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Wei J, Zheng W, Teng C, An X, Li L, Zhong P, Peng C, Zhuge S, Akoto Ampadu J, Yu C, Cai X. Exogenous NADPH could mitigate pyroptosis-induced brain injury in fetal mice exposed to gestational intermittent hypoxia. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 135:112311. [PMID: 38781607 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112311] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) during pregnancy is characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep and will lead to the rise of oxidative stress in the fetal body. Pyroptosis, a type of inflammatory and programmable cell death mediated by Gasdermin D (GSDMD), plays a substantial role in oxygen deprivation's contribution to neural system damage. Existing research shows that Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADPH) plays a protective role in alleviating brain tissue pyroptosis. We speculate that exogenous NADPH may play a protective role in OSA during pregnancy. METHODS A model of GIH group was established to simulate the pathophysiological mechanisms of OSA during pregnant and AIR group was established by giving the same frequency. Sham group was established by injecting NS and the NADPH group was established and given exogenous NADPH. We utilized the Morris Water Maze to assess cognitive function impairment, Luxol Fast Blue (LBF) staining to confirm myelin sheath formation, TUNEL staining to examine cell death in fetal mice brain tissue, and Western blotting to detect pertinent protein expressions. RESULTS The GIH group offspring exhibited decreases in spatial learning and memory abilities, reduced numbers of oligodendrocytes and formed myelin, as well as increased expression of pyroptosis-related proteins. The NADPH group offspring showed restoration in spatial learning and memory abilities increased counts of oligodendrocytes and formed myelin sheaths, in addition to decreased expression of pyroptosis-related. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that early injection of exogenous NADPH can alleviate the damage to fetal brain development caused by gestational intermittent hypoxia (GIH).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayun Wei
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Weikun Zheng
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Chenjiong Teng
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Xueqian An
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Peipei Zhong
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Chenlei Peng
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Shurui Zhuge
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Janet Akoto Ampadu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Chenyi Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
| | - Xiaohong Cai
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan Western Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, PR China; The second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
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Mabry S, Wilson EN, Bradshaw JL, Gardner JJ, Fadeyibi O, Vera E, Osikoya O, Cushen SC, Karamichos D, Goulopoulou S, Cunningham RL. Sex and age differences in social and cognitive function in offspring exposed to late gestational hypoxia. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:81. [PMID: 37951901 PMCID: PMC10640736 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00557-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gestational sleep apnea is a hypoxic sleep disorder that affects 8-26% of pregnancies and increases the risk for central nervous system dysfunction in offspring. Specifically, there are sex differences in the sensitivity of the fetal hippocampus to hypoxic insults, and hippocampal impairments are associated with social dysfunction, repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Yet, it is unclear whether gestational sleep apnea impacts these hippocampal-associated functions and if sex and age modify these effects. To examine the relationship between gestational sleep apnea and hippocampal-associated behaviors, we used chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) to model late gestational sleep apnea in pregnant rats. We hypothesized that late gestational CIH would produce sex- and age-specific social, anxiety-like, repetitive, and cognitive impairments in offspring. METHODS Timed pregnant Long-Evans rats were exposed to CIH or room air normoxia from GD 15-19. Behavioral testing of offspring occurred during either puberty or young adulthood. To examine gestational hypoxia-induced behavioral phenotypes, we quantified hippocampal-associated behaviors (social function, repetitive behaviors, anxiety-like behaviors, and spatial memory and learning), hippocampal neuronal activity (glutamatergic NMDA receptors, dopamine transporter, monoamine oxidase-A, early growth response protein 1, and doublecortin), and circulating hormones in offspring. RESULTS Late gestational CIH induced sex- and age-specific differences in social, repetitive, and memory functions in offspring. In female pubertal offspring, CIH impaired social function, increased repetitive behaviors, and elevated circulating corticosterone levels but did not impact memory. In contrast, CIH transiently induced spatial memory dysfunction in pubertal male offspring but did not impact social or repetitive functions. Long-term effects of gestational CIH on social behaviors were only observed in female offspring, wherein CIH induced social disengagement and suppression of circulating corticosterone levels in young adulthood. No effects of gestational CIH were observed in anxiety-like behaviors, hippocampal neuronal activity, or circulating testosterone and estradiol levels, regardless of sex or age of offspring. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that hypoxia-associated pregnancy complications during late gestation can increase the risk for behavioral and physiological outcomes in offspring, such as social dysfunction, repetitive behaviors, and cognitive impairment, that are dependent on sex and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Mabry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - E Nicole Wilson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Jessica L Bradshaw
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Jennifer J Gardner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Oluwadarasimi Fadeyibi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Edward Vera
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Oluwatobiloba Osikoya
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Spencer C Cushen
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Dimitrios Karamichos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3430 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Styliani Goulopoulou
- Departments of Basic Sciences, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Rebecca L Cunningham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA.
