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Tatemoto P, Pértille F, Bernardino T, Zanella R, Guerrero-Bosagna C, Zanella AJ. An enriched maternal environment and stereotypies of sows differentially affect the neuro-epigenome of brain regions related to emotionality in their piglets. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2196656. [PMID: 37192378 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2196656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are important modulators of neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring of animals challenged during pregnancy. Pregnant sows living in a confined environment are challenged with stress and lack of stimulation which may result in the expression of stereotypies (repetitive behaviours without an apparent function). Little attention has been devoted to the postnatal effects of maternal stereotypies in the offspring. We investigated how the environment and stereotypies of pregnant sows affected the neuro-epigenome of their piglets. We focused on the amygdala, frontal cortex, and hippocampus, brain regions related to emotionality, learning, memory, and stress response. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were investigated in these brain regions of male piglets born from sows kept in an enriched vs a barren environment. Within the latter group of piglets, we compared the brain methylomes of piglets born from sows expressing stereotypies vs sows not expressing stereotypies. DMRs emerged in each comparison. While the epigenome of the hippocampus and frontal cortex of piglets is mainly affected by the maternal environment, the epigenome of the amygdala is mainly affected by maternal stereotypies. The molecular pathways and mechanisms triggered in the brains of piglets by maternal environment or stereotypies are different, which is reflected on the differential gene function associated to the DMRs found in each piglets' brain region . The present study is the first to investigate the neuro-epigenomic effects of maternal enrichment in pigs' offspring and the first to investigate the neuro-epigenomic effects of maternal stereotypies in the offspring of a mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Tatemoto
- Center for Comparative Studies in Sustainability, Health and Welfare, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fábio Pértille
- Avian Behavioral Genomics and Physiology Group, IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Animal Science Department, University of São Paulo - Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Physiology and Environmental Toxicology Program, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thiago Bernardino
- Center for Comparative Studies in Sustainability, Health and Welfare, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil
- Graduation Program in One Health, University of Santo Amaro, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Ricardo Zanella
- Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna
- Avian Behavioral Genomics and Physiology Group, IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Physiology and Environmental Toxicology Program, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Adroaldo José Zanella
- Center for Comparative Studies in Sustainability, Health and Welfare, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil
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O'Hagan ET, Wallwork SB, Callander E, Stanton TR, Mychasiuk R. The Foundations for Chronic Low Back Pain Management may Start in Early Life. Exploring the Role of Caregiver Parental Leave on Future Low Back Pain in the Offspring. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:939-945. [PMID: 36646402 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Chronic low back pain is difficult to treat and despite increased spending on health services, clinical outcomes for people with low back pain have not improved. Innovative, large scale initiatives seem necessary to stem the cost of low back pain. Psychological health contributes to the development and persistence of chronic low back pain and psychological interventions are important in the management of low back pain. Given the contribution of psychological health to low back pain development and management, it raises the question; can we support psychological health in later life by bolstering emotional development in early life, and reduce the burden of this common condition? Positive early life experiences, including those induced by extended paid parental leave, could bolster emotional development and support the psychological health necessary to manage low back pain in later life. We present the current state of evidence demonstrating the potential value of increasing support for parent-child relationships in early life to reduce the burden of low back pain in future generations. The current evidence is limited to cross-sectional associations, but strong preclinical data clearly shows the potential negative impacts of maternal separation on rodent pup health that compels consideration in human populations. PERSPECTIVE: The benefits stemming from enhanced child development include stable emotional foundations, possibly improving psychological health and low back pain management in the future. This perspective raises questions for future studies - within the context of low back pain, what ingredients bolster stable psychological health? And are these ingredients influenced by parental leave?
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Affiliation(s)
- Edel T O'Hagan
- Westmead Applied Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Sarah B Wallwork
- IIMPACT in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emily Callander
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Tasha R Stanton
- IIMPACT in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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Mezheritskiy MI, Dyakonova VE. Direct and Inherited Epigenetic Changes in the Nervous System Caused by Intensive Locomotion: Possible Adaptive Significance. Russ J Dev Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062360422050058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This review is devoted to the analysis of works that investigated the long-term effects of species-specific forms of intensive locomotion on the cognitive functions of animals and humans, which can be transmitted to the next generation. To date, the anxiolytic and cognitive-enhancing long-term effects of intensive locomotion have been demonstrated in humans, rodents, fish, insects, mollusks, and nematodes. In rodents, changes in the central nervous system caused by intense locomotion can be transmitted through the maternal and paternal line to the descendants of the first generation. These include reduced anxiety, improved spatial learning and memory, increased levels of brain neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. The shift of the balance of histone acetylation in the hippocampus of rodents towards hyperacetylation, and the balance of DNA methylation towards demethylation manifests itself both as a direct and as a first-generation inherited effect of motor activity. The question about the mechanisms that link locomotion with an increase in the plasticity of a genome in the brain of descendants remains poorly understood, and invertebrate model organisms can be an ideal object for its study. Currently, there is a lack of a theoretical model explaining why motor activity leads to long-term improvement of some cognitive functions that can be transmitted to the next generation and why such an influence could have appeared in evolution. The answer to these questions is not only of fundamental interest, but it is necessary for predicting therapeutic and possible side effects of motor activity in humans. In this regard, the article pays special attention to the review of ideas on the evolutionary aspects of the problem. We propose our own hypothesis, according to which the activating effect of intensive locomotion on the function of the nervous system could have been formed in evolution as a preadaptation to a possible entry into a new environment.
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Changes in Stereotypies: Effects over Time and over Generations. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192504. [PMID: 36230246 PMCID: PMC9559266 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Herein, we propose that there should be discussion about the function and effects of stereotypies in relation to the time during which they are shown. In the first stages, stereotypies may help animals deal with challenges. However, behavior can potentially alter the brain, impairing its function due the absence of a diverse repertory, and change brain connections, neurophysiology and later neuroanatomy. The neuroanatomical changes in individuals showing stereotypies could be an effect rather than a cause of the stereotypy. As a consequence, studies showing different outcomes for animal welfare from stereotypy expression could be due to variation in a timeline of expression. Stereotypies are widely used as an animal welfare indicator, and their expression can tell us about psychological states. However, there are questions about the longer-term consequences if animals express stereotypies: do the stereotypies help in coping? During the prenatal period, stereotypic behavior expressed by the mother can change the phenotype of the offspring, especially regarding emotionality, one mechanism acting via methylation in the limbic system in the brain. Are individuals that show stereotypies for shorter or longer periods all better adjusted, and hence have better welfare, or is the later welfare of some worse than that of individuals that do not show the behavior? Abstract Stereotypies comprise a wide range of repeated and apparently functionless behaviors that develop in individuals whose neural condition or environment results in poor welfare. While stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare at the time of occurrence, they may have various consequences. Environmental enrichment modifies causal factors and reduces the occurrence of stereotypies, providing evidence that stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare. However, stereotypy occurrence and consequences change over time. Furthermore, there are complex direct and epigenetic effects when mother mammals that are kept in negative conditions do or do not show stereotypies. It is proposed that, when trying to deal with challenging situations, stereotypies might initially help animals to cope. After further time in the conditions, the performance of the stereotypy may impair brain function and change brain connections, neurophysiology and eventually neuroanatomy. It is possible that reported neuroanatomical changes are an effect of the stereotypy rather than a cause.
