance in humans. Interleukins and TNF-alpha produce accelerated lung maturation, but have only been evaluated in basic research/experimental studies. Growth factors promote structural and functional growth in all phases of lung maturation, but little is known about their reciprocal effects and exact mechanisms as therapeutics. Thyroid releasing hormone or vitamin A cause detrimental side effects or were less effective for lung maturation. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy and safety of these alternative agents are differentiated and none up to now can be recommended as an alternative to GCs.
Collapse
|
48
|
Sopinka NM, Patterson LD, Redfern JC, Pleizier NK, Belanger CB, Midwood JD, Crossin GT, Cooke SJ. Manipulating glucocorticoids in wild animals: basic and applied perspectives. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 3:cov031. [PMID: 27293716 PMCID: PMC4778459 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cov031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
One of the most comprehensively studied responses to stressors in vertebrates is the endogenous production and regulation of glucocorticoids (GCs). Extensive laboratory research using experimental elevation of GCs in model species is instrumental in learning about stressor-induced physiological and behavioural mechanisms; however, such studies fail to inform our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes in the wild. We reviewed emerging research that has used GC manipulations in wild vertebrates to assess GC-mediated effects on survival, physiology, behaviour, reproduction and offspring quality. Within and across taxa, exogenous manipulation of GCs increased, decreased or had no effect on traits examined in the reviewed studies. The notable diversity in responses to GC manipulation could be associated with variation in experimental methods, inherent differences among species, morphs, sexes and age classes, and the ecological conditions in which responses were measured. In their current form, results from experimental studies may be applied to animal conservation on a case-by-case basis in contexts such as threshold-based management. We discuss ways to integrate mechanistic explanations for changes in animal abundance in altered environments with functional applications that inform conservation practitioners of which species and traits may be most responsive to environmental change or human disturbance. Experimental GC manipulation holds promise for determining mechanisms underlying fitness impairment and population declines. Future work in this area should examine multiple life-history traits, with consideration of individual variation and, most importantly, validation of GC manipulations within naturally occurring and physiologically relevant ranges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M. Sopinka
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Lucy D. Patterson
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Julia C. Redfern
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Naomi K. Pleizier
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Cassia B. Belanger
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Jon D. Midwood
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Glenn T. Crossin
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Bolden AL, Kwiatkowski CF, Colborn T. New Look at BTEX: Are Ambient Levels a Problem? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:5261-76. [PMID: 25873211 DOI: 10.1021/es505316f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are retrieved during fossil fuel extraction and used as solvents in consumer and industrial products, as gasoline additives, and as intermediates in the synthesis of organic compounds for many consumer products. Emissions from the combustion of gasoline and diesel fuels are the largest contributors to atmospheric BTEX concentrations. However, levels indoors (where people spend greater than 83% of their time) can be many times greater than outdoors. In this review we identified epidemiological studies assessing the noncancer health impacts of ambient level BTEX exposure (i.e., nonoccupational) and discussed how the health conditions may be hormonally mediated. Health effects significantly associated with ambient level exposure included sperm abnormalities, reduced fetal growth, cardiovascular disease, respiratory dysfunction, asthma, sensitization to common antigens, and more. Several hormones including estrogens, androgens, glucocorticoids, insulin, and serotonin may be involved in these health outcomes. This analysis suggests that all four chemicals may have endocrine disrupting properties at exposure levels below reference concentrations (i.e., safe levels) issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These data should be considered when evaluating the use of BTEX in consumer and industrial products and indicates a need to change how chemicals present at low concentrations are assessed and regulated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Bolden
- †The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), Paonia, Colorado 81428, United States
| | - Carol F Kwiatkowski
- †The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), Paonia, Colorado 81428, United States
- ‡Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Theo Colborn
- †The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), Paonia, Colorado 81428, United States
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Gasc JM, Clemessy M, Corvol P, Kempf H. A chicken model of pharmacologically-induced Hirschsprung disease reveals an unexpected role of glucocorticoids in enteric aganglionosis. Biol Open 2015; 4:666-71. [PMID: 25836673 PMCID: PMC4434818 DOI: 10.1242/bio.201410454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system originates from neural crest cells that migrate in chains as they colonize the embryonic gut, eventually forming the myenteric and submucosal plexus. Failure of the neural crest cells to colonize the gut leads to aganglionosis in the terminal gut, a pathological condition called Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) in humans, also known as congenital megacolon or intestinal aganglionosis. One of the characteristics of the human HSCR is its variable penetrance, which may be attributable to the interaction between genetic factors, such as the endothelin-3/endothelin receptor B pathway, and non-genetic modulators, although the role of the latter has not well been established. We have created a novel HSCR model in the chick embryo allowing to test the ability of non-genetic modifiers to alter the HSCR phenotype. Chick embryos treated by phosphoramidon, which blocks the generation of endothelin-3, failed to develop enteric ganglia in the very distal bowel, characteristic of an HSCR-like phenotype. Administration of dexamethasone influenced the phenotype, suggesting that glucocorticoids may be environmental modulators of the penetrance of the aganglionosis in HSCR disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marie Gasc
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche Biomédicale (CIRB), Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France Chaire de Médecine Expérimentale, Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Maud Clemessy
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche Biomédicale (CIRB), Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France Chaire de Médecine Expérimentale, Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France Centre de Recherche St-Antoine UMRS-938, INSERM-Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 6, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Corvol
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche Biomédicale (CIRB), Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France Chaire de Médecine Expérimentale, Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Hervé Kempf
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche Biomédicale (CIRB), Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France Chaire de Médecine Expérimentale, Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France UMR 7365 CNRS-Université de Lorraine, IMoPA, Faculté de Médecine, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| |
Collapse
|