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Zimmermann A, Madeo F. Spermidine promotes fertility in aged female mice. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:1317-1319. [PMID: 37845507 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00495-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Zimmermann
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth - University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Frank Madeo
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- Field of Excellence BioHealth - University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
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Mabry S, Wilson EN, Bradshaw JL, Gardner JJ, Fadeyibi O, Vera E, Osikoya O, Cushen SC, Karamichos D, Goulopoulou S, Cunningham RL. Sex and age differences in social and cognitive function in offspring exposed to late gestational hypoxia. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2507737. [PMID: 37333114 PMCID: PMC10275064 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2507737/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Background Gestational sleep apnea affects 8-26% of pregnancies and can increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with social dysfunction, repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. To examine the relationship between gestational sleep apnea and ASD-associated behaviors, we used a chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) protocol between gestational days (GD) 15-19 in pregnant rats to model late gestational sleep apnea. We hypothesized that late gestational CIH would produce sex- and age-specific social, mood, and cognitive impairments in offspring. Methods Timed pregnant Long-Evans rats were exposed to CIH or room air normoxia from GD 15-19. Behavioral testing of offspring occurred during either puberty or young adulthood. To examine ASD-associated phenotypes, we quantified ASD-associated behaviors (social function, repetitive behaviors, anxiety-like behaviors, and spatial memory and learning), hippocampal activity (glutamatergic NMDA receptors, dopamine transporter, monoamine oxidase-A, EGR-1, and doublecortin), and circulating hormones in offspring. Results Late gestational CIH induced sex- and age-specific differences in social, repetitive and memory functions in offspring. These effects were mostly transient and present during puberty. In female pubertal offspring, CIH impaired social function, increased repetitive behaviors, and increased circulating corticosterone levels, but did not impact memory. In contrast, CIH transiently induced spatial memory dysfunction in pubertal male offspring but did not impact social or repetitive functions. Long-term effects of gestational CIH were only observed in female offspring, wherein CIH induced social disengagement and suppression of circulating corticosterone levels in young adulthood. No effects of gestational CIH were observed on anxiety-like behaviors, hippocampal activity, circulating testosterone levels, or circulating estradiol levels, regardless of sex or age of offspring. Conclusions Our results indicate that hypoxia-associated pregnancy complications during late gestation can increase the risk for ASD-associated behavioral and physiological outcomes, such as pubertal social dysfunction, corticosterone dysregulation, and memory impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Mabry
- UNTHSC: University of North Texas Health Science Center
| | | | | | | | | | - Edward Vera
- UNTHSC: University of North Texas Health Science Center
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Chai N, Zheng H, Zhang H, Li L, Yu X, Wang L, Bi X, Yang L, Niu T, Liu X, Zhao Y, Dong L. Spermidine Alleviates Intrauterine Hypoxia-Induced Offspring Newborn Myocardial Mitochondrial Damage in Rats by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Regulating Mitochondrial Quality Control. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH : IJPR 2022; 21:e133776. [PMID: 36945337 PMCID: PMC10024813 DOI: 10.5812/ijpr-133776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Intrauterine hypoxia (IUH) increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in offspring. As a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, polyamine spermidine (SPD) is essential for embryonic and fetal survival and growth. However, further studies on the SPD protection and mechanisms for IUH-induced heart damage in offspring are required. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of prenatal SPD treatment on IUH-induced heart damage in newborn offspring rats and its underlying mitochondrial-related mechanism. Methods The rat model of IUH was established by exposure to 10% O2 seven days before term. Meanwhile, for seven days, the pregnant rats were given SPD (5 mg.kg-1.d-1; ip). The one-day offspring rats were sacrificed to assess several parameters, including growth development, heart damage, cardiomyocytes proliferation, myocardial oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial function, and have mitochondrial quality control (MQC), including mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitochondrial fusion/fission. In in vitro experiments, primary cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia with or without SPD for 24 hours. Results IUH decreased body weight, heart weight, cardiac Ki67 