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Kovalchuk A, Mychasiuk R, Muhammad A, Hossain S, Ghose A, Kirkby C, Ghasroddashti E, Kovalchuk O, Kolb B. Complex housing partially mitigates low dose radiation-induced changes in brain and behavior in rats. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2022; 40:109-124. [DOI: 10.3233/rnn-211216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: In recent years, much effort has been focused on developing new strategies for the prevention and mitigation of adverse radiation effects on healthy tissues and organs, including the brain. The brain is very sensitive to radiation effects, albeit as it is highly plastic. Hence, deleterious radiation effects may be potentially reversible. Because radiation exposure affects dendritic space, reduces the brain’s ability to produce new neurons, and alters behavior, mitigation efforts should focus on restoring these parameters. To that effect, environmental enrichment through complex housing (CH) and exercise may provide a plausible avenue for exploration of protection from brain irradiation. CH is a much broader concept than exercise alone, and constitutes exposure of animals to positive physical and social stimulation that is superior to their routine housing and care conditions. We hypothesized that CHs may lessen harmful neuroanatomical and behavioural effects of low dose radiation exposure. Methods: We analyzed and compared cerebral morphology in animals exposed to low dose head, bystander (liver), and scatter irradiation on rats housed in either the environmental enrichment condos or standard housing. Results: Enriched condo conditions ameliorated radiation-induced neuroanatomical changes. Moreover, irradiated animals that were kept in enriched CH condos displayed fewer radiation-induced behavioural deficits than those housed in standard conditions. Conclusions: Animal model-based environmental enrichment strategies, such as CH, are excellent surrogate models for occupational and exercise therapy in humans, and consequently have significant translational possibility. Our study may thus serve as a roadmap for the development of new, easy, safe and cost-effective methods to prevent and mitigate low-dose radiation effects on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna. Kovalchuk
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | | | - Arif. Muhammad
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Shakhawat. Hossain
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Abhijit. Ghose
- Jack Ady Cancer Center, Alberta Health Services, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Charles. Kirkby
- Jack Ady Cancer Center, Alberta Health Services, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Esmaeel. Ghasroddashti
- Jack Ady Cancer Center, Alberta Health Services, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Olga. Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Bryan. Kolb
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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Jenkins S, Harker A, Gibb R. Distinct sex-dependent effects of maternal preconception nicotine and enrichment on the early development of rat offspring brain and behavior. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2022; 91:107062. [PMID: 34998861 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Developmental nicotine exposure is harmful to offspring. Whereas much is known about the consequences of prenatal nicotine exposure, relatively little is understood about how maternal preconception nicotine impacts the next generation. Positive experiences, such as environmental enrichment/complexity, have considerable potential to improve developmental outcomes and even treat and prevent drug addiction. Therefore, the current study sought to identify how maternal exposure to moderate levels of nicotine prior to conception impacts offspring development, and if the presumably negative consequence of nicotine could be reversed by concurrent exposure to an enriched environment. We treated female Long Evans rats with nicotine in their drinking water (15 mg nicotine salt/L) for seven weeks while residing in either standard or enriched conditions. Both experiences occurred exclusively prior to mating. Nicotine exposure reduced dam fertility by ~20% (p = .06). Females reared their own litters, and offspring were tested in two assessments of early development: negative geotaxis and open field. Offspring were euthanized at weaning (P21), and their brains were processed with Golgi-Cox solution to allow quantification of dendritic spine density. Results indicate that neither maternal nicotine or enrichment had an impact on maternal care, but male offspring were impaired at negative geotaxis due to maternal nicotine, female offspring showed altered open field exploration due to maternal enrichment, and offspring of both sexes had increased spine density in OFC due to maternal enrichment. Therefore, this experiment provides novel insights into the unique, sex-dependent consequences of maternal preconception nicotine and enrichment on the early development of rat behavior and brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Jenkins
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - Allonna Harker
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - Robbin Gibb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.
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7
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Riyahi J, Abdoli B, Gelfo F, Petrosini L, Rezaei R, Haghparast A. Maternal spatial training before fertilization improves the spatial learning process in female offspring. Neuroreport 2021; 32:1106-1112. [PMID: 34284449 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent results of our team showed that parental spatial training before fertilization improves the offspring's spatial memory. However, the process of spatial learning (short-term/working and long-term memories, mnesic consolidation and procedures) in the offspring has not been fully clarified yet. Therefore, this study aimed at specifically analyzing whether maternal learning of a spatial task before fertilization can impact on the process of spatial learning in the female offspring. In the present study, 8-week-old female Wistar rats that had been spatially trained (or not) in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) were mated with conspecific standard-reared male rats, and their 4-week-old female offspring were spatially tested in the same MWM to evaluate their learning and memory processes. Results showed that the female offspring of trained mothers significantly displayed lower escape latencies, higher swimming speed, shorter total distance swum, longer percentage of time spent in the target quadrant and better localization memory in comparison to the female offspring of not trained mothers. Further, MWM performances of mothers trained and their female offspring significantly correlated. These findings indicate that the maternal spatial training before fertilization improves the spatial learning and memory consolidation process of the female offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Riyahi
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Technology in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behrouz Abdoli
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Technology in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation
- Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Petrosini
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation
| | - Rasoul Rezaei
- Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Eyolfson E, Bhatt D, Wang M, Lohman AW, Mychasiuk R. Paternal exposure to exercise and/or caffeine and alcohol modify offspring behavioral and pathophysiological recovery from repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in adolescence. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:egbb12736. [PMID: 33876557 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Only recently has the scope of parental research expanded to include the paternal sphere with epidemiological studies implicating stress, nutrition and alcohol consumption in the neurobiological and behavioral characteristics of offspring. This study was designed to determine if paternal exposure to caffeine, alcohol and exercise prior to conception would improve or exacerbate offspring recovery from adolescent repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (RmTBI). Sires received 7 weeks of standard drinking water, or caffeine and ethanol and were housed in regular cages or cages with running wheels, prior to being mated to control females. At postnatal day 40, offspring were administered RmTBI or sham injuries and were assessed for post concussive symptomology. Post-mortem quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assess gene expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and changes in telomere length. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA's) were run on serum to detect levels of cytokines, chemokines and sex hormones. Paternal experience did not improve or exacerbate RmTBI behavioral outcomes. However, female and male offspring displayed unique responses to RmTBI and paternal experience, resulting in changes in physical, behavioral and molecular outcomes. Injury and paternal exercise modified changes in female offspring, whereas male offspring were affected by paternal exercise, caffeine and alcohol treatment. Additionally, paternal experience and RmTBI modified expression of many genes in the PFC, NAc, telomere length and levels of sex hormones. Although further exploration is required to understand the heterogeneity that exists in disease risk and resiliency, this study provides corroborating evidence that paternal experiences prior to conception influences offspring development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Eyolfson
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dhyey Bhatt
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Melinda Wang
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alexander W Lohman
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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9
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Yang Y, Lagisz M, Foo YZ, Noble DWA, Anwer H, Nakagawa S. Beneficial intergenerational effects of exercise on brain and cognition: a multilevel meta-analysis of mean and variance. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1504-1527. [PMID: 33783115 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Physical exercise not only helps to improve physical health but can also enhance brain development and cognition. Recent reports on parental (both maternal and paternal) effects raise the possibility that parental exercise may provide benefits to offspring through intergenerational inheritance. However, the general magnitude and consistency of parental exercise effects on offspring is still controversial. Additionally, empirical research has long overlooked an important aspect of exercise: its effects on variability in neurodevelopmental and cognitive traits. Here, we compiled data from 52 studies involving 4786 rodents (412 effect sizes) to quantify the intergenerational transmission of exercise effects on brain and cognition. Using a multilevel meta-analytic approach, we found that, overall, parental exercise showed a tendency for increasing their offspring's brain structure by 12.7% (albeit statistically non-significant) probably via significantly facilitating neurogenesis (16.5%). Such changes in neural anatomy go in hand with a significant 20.8% improvement in neurobehaviour (improved learning and memory, and reduced anxiety). Moreover, we found parental exercise significantly reduces inter-individual differences (i.e. reduced variance in the treatment group) in progeny's neurobehaviour by 10.2% (coefficient of variation ratio, lnCVR), suggesting the existence of an individual by intervention interaction. The positive effects of exercise are modulated by several covariates (i.e. moderators), such as the exercised parent's sex, offspring's sex, and age, mode of exercise, and exercise timing. In particular, parental forced exercise is more efficient than voluntary exercise at significantly improving offspring neurobehaviour (26.0%) and reducing its variability (14.2%). We observed larger effects when parental exercise started before pregnancy. However, exercising only during pregnancy also had positive effects. Mechanistically, exercise significantly upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by 28.9%, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by 35.8%, and significantly decreased hippocampal DNA methylation by 3.5%, suggesting that brain growth factor cascades and epigenetic modifications can moderate the transmission of parental exercise effects. Collectively, by coupling mean with variance effects, our analyses draw a more integrated picture of the benefits that parental exercise has on offspring: not only does it improve offspring brain development and cognitive performance, but it also reduces inter-individual differences in cognition-related traits. We advocate that meta-analysis of variation together with the mean of a trait provides novel insights for old controversies as well as emerging new questions, opening up a new era for generating variance-based hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yefeng Yang
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Department of Biosystems Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Yong Zhi Foo
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Hamza Anwer
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Bacon ER, Brinton RD. Epigenetics of the developing and aging brain: Mechanisms that regulate onset and outcomes of brain reorganization. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:503-516. [PMID: 33657435 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Brain development is a life-long process that encompasses several critical periods of transition, during which significant cognitive changes occur. Embryonic development, puberty, and reproductive senescence are all periods of transition that are hypersensitive to environmental factors. Rather than isolated episodes, each transition builds upon the last and is influenced by consequential changes that occur in the transition before it. Epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, provide mechanisms by which early events can influence development, cognition, and health outcomes. For example, parental environment influences imprinting patterns in gamete cells, which ultimately impacts gene expression in the embryo which may result in hypersensitivity to poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy, raising the risks for cognitive impairment later in life. This review explores how epigenetics induce and regulate critical periods, and also discusses how early environmental interactions prime a system towards a particular health outcome and influence susceptibility to disease or cognitive impairment throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza R Bacon
- Department of Neuroscience, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA; The Center for Precision Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Neuroscience, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA; Center for Innovation in Brain Science, School of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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11
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Seo MK, Choi AJ, Seog DH, Lee JG, Park SW. Early Enriched Environment Prevents Epigenetic p11 Gene Changes Induced by Adulthood Stress in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041928. [PMID: 33672075 PMCID: PMC7919643 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive experiences in early life may improve the capacity to cope with adulthood stress through epigenetic modification. We investigated whether an enriched environment (EE) in the postnatal period affected epigenetic changes in the p11 gene induced by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) in adult C57BL/6J mice. EE was introduced for 5 weeks during postnatal days 21–55. After EE, the mice were subjected to CUS for 4 weeks. EE prevented depression-like behavior induced by adult CUS. EE prevented a decrease in p11 mRNA and histone H3 acetylation induced by CUS, with changes in the expression of histone deacetylase 5. Moreover, EE prevented changes in trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) and H3K27 induced by CUS. Furthermore, EE had positive effects on behavior and epigenetic alterations in adult mice without CUS. These results suggest that one of the underlying mechanisms of early-life EE may involve epigenetic modification of the hippocampal p11 gene promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Kyoung Seo
- Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea;
| | | | - Dae-Hyun Seog
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea;
- Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea
| | - Jung Goo Lee
- Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea;
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University, Busan 48108, Korea
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Graduate School, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea
- Correspondence: (J.G.L.); (S.W.P.); Tel.: +82-51-797-3300 (J.G.L.); +82-51-890-6071 (S.W.P.); Fax: +82-51-894-6709 (J.G.L. & S.W.P.)
| | - Sung Woo Park
- Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea;
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Graduate School, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea
- Department of Convergence Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea
- Correspondence: (J.G.L.); (S.W.P.); Tel.: +82-51-797-3300 (J.G.L.); +82-51-890-6071 (S.W.P.); Fax: +82-51-894-6709 (J.G.L. & S.W.P.)
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12
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Molina SJ, Buján GE, Guelman LR. Noise-induced hippocampal oxidative imbalance and aminoacidergic neurotransmitters alterations in developing male rats: Influence of enriched environment during adolescence. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:164-188. [PMID: 33386696 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Living in big cities might involuntarily expose people to high levels of noise causing auditory and/or extra-auditory impairments, including adverse effects on central nervous system (CNS) areas such as the hippocampus. In particular, CNS development is a very complex process that can be altered by environmental stimuli. We have previously shown that noise exposure of developing rats can induce hippocampal-related behavioral alterations. However, noise-induced biochemical alterations had not been studied yet. Thus, the aim of this work was to assess whether early noise exposure can affect rat hippocampal oxidative state and aminoacidergic neurotransmission tone. Additionally, the effectiveness of an enriched environment (EE) as a neuroprotective strategy was evaluated. Male Wistar rats were exposed to different noise schemes at 7 or 15 days after birth. Upon weaning, some animals were transferred to an EE whereas others were kept in standard cages. Short- and long-term measurements were performed to evaluate reactive oxygen species, thioredoxins levels and catalase activity as indicators of hippocampal oxidative status as well as glutamic acid decarboxylase and a subtype of glutamate transporter to evaluate aminoacidergic neurotransmission tone. Results showed noise-induced changes in hippocampal oxidative state and aminoacidergic neurotransmission markers that lasted until adolescence and differed according to the scheme and the age of exposure. Finally, EE housing was effective in preventing some of these changes. These findings suggest that CNS development seems to be sensitive to the effects of stressors such as noise, as well as those of an environmental stimulation, favoring prompt and lasting molecular changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Jazmín Molina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Ezequiel Buján
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, 1ª Cátedra de Farmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Ruth Guelman
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, 1ª Cátedra de Farmacología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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13
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Rutkowska J, Lagisz M, Bonduriansky R, Nakagawa S. Mapping the past, present and future research landscape of paternal effects. BMC Biol 2020; 18:183. [PMID: 33246472 PMCID: PMC7694421 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00892-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although in all sexually reproducing organisms an individual has a mother and a father, non-genetic inheritance has been predominantly studied in mothers. Paternal effects have been far less frequently studied, until recently. In the last 5 years, research on environmentally induced paternal effects has grown rapidly in the number of publications and diversity of topics. Here, we provide an overview of this field using synthesis of evidence (systematic map) and influence (bibliometric analyses). RESULTS We find that motivations for studies into paternal effects are diverse. For example, from the ecological and evolutionary perspective, paternal effects are of interest as facilitators of response to environmental change and mediators of extended heredity. Medical researchers track how paternal pre-fertilization exposures to factors, such as diet or trauma, influence offspring health. Toxicologists look at the effects of toxins. We compare how these three research guilds design experiments in relation to objects of their studies: fathers, mothers and offspring. We highlight examples of research gaps, which, in turn, lead to future avenues of research. CONCLUSIONS The literature on paternal effects is large and disparate. Our study helps in fostering connections between areas of knowledge that develop in parallel, but which could benefit from the lateral transfer of concepts and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Rutkowska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BEES, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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14
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Braun K, Bock J, Wainstock T, Matas E, Gaisler-Salomon I, Fegert J, Ziegenhain U, Segal M. Experience-induced transgenerational (re-)programming of neuronal structure and functions: Impact of stress prior and during pregnancy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 117:281-296. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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15
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Reh RK, Dias BG, Nelson CA, Kaufer D, Werker JF, Kolb B, Levine JD, Hensch TK. Critical period regulation across multiple timescales. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:23242-23251. [PMID: 32503914 PMCID: PMC7519216 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820836117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain plasticity is dynamically regulated across the life span, peaking during windows of early life. Typically assessed in the physiological range of milliseconds (real time), these trajectories are also influenced on the longer timescales of developmental time (nurture) and evolutionary time (nature), which shape neural architectures that support plasticity. Properly sequenced critical periods of circuit refinement build up complex cognitive functions, such as language, from more primary modalities. Here, we consider recent progress in the biological basis of critical periods as a unifying rubric for understanding plasticity across multiple timescales. Notably, the maturation of parvalbumin-positive (PV) inhibitory neurons is pivotal. These fast-spiking cells generate gamma oscillations associated with critical period plasticity, are sensitive to circadian gene manipulation, emerge at different rates across brain regions, acquire perineuronal nets with age, and may be influenced by epigenetic factors over generations. These features provide further novel insight into the impact of early adversity and neurodevelopmental risk factors for mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K Reh
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Brian G Dias
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Daniela Kaufer
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Janet F Werker
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Bryan Kolb
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Joel D Levine
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Takao K Hensch
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115;
- Center for Brain Science, Department of Molecular Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence, University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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16
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Berbel-Filho WM, Berry N, Rodríguez-Barreto D, Rodrigues Teixeira S, Garcia de Leaniz C, Consuegra S. Environmental enrichment induces intergenerational behavioural and epigenetic effects on fish. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2288-2299. [PMID: 32434269 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Parental effects influence offspring phenotypes through pre- and post-natal routes but little is known about their molecular basis, and therefore their adaptive significance. Epigenetic modifications, which control gene expression without changes in the DNA sequence and are influenced by the environment, may contribute to parental effects. We investigated the effects of environmental enrichment on the behaviour, metabolic rate and brain DNA methylation patterns of parents and offspring of the highly inbreed mangrove killifish (Kryptolebias marmoratus). Parental fish reared in enriched environments had lower cortisol levels, lower metabolic rates and were more active and neophobic than those reared in barren environments. They also differed in 1,854 methylated cytosines (DMCs). Offspring activity and neophobia were determined by the parental environment. Among the DMCs of the parents, 98 followed the same methylation patterns in the offspring, three of which were significantly influenced by parental environments irrespective of their own rearing environment. Our results suggest that parental environment influences the behaviour and, to some extent, the brain DNA methylation patterns of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waldir M Berbel-Filho
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Nikita Berry
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Deiene Rodríguez-Barreto
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | - Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Sofia Consuegra
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
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17
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Odeon MM, Acosta GB. Repeated maternal separation: Alcohol consumption, anxious behavior and corticosterone were reversed by a non-pharmacological treatment. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 95:109726. [PMID: 31386878 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Adverse events in early life have been related to a maladaptive stress response during adulthood, which could predispose individuals to psychiatric and physiological disorders. The purpose of this work was to study the implications of repeated maternal separation (RMS) plus a physical stressor (cold stress), voluntary ethanol consumption and plasmatic levels of corticosterone (Cor) via conflict behavior tests. To this aim, pups were separated daily from their mothers for one hour and subjected to cold stress (4 °C) between postnatal days (PD) 2 and 20. Control groups were left undisturbed with their mothers. Afterwards, all groups were exposed to voluntary ethanol (6%) or dextrose (1%) intake for 7 days. After a 30-day period of environmental enrichment (EE), the animals were again exposed to the voluntary intake protocol for 7 days. At 66 days, they were subjected to different conflict tests. Thereafter, rats were sacrificed by decapitation and blood trunk was collected to determine plasma corticosterone levels. We demonstrated that early RMS increased both voluntary alcohol intake and Cor levels. Moreover, young adult animals showed excessive activity in conflict tests. Whereas in animals exposed to a non-pharmacological treatment, known as environmental enrichment (EE), the effects previously obtained were reversed and/or prevented. In summary, we can conclude that the combination of maternal separation in early life plus cold stress increase both the voluntary exposure to alcohol and disruptive behaviors. This is a risk factor for the development of chronic diseases such as alcoholism and long-term depression. However, we found that an enriched environment may have a beneficial effect with respect to alcohol intake and aggressive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Mercedes Odeon
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Junín 956, 5° floor, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina.
| | - Gabriela Beatriz Acosta
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Junín 956, 5° floor, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina.