expression, the activity of SOD, and the CAT and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) levels and increased the BAX/BCL2 expression, and TUNEL-positive nuclei numbers. Furthermore, IUH also caused mitochondrial structure abnormality, dysfunction, and decreased mitophagy (decreased number of mitophagosomes), declined mitochondrial biogenesis (decreased expression of SIRT-1, PGC-1α, NRF-2, and TFAM), and led to fission/fusion imbalance (increased percentage of mitochondrial fragments, increased DRP1 expression, and decreased MFN2 expression) in the myocardium. Surprisingly, SPD treatment normalized the variations in the IUH-induced parameters. Furthermore, SPD also prevented hypoxia-induced ROS accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential decay, and the mitophagy decrease in cardiomyocytes. Conclusion Maternal SPD treatment caused IUH-induced heart damage in newborn offspring rats by improving the myocardial mitochondrial function via anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis, and regulating MQC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Chai
- College of Nursing, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Haihong Zheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Department of the Laboratory Animal, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lingxu Li
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Xue Yu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Liyi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Bi
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Lihong Yang
- College of Nursing, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
| | - Tongxu Niu
- College of Nursing, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
| | - Xiujuan Liu
- College of Nursing, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
| | - Yajun Zhao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Corresponding Author: Department of Pathophysiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
| | - Lijie Dong
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Harbin Children’s Hospital, Harbin, China
- Corresponding Author: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Harbin Children’s Hospital, Harbin, China.
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Liu Y, Qiao H, Du W, Xu L, Yuan F, Lin J, Li M, Zhu L, Li S, Zhang J. Hypoxic White Matter Injury and Recovery After Reoxygenation in Adult Mice: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings and Histological Studies. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2022:10.1007/s10571-022-01305-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01305-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Song R, Mishra JS, Dangudubiyyam SV, Baker TL, Watters JJ, Kumar S. Gestational Intermittent Hypoxia Programs Hypertensive Response in Female Rat Offspring: Impact of Ovaries. JOURNAL OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT 2022; 5:185-196. [PMID: 36337144 PMCID: PMC9632646 DOI: 10.26502/fjwhd.2644-28840088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic condition frequently observed in pregnant women. We have shown that gestational intermittent hypoxia (GIH), a hallmark of OSA, leads to sex-specific impairment in the endothelium-dependent relaxation response and an increase in blood pressure in adult male but not female rat offspring. The present study tested the hypothesis that functional ovaries normalize GIH-induced hypertensive response in female offspring. Experiments were done in female offspring of pregnant rats exposed to normoxia or GIH (FIO2 21-10.5% from gestational days 10 to 21). Ovariectomy and sham surgery were performed at 5 weeks of age. Pups born to GIH dams were significantly smaller than the controls, but they exhibited catch-up growth and were similar to controls by 5 weeks of age. Ovariectomy significantly exacerbated bodyweight gain to a similar extent in both control and GIH offspring. Marked increases in blood pressure were observed in pre-pubertal GIH offspring compared to controls; however, after puberty, blood pressure in GIH offspring progressively decreased and became normotensive at adulthood. Ovariectomy led to the maintenance of higher blood pressure in post-pubertal GIH offspring with no significant effect in controls. Vascular contractile and relaxation responses were not affected in the GIH and control offspring; however, ovariectomy selectively decreased endothelium-dependent relaxation response along with a decrease in endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in the GIH offspring. These findings suggest that functional ovaries are crucial in protecting females against GIH-mediated endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruolin Song
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jay S. Mishra
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sri Vidya Dangudubiyyam
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Tracy L. Baker
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jyoti J. Watters
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sathish Kumar
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA