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18
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Tatemoto P, Bernardino T, Alves L, Cristina de Oliveira Souza A, Palme R, José Zanella A. Environmental enrichment for pregnant sows modulates HPA-axis and behavior in the offspring. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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19
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Muehlmann AM, Bliznyuk N, Duerr I, Yang TP, Lewis MH. Early exposure to a methyl donor supplemented diet and the development of repetitive motor behavior in a mouse model. Dev Psychobiol 2019; 62:77-87. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.21914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolay Bliznyuk
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Isaac Duerr
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Thomas P. Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Mark H. Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
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20
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Molina SJ, Buján GE, Rodriguez Gonzalez M, Capani F, Gómez-Casati ME, Guelman LR. Exposure of Developing Male Rats to One or Multiple Noise Sessions and Different Housing Conditions: Hippocampal Thioredoxin Changes and Behavioral Alterations. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:182. [PMID: 31456671 PMCID: PMC6700388 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure of developing rats to noise has shown to induce hippocampal-related behavioral alterations that were prevented after a week of housing in an enriched environment. However, neither the effect of repeated exposures nor its impact on key endogenous antioxidants had been studied yet. Thus, the aim of the present work was to reveal novel data about hippocampal oxidative state through the measurement of possible age-related differences in the levels of hippocampal thioredoxins in rats exposed to noise at different developmental ages and subjected to different schemes and housing conditions. In addition, the possibility that oxidative changes could underlie hippocampal-related behavioral changes was also analyzed. Developing male Wistar rats were exposed to noise for 2 h, either once or for 5 days. Upon weaning, some animals were transferred to an enriched cage for 1 week, whereas others were kept in standard cages. One week later, auditory and behavioral assessments, as well as measurement of hippocampal thioredoxin, were performed. Whereas no changes in the auditory function were observed, significant behavioral differences were found, that varied according to the age, scheme of exposure and housing condition. In addition, a significant increase in Trx-1 levels was found in all noise-exposed groups housed in standard cages. Housing animals in an enriched environment for 1 week was effective in preventing most of these changes. These findings suggest that animals become less susceptible to undergo behavioral alterations after repeated exposure to an environmental challenge, probably due to the ability of adaptation to an unfavorable condition. Moreover, it could be hypothesized that damage to younger individuals could be more easily prevented by a housing manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Jazmín Molina
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Ezequiel Buján
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Medicina, Cátedra de Farmacología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Francisco Capani
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (ININCA, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | | | - Laura Ruth Guelman
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Medicina, Cátedra de Farmacología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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21
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Liu E, Zhou Q, Xie AJ, Li M, Zhang S, Huang H, Liuyang Z, Wang Y, Liu B, Li X, Sun D, Wei Y, Wang X, Wang Q, Ke D, Yang X, Yang Y, Wang JZ. Enriched gestation activates the IGF pathway to evoke embryo-adult benefits to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Transl Neurodegener 2019; 8:8. [PMID: 30867903 PMCID: PMC6399936 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-019-0149-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Building brain reserves before dementia onset could represent a promising strategy to prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD), while how to initiate early cognitive stimulation is unclear. Given that the immature brain is more sensitive to environmental stimuli and that brain dynamics decrease with ageing, we reasoned that it would be effective to initiate cognitive stimulation against AD as early as the fetal period. Methods After conception, maternal AD transgenic mice (3 × Tg AD) were exposed to gestational environment enrichment (GEE) until the day of delivery. The cognitive capacity of the offspring was assessed by the Morris water maze and contextual fear-conditioning tests when the offspring were raised in a standard environment to 7 months of age. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, electrophysiology, Golgi staining, activity assays and sandwich ELISA were employed to gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of GEE on embryos and 7-10-month-old adult offspring. Results We found that GEE markedly preserved synaptic plasticity and memory capacity with amelioration of hallmark pathologies in 7-10-m-old AD offspring. The beneficial effects of GEE were accompanied by global histone hyperacetylation, including those at bdnf promoter-binding regions, with robust BDNF mRNA and protein expression in both embryo and progeny hippocampus. GEE increased insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and activated its receptor (IGF1R), which phosphorylates Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase IV (CaMKIV) at tyrosine sites and triggers its nuclear translocation, subsequently upregulating histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and BDNF transcription. The upregulation of IGF1 mimicked the effects of GEE, while IGF1R or HAT inhibition during pregnancy abolished the GEE-induced CaMKIV-dependent histone hyperacetylation and BDNF upregulation. Conclusions These findings suggest that activation of IGF1R/CaMKIV/HAT/BDNF signaling by gestational environment enrichment may serve as a promising strategy to delay AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enjie Liu
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China.,4Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China
| | - Qiuzhi Zhou
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Ao-Ji Xie
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Mengzhu Li
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Shujuan Zhang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Hezhou Huang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Zhenyu Liuyang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Yali Wang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Bingjin Liu
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Dongsheng Sun
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Yuping Wei
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Qun Wang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Dan Ke
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Xifei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Ying Yang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China.,2Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226000 China
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22
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Spindler C, Segabinazi E, de Meireles ALF, Piazza FV, Mega F, dos Santos Salvalaggio G, Achaval M, Elsner VR, Marcuzzo S. Paternal physical exercise modulates global DNA methylation status in the hippocampus of male rat offspring. Neural Regen Res 2019; 14:491-500. [PMID: 30539818 PMCID: PMC6334599 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.245473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely known that maternal physical exercise is able to induce beneficial improvements in offspring cognition; however, the effects of paternal exercise have not been explored in detail. The present study was designed to evaluate the impact of paternal physical exercise on memory and learning, neuroplasticity and DNA methylation levels in the hippocampus of male offspring. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: sedentary or exercised fathers. The paternal preconception exercise protocol consisted of treadmill running, 20 minutes daily, 5 consecutive days per week for 22 days, while the mothers were not trained. After mating, paternal sperm was collected for global DNA methylation analysis. At postnatal day 53, the offspring were euthanized, and the hippocampus was dissected to measure cell survival by 5-bromo-2'-deoxiuridine and to determine the expression of synaptophysin, reelin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and global DNA methylation levels. To measure spatial memory and learning changes in offspring, the Morris water maze paradigm was used. There was an improvement in spatial learning, as well as a significant decrease in hippocampal global DNA methylation levels in the offspring from exercised fathers compared with those from sedentary ones; however, no changes were observed in neuroplasticity biomarkers brain-derived neurotrophic factor, reelin and 5-bromo-2'-deoxiuridine. Finally, the global DNA methylation of paternal sperm was not significantly changed by physical exercise. These results suggest a link between paternal preconception physical activity and cognitive benefit, which may be associated with hippocampal epigenetic programming in male offspring. However, the biological mechanisms of this modulation remain unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiano Spindler
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ethiane Segabinazi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - André Luís Ferreira de Meireles
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Francele Valente Piazza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Filipe Mega
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriela dos Santos Salvalaggio
- Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Matilde Achaval
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Viviane Rostirola Elsner
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências e Reabilitação, Centro Universitário Metodista-IPA, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Simone Marcuzzo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Histofisiologia Comparada, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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23
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Neurobiological systems in dyslexia. Trends Neurosci Educ 2019; 14:11-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tine.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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24