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Song R, Mishra JS, Dangudubiyyam SV, Antony KM, Baker TL, Watters JJ, Kumar S. Gestational Intermittent Hypoxia Induces Sex-Specific Impairment in Endothelial Mechanisms and Sex Steroid Hormone Levels in Male Rat Offspring. Reprod Sci 2022; 29:1531-1541. [PMID: 34550599 PMCID: PMC11157504 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00739-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent during gestation and is linked with adverse fetal outcomes. We examined whether gestational intermittent hypoxia (GIH), the main feature of OSA, leads to sex-specific alterations in cardiovascular function and vascular mechanisms in the offspring. Pregnant rats exposed to intermittent hypoxia or ambient air from gestation days 10 to 21 and their offspring were used for the study. GIH exposure did not affect water and food intake in dams. Compared to controls, the male and female offspring born to GIH dams were smaller in weight by 14% and 12%, respectively, and exhibited catch-up growth. Cardiac function was not affected in either GIH males or females. At 12 weeks of age, blood pressure was increased in GIH males, but not GIH females, compared to their control counterparts. While mesenteric arterial contractile responses to phenylephrine and endothelin were unaffected in GIH males and females, relaxation response to acetylcholine was reduced in GIH males but not GIH females. Relaxation to sodium nitroprusside was unaffected in both GIH males and females. Total eNOS expression was not affected, but phospho(Ser1177)-eNOS levels were decreased in GIH males. eNOS expression and its phosphorylation status were unaffected in GIH females. Serum testosterone and estradiol levels were higher in GIH males but were unaltered in GIH females. Together, these findings suggest that GIH leads to a sex-specific increase in blood pressure in adult male offspring with blunted endothelium-mediated relaxation, decreased eNOS activity, and elevated sex steroid hormone levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruolin Song
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Jay S Mishra
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sri Vidya Dangudubiyyam
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Kathleen M Antony
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53792, USA
| | - Tracy L Baker
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Jyoti J Watters
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sathish Kumar
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53792, USA.
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Vanderplow AM, Kermath BA, Bernhardt CR, Gums KT, Seablom EN, Radcliff AB, Ewald AC, Jones MV, Baker TL, Watters JJ, Cahill ME. A feature of maternal sleep apnea during gestation causes autism-relevant neuronal and behavioral phenotypes in offspring. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001502. [PMID: 35113852 PMCID: PMC8812875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting epidemiologic and scientific evidence indicates that many psychiatric disorders originate from a complex interplay between genetics and early life experiences, particularly in the womb. Despite decades of research, our understanding of the precise prenatal and perinatal experiences that increase susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders remains incomplete. Sleep apnea (SA) is increasingly common during pregnancy and is characterized by recurrent partial or complete cessations in breathing during sleep. SA causes pathological drops in blood oxygen levels (intermittent hypoxia, IH), often hundreds of times each night. Although SA is known to cause adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, the long-term consequences of maternal SA during pregnancy on brain-based behavioral outcomes and associated neuronal functioning in the offspring remain unknown. We developed a rat model of maternal SA during pregnancy by exposing dams to IH, a hallmark feature of SA, during gestational days 10 to 21 and investigated the consequences on the offspring's forebrain synaptic structure, synaptic function, and behavioral phenotypes across multiples stages of development. Our findings represent a rare example of prenatal factors causing sexually dimorphic behavioral phenotypes associated with excessive (rather than reduced) synapse numbers and implicate hyperactivity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in contributing to the behavioral aberrations. These findings have implications for neuropsychiatric disorders typified by superfluous synapse maintenance that are believed to result, at least in part, from largely unknown insults to the maternal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. Vanderplow
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Bailey A. Kermath
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Cassandra R. Bernhardt
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Kimberly T. Gums
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Erin N. Seablom
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Abigail B. Radcliff
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Andrea C. Ewald
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Mathew V. Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Tracy L. Baker
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Jyoti J. Watters
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Michael E. Cahill
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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