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Sinha S, Patro N, Patro IK. Maternal Protein Malnutrition: Current and Future Perspectives of Spirulina Supplementation in Neuroprotection. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:966. [PMID: 30618587 PMCID: PMC6305321 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Malnutrition has been widely recognized as a grave burden restricting the progress of underdeveloped and developing countries. Maternal, neonatal and postnatal nutritional immunity provides an effective approach to decrease the risk of malnutrition associated stress in adulthood. Particularly, maternal nutritional status is a critical contributor for determining the long-term health aspects of an offspring. Maternal malnutrition leads to increased risk of life, poor immune system, delayed motor development and cognitive dysfunction in the children. An effective immunomodulatory intervention using nutraceutical could be used to enhance immunity against infections. The immune system in early life possesses enormous dynamic capacity to manage both genetic and environment driven processes and can adapt to rapidly changing environmental exposures. These immunomodulatory stimuli or potent nutraceutical strategy can make use of early life plasticity to target pathways of immune ontogeny, which in turn could increase the immunity against infectious diseases arising from malnutrition. This review provides appreciable human and animal data showing enduring effects of protein deprivation on CNS development, oxidative stress and inflammation and associated behavioral and cognitive impairments. Relevant studies on nutritional supplementation and rehabilitation using Spirulina as a potent protein source and neuroprotectant against protein malnutrition (PMN) induced deleterious changes have also been discussed. However, there are many futuristic issues that need to be resolved for proper modulation of these therapeutic interventions to prevent malnutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrstha Sinha
- School of Studies in Neuroscience, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India.,School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India
| | - Nisha Patro
- School of Studies in Neuroscience, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India
| | - Ishan K Patro
- School of Studies in Neuroscience, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India.,School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India
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25
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Cutuli D, Berretta E, Laricchiuta D, Caporali P, Gelfo F, Petrosini L. Pre-reproductive Parental Enriching Experiences Influence Progeny's Developmental Trajectories. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:254. [PMID: 30483072 PMCID: PMC6240645 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
While the positive effects of environmental enrichment (EE) applied after weaning, in adulthood, during aging, or even in the presence of brain damage have been widely described, the transgenerational effects of pre-reproductive EE have been less examined. And yet, this issue is remarkable given that parental environmental experience may imprint offspring’s phenotype over generations through many epigenetic processes. Interactions between individual and environment take place lifelong even before conception. In fact, the environment pre-reproductively experienced by the mother and/or the father exerts a substantial impact on neural development and motor and cognitive performances of the offspring, even if not directly exposed to social, cognitive, physical and/or motor enrichment. Furthermore, pre-reproductive parental enrichment exerts a transgenerational impact on coping response to stress as well as on the social behavior of the offspring. Among the effects of pre-reproductive parental EE, a potentiation of the maternal care and a decrease in global methylation levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the progeny have been described. Finally, pre-reproductive EE modifies different pathways of neuromodulation in the brain of the offspring (involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor, oxytocin and glucocorticoid receptors). The present review highlights the importance of pre-reproductive parental enrichment in altering the performances not only of animals directly experiencing it, but also of their progeny, thus opening the way to new hypotheses on the inheritance mechanisms of behavioral traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Cutuli
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Berretta
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Laricchiuta
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Caporali
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Petrosini
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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26
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How early media exposure may affect cognitive function: A review of results from observations in humans and experiments in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:9851-9858. [PMID: 30275319 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711548115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now among the most commonly diagnosed chronic psychological dysfunctions of childhood. By varying estimates, it has increased by 30% in the past 20 years. Environmental factors that might explain this increase have been explored. One such factor may be audiovisual media exposure during early childhood. Observational studies in humans have linked exposure to fast-paced television in the first 3 years of life with subsequent attentional deficits in later childhood. Although longitudinal and well controlled, the observational nature of these studies precludes definitive conclusions regarding a causal relationship. As experimental studies in humans are neither ethical nor practical, mouse models of excessive sensory stimulation (ESS) during childhood, akin to the enrichment studies that have previously shown benefits of stimulation in rodents, have been developed. Experimental studies using this model have corroborated that ESS leads to cognitive and behavioral deficits, some of which may be potentially detrimental. Given the ubiquity of media during childhood, these findings in humansand rodents perhaps have important implications for public health.
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27
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Mason B, Rollins LG, Asumadu E, Cange C, Walton N, Donaldson ST. Nesting Environment Provides Sex-Specific Neuroprotection in a Rat Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:221. [PMID: 30356904 PMCID: PMC6190890 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy is a devastating injury that occurs when the fetal brain is deprived of oxygen and blood to a degree that may lead to neurological damage, seizing and cerebral palsy. In rodents, early environmental enrichment that promotes maternal care-taking behavior (mCTB) can improve neurobehavioral outcomes and protect against neurological decline. We hypothesized that an enhanced nesting environment would improve mCTB as measured by pup weight gain, and support greater HI recovery in developing rats. Pregnant dams (E15-16) were introduced to either control Standard Facility (SF) housing or closed nestbox (CN) conditions and maintained in larger cages through pup weaning. On postnatal day (PND) 7, male and female Long-Evans rat pups (N = 73) were randomly sorted into one of two surgical conditions: control and HI. HI pups received isoflurane anesthesia and right carotid artery ligation, a 2-h rest followed by 90 min exposure to a moist hypoxic (92% N, 8% O2) chamber. Pups (PND 8) were weighed daily, and tested on the Morris Water Maze (MWM) task (PND 35-50). Results demonstrate significant differences afforded to male and female pups based on weight measure, where CN-rearing modifies pre-weaning adolescent weights in females and increases post-weaning weights in males and females by an average of 10 g. Following successful MWM training and acquisition (PND 35-37), both male and female CN-raised animals demonstrated faster latency to find the hidden platform (HP) during HP trials (PND 38-42) and appeared to freely explore the MWM pool during an additional probe trial (PND 43). Moreover, after sacrifice (PND 60), CN rearing created sex-specific alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) immunopositive cell staining of the dorsomedial striatum and CA1 of the hippocampus. CN-rearing afforded HI males higher BDNF levels in the striatum and produced greater GDNF levels in the hippocampus of HI-injured females. These results suggest that early life environmental enrichment positively modifies nesting environment, increases weight gain, as well as spatial learning and memory in a sex-specific directionality. Our findings also implicate correlative changes in corticolimbic neurotrophin protein levels in the CN-reared animals that may contribute to these benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana Mason
- Developmental and Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - L. G. Rollins
- Clinical Psychology Program, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
- Warren Alpert Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Evans Asumadu
- Developmental and Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Christina Cange
- Developmental and Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Najah Walton
- Developmental and Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - S. Tiffany Donaldson
- Developmental and Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
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Paternal physical exercise demethylates the hippocampal DNA of male pups without modifying the cognitive and physical development. Behav Brain Res 2018; 348:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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29
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Cutuli D, Berretta E, Caporali P, Sampedro-Piquero P, De Bartolo P, Laricchiuta D, Gelfo F, Pesoli M, Foti F, Farioli Vecchioli S, Petrosini L. Effects of pre-reproductive maternal enrichment on maternal care, offspring's play behavior and oxytocinergic neurons. Neuropharmacology 2018; 145:99-113. [PMID: 29462694 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Potentiating social, cognitive, and sensorimotor stimulations the Environmental Enrichment (EE) increases levels of novelty and complexity experienced by individuals. Growing evidence demonstrates that parental EE experience, even occurring in the pre-reproductive phase, affects behavioral and neural developmental trajectories of the offspring. To discover how the accumulation of early maternal complex experiences may inform and shape the social behavior of the following generation, we examined the effects of pre-reproductive enrichment of dams (post-natal days 21-72) on the play performances of their male and female adolescent offspring. Furthermore, we examined the effects of pre-reproductive enrichment on maternal behavior (during post-partum days 1-10) and male intruder aggression (on post-partum day 11). Since oxytocin modulates maternal care, social bonding, and agonistic behavior, the number of oxytocinergic neurons of the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei was examined in both dams and offspring. Results revealed that enriched females exhibited higher levels of pup-oriented behaviors, especially Crouching, and initiated pup-retrieval more quickly than standard females after the maternal aggression test. Such behavioral peculiarities were accompanied by increased levels of oxytocinergic neurons in PVN and SON. Moreover, pre-reproductive maternal EE cross-generationally influenced the offspring according to sex. Indeed, male pups born to enriched females exhibited a reduced play fighting associated with a higher number of oxytocinergic neurons in SON in comparison to male pups born to standard-housed females. In conclusion, pre-reproductive EE to the mothers affects their maternal care and has a cross-generational impact on the social behavior of their offspring that do not directly experiences EE. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Neurobiology of Environmental Enrichment".
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Cutuli
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
| | - Erica Berretta
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Caporali
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Patricia Sampedro-Piquero
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento. Facultad de Psicología, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Universidad de Málaga, Spain
| | - Paola De Bartolo
- Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Department of TeCoS, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Laricchiuta
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Department of TeCoS, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Pesoli
- Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Department of Motor Science and Wellness, University Parthenope, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Foti
- Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Laura Petrosini
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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30
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Duckworth RA, Potticary AL, Badyaev AV. On the Origins of Adaptive Behavioral Complexity: Developmental Channeling of Structural Trade-offs. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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31
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Kolb B, Harker A, Gibb R. Principles of plasticity in the developing brain. Dev Med Child Neurol 2017; 59:1218-1223. [PMID: 28901550 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.13546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The developing brain is especially sensitive to a wide range of experiences, showing a remarkable capacity for plastic changes that influence behavioural outcomes throughout the lifetime. We review the principles that regulate this plasticity in development and consider the factors that modulate the developing brain. These include early sensory, motor, and language experience, early stress, caregiver interactions, peer interactions, psychoactive drugs, diet, microbiome, and the immune system. Emphasis is given to changes in behaviour, epigenetics, and neuronal morphology. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS A discussion of the surprising range of factors influencing brain development Life experiences interact resulting in a phenomenon called metaplasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Kolb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.,Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Allonna Harker
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Robbin Gibb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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32
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Park HS, Kim TW. Paternal physical exercise improves spatial learning ability by enhancing hippocampal neuroplasticity in male pups born from obese maternal rats. J Exerc Rehabil 2017; 13:266-272. [PMID: 28702436 PMCID: PMC5498081 DOI: 10.12965/jer.1734998.499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity exerts negative effects on cognitive function and behavior of the offspring. In the present study, we assessed the effects of paternal physical exercise on spatial learning ability in relation with hippocampal neuroplasticity in the rat pups born from the obese maternal rats. There were four experimental groups: paternal nonexercised male pups from normal maternal rats, paternal exercised male pups from normal maternal rats, paternal nonexercised male pups from obese maternal rats, and paternal exercised male pups from obese maternal rats. Normal diet was supplied for normal maternal rats and high-fat diet was supplied for obese maternal rats for a 12-week period until mating, and the same diet for each group continued throughout pregnancy and lactation period. Male rats in the exercising groups exercised for a 12-week period. Spatial learning ability was reduced in the male rat pups born from the obese maternal rats. Expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B receptor (TrkB) in the hippocampus were suppressed and cell proliferation and differentiation in the hippocampus were reduced in the male rat pups born from the obese maternal rats. Paternal treadmill exercise improved spatial learning ability, increased BDNF and TrkB expressions, and enhanced cell proliferation and differentiation in the male rat pups born from the obese maternal rats. It can be suggested that paternal exercise enhances hippocampal neuroplasticity and consequently improved spatial learning ability in the rat pups born from the obese maternal rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Sang Park
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae-Woon Kim
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
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Abstract
Many biomedical research studies use captive animals to model human health and disease. However, a surprising number of studies show that the biological systems of animals living in standard laboratory housing are abnormal. To make animal studies more relevant to human health, research animals should live in the wild or be able to roam free in captive environments that offer a natural range of both positive and negative experiences. Recent technological advances now allow us to study freely roaming animals and we should make use of them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garet P Lahvis
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, United States
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Durán-Carabali LE, Arcego DM, Odorcyk FK, Reichert L, Cordeiro JL, Sanches EF, Freitas LD, Dalmaz C, Pagnussat A, Netto CA. Prenatal and Early Postnatal Environmental Enrichment Reduce Acute Cell Death and Prevent Neurodevelopment and Memory Impairments in Rats Submitted to Neonatal Hypoxia Ischemia. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:3627-3641. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0604-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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35
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Cutuli D, Berretta E, Pasqualini G, De Bartolo P, Caporali P, Laricchiuta D, Sampedro-Piquero P, Gelfo F, Pesoli M, Foti F, Begega A, Petrosini L. Influence of Pre-reproductive Maternal Enrichment on Coping Response to Stress and Expression of c-Fos and Glucocorticoid Receptors in Adolescent Offspring. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:73. [PMID: 28536510 PMCID: PMC5422443 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) is an experimental setting broadly used for investigating the effects of complex social, cognitive, and sensorimotor stimulations on brain structure and function. Recent studies point out that parental EE experience, even occurring in the pre-reproductive phase, affects neural development and behavioral trajectories of the offspring. In the present study we investigated the influences of pre-reproductive EE of female rats on maternal behavior and adolescent male offspring's coping response to an inescapable stressful situation after chronic social isolation. For this purpose female Wistar rats were housed from weaning to breeding age in enriched or standard environments. Subsequently, all females were mated and housed in standard conditions until offspring weaning. On the first post partum day (ppd 1), mother-pup interactions in undisturbed conditions were recorded. Further, after weaning the male pups were reared for 2 weeks under social isolation or in standard conditions, and then submitted or not to a single-session Forced Swim Test (FST). Offspring's neuronal activation and plastic changes were identified by immunohistochemistry for c-Fos and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs), and assessed by using stereological analysis. The biochemical correlates were measured in the hippocampus, amygdala and cingulate cortex, structures involved in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis regulation. Enriched dams exhibited increased Crouching levels in comparison to standard reared dams. In the offspring of both kinds of dams, social isolation reduced body weight, decreased Immobility, and increased Swimming during FST. Moreover, isolated offspring of enriched dams exhibited higher levels of Climbing in comparison to controls. Interestingly, in the amygdala of both isolated and control offspring of enriched dams we found a lower number of c-Fos immunopositive cells in response to FST and a higher number of GRs in comparison to the offspring of standard dams. These results highlight the profound influence of a stressful condition, such as the social isolation, on the brain of adolescent rats, and underline intergenerational effects of maternal experiences in regulating the offspring response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Cutuli
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy.,Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy
| | - Erica Berretta
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy.,Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy
| | - Greta Pasqualini
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy.,Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy
| | - Paola De Bartolo
- Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy.,Department of TeCoS, Marconi UniversityRome, Italy
| | - Paola Caporali
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
| | - Daniela Laricchiuta
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy.,Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy
| | - Patricia Sampedro-Piquero
- Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Psychology Faculty, Autonomous University of MadridMadrid, Spain
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy.,Department of Systemic Medicine, University of Rome Tor VergataRome, Italy
| | - Matteo Pesoli
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy.,Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy
| | - Francesca Foti
- Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia UniversityCatanzaro, Italy
| | - Azucena Begega
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Department, University of OviedoOviedo, Spain
| | - Laura Petrosini
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy.,Santa Lucia FoundationRome, Italy
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36
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Abstract
According to some estimates, more than half of the world's population is multilingual to some extent. Because of the centrality of language use to human experience and the deep connections between linguistic and nonlinguistic processing, it would not be surprising to find that there are interactions between bilingualism and cognitive and brain processes. The present review uses the framework of experience-dependent plasticity to evaluate the evidence for systematic modifications of brain and cognitive systems that can be attributed to bilingualism. The review describes studies investigating the relation between bilingualism and cognition in infants and children, younger and older adults, and patients, using both behavioral and neuroimaging methods. Excluded are studies whose outcomes focus primarily on linguistic abilities because of their more peripheral contribution to the central question regarding experience-dependent changes to cognition. Although most of the research discussed in the review reports some relation between bilingualism and cognitive or brain outcomes, several areas of research, notably behavioral studies with young adults, largely fail to show these effects. These discrepancies are discussed and considered in terms of methodological and conceptual issues. The final section proposes an account based on "executive attention" to explain the range of research findings and to set out an agenda for the next steps in this field. (PsycINFO Database Record
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37
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Insight from animal models of environmentally driven epigenetic changes in the developing and adult brain. Dev Psychopathol 2016; 28:1229-1243. [PMID: 27687803 DOI: 10.1017/s095457941600081x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The efforts of many neuroscientists are directed toward understanding the appreciable plasticity of the brain and behavior. In recent years, epigenetics has become a core of this focus as a prime mechanistic candidate for behavioral modifications. Animal models have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of environmentally driven changes to the epigenome in the developing and adult brain. This review focuses mainly on such discoveries driven by adverse environments along with their associated behavioral outcomes. While much of the evidence discussed focuses on epigenetics within the central nervous system, several peripheral studies in humans who have experienced significant adversity are also highlighted. As we continue to unravel the link between epigenetics and phenotype, discerning the complexity and specificity of epigenetic changes induced by environments is an important step toward understanding optimal development and how to prevent or ameliorate behavioral deficits bred by disruptive environments.
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Zuena AR, Zinni M, Giuli C, Cinque C, Alemà GS, Giuliani A, Catalani A, Casolini P, Cozzolino R. Maternal exposure to environmental enrichment before and during gestation influences behaviour of rat offspring in a sex-specific manner. Physiol Behav 2016; 163:274-287. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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39
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Bechard AR, Lewis MH. Transgenerational effects of environmental enrichment on repetitive motor behavior development. Behav Brain Res 2016; 307:145-9. [PMID: 27059336 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The favorable consequences of environmental enrichment (EE) on brain and behavior development are well documented. Much less is known, however, about transgenerational benefits of EE on non-enriched offspring. We explored whether transgenerational effects of EE might extend to the development of repetitive motor behaviors in deer mice. Repetitive motor behaviors are invariant patterns of movement that, across species, can be reduced by EE. We found that EE not only attenuated the development of repetitive behavior in dams, but also in their non-enriched offspring. Moreover, maternal behavior did not seem to mediate the transgenerational effect we found, although repetitive behavior was affected by reproductive experience. These data support a beneficial transgenerational effect of EE on repetitive behavior development and suggest a novel benefit of reproductive experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R Bechard
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Mark H Lewis
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Cadet JL. Epigenetics of Stress, Addiction, and Resilience: Therapeutic Implications. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 53:545-560. [PMID: 25502297 PMCID: PMC4703633 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-9040-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly prevalent. SUDs involve vicious cycles of binges followed by occasional periods of abstinence with recurrent relapses despite treatment and adverse medical and psychosocial consequences. There is convincing evidence that early and adult stressful life events are risks factors for the development of addiction and serve as cues that trigger relapses. Nevertheless, the fact that not all individuals who face traumatic events develop addiction to licit or illicit drugs suggests the existence of individual and/or familial resilient factors that protect these mentally healthy individuals. Here, I give a brief overview of the epigenetic bases of responses to stressful events and of epigenetic changes associated with the administration of drugs of abuse. I also discuss the psychobiology of resilience and alterations in epigenetic markers that have been observed in models of resilience. Finally, I suggest the possibility that treatment of addiction should involve cognitive and pharmacological approaches that enhance resilience in at risk individuals. Similar approaches should also be used with patients who have already succumbed to the nefarious effects of addictive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Lud Cadet
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, DHHS/NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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Caporali P, Cutuli D, Gelfo F, Laricchiuta D, Foti F, De Bartolo P, Angelucci F, Petrosini L. Interaction does Count: A Cross-Fostering Study on Transgenerational Effects of Pre-reproductive Maternal Enrichment. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:320. [PMID: 26648854 PMCID: PMC4665747 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-reproductive environmental enrichment of female rats influences sensorimotor development and spatial behavior of the offspring, possibly through the changed maternal nurturing. Nevertheless, maternal care could be not the solely responsible for changing offspring developmental trajectories. To disentangle the specific contribution to the transgenerational inheritance of pre- and post-natal factors, a cross-fostering study was performed. Female rats were reared in an enriched environment from weaning to sexual maturity, while control female rats were reared under standard conditions. Following mating with standard-reared males, all females were housed individually. Immediately after delivery, in- or cross-fostering manipulations were performed so that any foster dams received pups born to another dam of the same (in-fostering) or the opposite (cross-fostering) pre-reproductive rearing condition. In lactating dams maternal care and nesting activities were assessed, while in their male pups spatial abilities were assessed through Morris Water Maze (MWM) test at post-natal day 45. Moreover, the expression of Brain-Derived-Neurotrophic-Factor (BDNF) was evaluated in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of dams and pups at weaning. Pre-reproductive maternal environmental enrichment, followed by adoption procedures, loosened its potential in modifying maternal care and offspring developmental trajectories, as indicated by the lack of differences between in-fostered groups of dams and pups. In addition, enriched dams rearing standard pups showed the least complex maternal repertoire (the highest sniffing duration and the lowest nest quality), and their pups showed a reduced spatial learning in the MWM. Nevertheless, pre-reproductive maternal enrichment kept influencing neurotrophic pattern, with enriched dams expressing increased frontal BDNF levels (regardless of the kind of fostered pups), and their offspring expressing increased hippocampal BDNF levels. The present findings enlighten the crucial importance of the early mother-pups interactions in influencing maternal care and offspring phenotype, with the enriched dam-standard pups couple resulting in the most maladaptive encounter. Our study thus sustains that the bidirectional interactions between mother and pups are able to deeply shape offspring phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Caporali
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy
| | - Debora Cutuli
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S., Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- I.R.C.C.S., Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy ; Department of Systemic Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Laricchiuta
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S., Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Foti
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S., Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Paola De Bartolo
- I.R.C.C.S., Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy ; Department of Sociological and Psychopedagogical Studies, University "Guglielmo Marconi" of Rome Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Petrosini
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S., Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
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The impact of early postnatal environmental enrichment on maternal care and offspring behaviour following weaning. Behav Processes 2015; 122:51-8. [PMID: 26562657 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The early postnatal period is a sensitive period in rodents as behavioural systems are developing and maturing during this time. However, relatively little information is available about the impact of environmental enrichment on offspring behaviour if enrichment is implemented only during this period. Here, environmental enrichment was provided from postnatal day 1 until weaning. On post-natal day 9, maternal behaviour and nonmaternal behaviour of the dam was observed. Nursing time in the enriched group was reduced but dams showed more non-maternal appetitive behaviours. Offspring were exposed to either the open field or the elevated plus maze (EPM) after weaning. In the open field, rats from the enriched group approached the more aversive inner zone of the open field later than control rats. Offspring from the enriched group made fewer entries into the inner zone and spent less time in this part of the arena. Enrichment had no impact on behaviour in the EPM. The present study provides evidence that postnatal enrichment can interfere with maternal behaviour in rats and can possibly lead to increased anxiety in the offspring. The findings suggest that enrichment procedures can have potentially unintended effects, interfering with the development of emotional behaviours in rats.
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Cutuli D, Caporali P, Gelfo F, Angelucci F, Laricchiuta D, Foti F, De Bartolo P, Bisicchia E, Molinari M, Farioli Vecchioli S, Petrosini L. Pre-reproductive maternal enrichment influences rat maternal care and offspring developmental trajectories: behavioral performances and neuroplasticity correlates. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:66. [PMID: 25814946 PMCID: PMC4357301 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) is a widely used paradigm for investigating the influence of complex stimulations on brain and behavior. Here we examined whether pre-reproductive exposure to EE of female rats may influence their maternal care and offspring cognitive performances. To this aim, from weaning to breeding age enriched females (EF) were reared in enriched environments. Females reared in standard conditions were used as controls. At 2.5 months of age all females were mated and reared in standard conditions with their offspring. Maternal care behaviors and nesting activity were assessed in lactating dams. Their male pups were also behaviorally evaluated at different post-natal days (pnd). Brain BDNF, reelin and adult hippocampal neurogenesis levels were measured as biochemical correlates of neuroplasticity. EF showed more complex maternal care than controls due to their higher levels of licking, crouching and nest building activities. Moreover, their offspring showed higher discriminative (maternal odor preference T-maze, pnd 10) and spatial (Morris Water Maze, pnd 45; Open Field with objects, pnd 55) performances, with no differences in social abilities (Sociability test, pnd 35), in comparison to controls. BDNF levels were increased in EF frontal cortex at pups' weaning and in their offspring hippocampus at pnd 21 and 55. No differences in offspring reelin and adult hippocampal neurogenesis levels were found. In conclusion, our study indicates that pre-reproductive maternal enrichment positively influences female rats' maternal care and cognitive development of their offspring, demonstrating thus a transgenerational transmission of EE benefits linked to enhanced BDNF-induced neuroplasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Cutuli
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Caporali
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy ; Department of Systemic Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata Rome, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Laricchiuta
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Foti
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Paola De Bartolo
- Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy ; Department of Sociological and Psychopedagogical Studies, University "Guglielmo Marconi" of Rome Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Laura Petrosini
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
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O'Doherty AM, McGettigan PA. Epigenetic processes in the male germline. Reprod Fertil Dev 2015; 27:725-38. [DOI: 10.1071/rd14167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm undergo some of the most extensive chromatin modifications seen in mammalian biology. During male germline development, paternal DNA methylation marks are erased and established on a global scale through waves of demethylation and de novo methylation. As spermatogenesis progresses, the majority of the histones are removed and replaced by protamines, enabling a tighter packaging of the DNA and transcriptional shutdown. Following fertilisation, the paternal genome is rapidly reactivated, actively demethylated, the protamines are replaced with histones and the embryonic genome is activated. The development of new assays, made possible by high-throughput sequencing technology, has resulted in the revisiting of what was considered settled science regarding the state of DNA packaging in mammalian spermatozoa. Researchers have discovered that not all histones are replaced by protamines and, in certain experiments, various species of RNA have been detected in what was previously considered transcriptionally quiescent spermatozoa. Most controversially, several groups have suggested that environmental modifications of the epigenetic state of spermatozoa may operate as a non-DNA-based form of inheritance, a process known as ‘transgenerational epigenetic inheritance’. Other developments in the field include the increased focus on the involvement of short RNAs, such as microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and piwi-interacting RNAs. There has also been an accumulation of evidence illustrating associations between defects in sperm DNA packaging and disease and fertility. In this paper we review the literature, recent findings and areas of controversy associated with epigenetic processes in the male germline, focusing on DNA methylation dynamics, non-coding RNAs, the biology of sperm chromatin packaging and transgenerational inheritance.
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Kolb B, Mychasiuk R, Gibb R. Brain development, experience, and behavior. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014; 61:1720-3. [PMID: 24376085 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.24908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Brain development progresses through a series of stages beginning with neurogenesis and progressing to neural migration, maturation, synaptogenesis, pruning, and myelin formation. This review examines the literature on how early experiences alter brain development, including environmental events such as sensory stimuli, early stress, psychoactive drugs, parent-child relationships, peer relationships, intestinal flora, diet, and radiation. This sensitivity of the brain to early experiences has important implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders as well as the effect of medical interventions in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Kolb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
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Gibb RL, Gonzalez CLR, Kolb B. Prenatal enrichment and recovery from perinatal cortical damage: effects of maternal complex housing. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:223. [PMID: 25009478 PMCID: PMC4067998 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Birth is a particularly vulnerable time for acquiring brain injury. Unfortunately, very few treatments are available for those affected. Here we explore the effectiveness of prenatal intervention in an animal model of early brain damage. We used a complex housing paradigm as a form of prenatal enrichment. Six nulliparous dams and one male rat were placed in complex housing (condomom group) for 12 h per day until the dams' delivered their pups. At parturition the dams were left in their home (standard) cages with their pups. Four dams were housed in standard cages (cagemom group) throughout pregnancy and with their pups until weaning. At postnatal day 3 (P3) infants of both groups received frontal cortex removals or sham surgery. Behavioral testing began on P60 and included the Morris water task and a skilled reaching task. Brains were processed for Golgi analyses. Complex housing of the mother had a significant effect on the behavior of their pups. Control animals from the condomom group outperformed those of the cagemom group in the water task. Condomom animals with lesions performed better than their cagemom cohorts in both the water task and in skilled reaching. Condomom animals showed an increase in cortical thickness at anterior planes and thalamic area at both anterior and posterior regions. Golgi analyses revealed an increase in spine density. These results suggest that prenatal enrichment alters brain organization in manner that is prophylactic for perinatal brain injury. This result could have significant implications for the prenatal management of infants expected to be at risk for difficult birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robbin L Gibb
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Claudia L R Gonzalez
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Bryan Kolb
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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Caporali P, Cutuli D, Gelfo F, Laricchiuta D, Foti F, De Bartolo P, Mancini L, Angelucci F, Petrosini L. Pre-reproductive maternal enrichment influences offspring developmental trajectories: motor behavior and neurotrophin expression. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:195. [PMID: 24910599 PMCID: PMC4038762 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment is usually applied immediately after weaning or in adulthood, with strong effects on CNS anatomy and behavior. To examine the hypothesis that a pre-reproductive environmental enrichment of females could affect the motor development of their offspring, female rats were reared in an enriched environment from weaning to sexual maturity, while other female rats used as controls were reared under standard conditions. Following mating with standard-reared males, all females were housed individually. To evaluate the eventual transgenerational influence of positive pre-reproductive maternal experiences, postural and motor development of male pups was analyzed from birth to weaning. Moreover, expression of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor in different brain regions was evaluated at birth and weaning. Pre-reproductive environmental enrichment of females affected the offspring motor development, as indicated by the earlier acquisition of complex motor abilities displayed by the pups of enriched females. The earlier acquisition of motor abilities was associated with enhanced neurotrophin levels in striatum and cerebellum. In conclusion, maternal positive experiences were transgenerationally transmitted, and influenced offspring phenotype at both behavioral and biochemical levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Caporali
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Debora Cutuli
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy ; Department of Systemic Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Laricchiuta
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Foti
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Paola De Bartolo
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Mancini
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Petrosini
- Department of Psychology, University "Sapienza" of Rome Rome, Italy ; I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
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Wang A, Nie W, Li H, Hou Y, Yu Z, Fan Q, Sun R. Epigenetic upregulation of corticotrophin-releasing hormone mediates postnatal maternal separation-induced memory deficiency. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94394. [PMID: 24718660 PMCID: PMC3981802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidences demonstrated that early postnatal maternal separation induced remarkable social and memory defects in the adult rodents. Early-life stress induced long-lasting functional adaptation of neuroendocrine hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, including neuropeptide corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the brain. In the present study, a significantly increased hippocampal CRH was observed in the adult rats with postnatal maternal separation, and blockade of CRHR1 signaling significantly attenuated the hippocampal synaptic dysfunction and memory defects in the modeled rats. Postnatal maternal separation enduringly increased histone H3 acetylation and decreased cytosine methylation in Crh promoter region, resulting from the functional adaptation of several transcriptional factors, in the hippocampal CA1 of the modeled rats. Enriched environment reversed the epigenetic upregulation of CRH, and ameliorated the hippocampal synaptic dysfunction and memory defects in the adult rats with postnatal maternal separation. This study provided novel insights into the epigenetic mechanism underlying postnatal maternal separation-induced memory deficiency, and suggested environment enrichment as a potential approach for the treatment of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiyun Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong Univeristy, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Wenying Nie
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong Univeristy, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Haixia Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong Univeristy, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Yuhua Hou
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong Univeristy, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong Univeristy, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Qing Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong Univeristy, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Ruopeng Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong Univeristy, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
- * E-mail:
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Zhang XG, Zhang H, Lin L, Yang YQ, Deng TT, Liu Q, Liang XL, Wang MQ, Peng DZ. Genes underlying positive influence of prenatal environmental enrichment and negative influence of prenatal earthquake simulation and corrective influence of Chinese herbal medicine on rat offspring: Irf7 and Ninj2. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL, COMPLEMENTARY, AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES 2014; 11:367-76. [PMID: 25435624 DOI: 10.4314/ajtcam.v11i2.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal environmental enrichment (EE) has been proven to positively affect but prenatal stress negatively influence the physiological and psychological processes in animals, whose trans-generational genetic mechanism remains unclearly defined. We aimed to investigate and find out key genes underlying the positive-negative effects derived from prenatal interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pregnant rats were randomized into EE group (EEG), earthquake simulation group (ESG), herbal group (HG) received herbal supplements in feed after earthquake simulation, and control group (CG). RESULTS Light Box Defecation Test (LBDT) showed EEG offspring presented less fecal pellets than CG offspring, ESG's more than CG's, and HG's less than ESG (p's<0.05). Open-field Test (OFT) score of EEG was higher than CG offspring, of ESG's was lower than CG's, and HG's higher than ESG's. Irf7 and Ninj were screened, which were up-regulated in EEG, down-regulated in ESG (FC<0.5), and were neutralized in HG. Prenatal EE could positively promote the nervous system development, prenatal earthquake simulation could retard the nervous system development and Chinese herbal remedy (JKSQW) which could correct the retardation. CONCLUSION The negative-positive prenatal effect could contribute to altered gene expression of Irf7 and Ninj2 which also could play a key role in the improving function of JKSQW for the kidneys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Geng Zhang
- The School of Nursing, Chengdu University of T.C.M., Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- The School of Nursing, Chengdu University of T.C.M., Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Lin Lin
- The School of Nursing, Chengdu Medical University, Chengdu, 610083, China
| | - Yi Qing Yang
- The School of Nursing, Chengdu University of T.C.M., Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Ting Ting Deng
- The School of Nursing, Chengdu University of T.C.M., Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Qin Liu
- The School of Nursing, Chengdu University of T.C.M., Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Xiao Li Liang
- The School of Nursing, Chengdu University of T.C.M., Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Mi Qu Wang
- Molecular Laboratory of T.C.M., Chengdu University of T.C.M., Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - De Zhong Peng
- The School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Chengdu University of T.C.M., Chengdu, 610075, China
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Kolb B, Gibb R. Searching for the principles of brain plasticity and behavior. Cortex 2013; 58:251-60. [PMID: 24457097 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2013.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
An important development in behavioral neuroscience in the past 25 years has been the demonstration that the brain is far more flexible in structure and function than was previously believed. Studies of laboratory animals have provided an important tool for understanding the nature of brain plasticity and behavior at many levels ranging from detailed behavioral paradigms, electrophysiology, neuronal morphology, protein chemistry, and epigenetics. Here we seek a synthesis of the multidisciplinary work on brain plasticity and behavior to identify some general principles on how the brain changes in response to a wide range of experiences over the lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Kolb
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
| | - Robbin Gibb
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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