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Baptista FI, Ambrósio AF. Tracing the influence of prenatal risk factors on the offspring retina: Focus on development and putative long-term consequences. Eur J Clin Invest 2024:e14266. [PMID: 38864773 DOI: 10.1111/eci.14266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy represents a window of vulnerability to fetal development. Disruptions in the prenatal environment during this crucial period can increase the risk of the offspring developing diseases over the course of their lifetime. The central nervous system (CNS) has been shown to be particularly susceptible to changes during crucial developmental windows. To date, research focused on disruptions in the development of the CNS has predominantly centred on the brain, revealing a correlation between exposure to prenatal risk factors and the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, some studies indicate that the retina, which is part of the CNS, is also vulnerable to in utero alterations during pregnancy. Such changes may affect neuronal, glial and vascular components of the retina, compromising retinal structure and function and possibly impairing visual function. METHODS A search in the PubMed database was performed, and any literature concerning prenatal risk factors (drugs, diabetes, unbalanced diet, infection, glucocorticoids) affecting the offspring retina were included. RESULTS This review collects evidence on the cellular, structural and functional changes occurring in the retina triggered by maternal risk factors during pregnancy. We highlight the adverse impact on retinal development and its long-lasting effects, providing a critical analysis of the current knowledge while underlining areas for future research. CONCLUSIONS Appropriate recognition of the prenatal risk factors that negatively impact the developing retina may provide critical clues for the design of preventive strategies and for early therapeutic intervention that could change retinal pathology in the progeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa I Baptista
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António F Ambrósio
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
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Gyllencreutz E, Aring E, Landgren V, Svensson L, Landgren M, Grönlund MA. Ophthalmologic Findings in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders - A Cohort Study From Childhood to Adulthood. Am J Ophthalmol 2020; 214:14-20. [PMID: 31926885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2019.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate whether ophthalmologic findings in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) persist into young adulthood. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS Thirty children (13 female) adopted from eastern Europe to Sweden in the 1990s and diagnosed with FASD by a multidisciplinary team at the median age of 7.9 years were followed up by the same team 13-18 years later. Visual acuity (VA), refraction, stereoacuity, strabismus, ocular media, and fundus were investigated. RESULTS Median VA in right/left eye (OD/OS) was 20/32/20/32 (0.2/0.2 logMAR) in childhood and 20/22/20/20 (0.05/0.0 logMAR) in adulthood. Median (range) refraction OD/OS was +0.88/+1.25 (-8.75 to +4.75/-9.38 to +5.25) spherical equivalent diopter (D) in childhood and -0.25/-0.25 (-12 to +2.75/-13.25 to +2.63) in adulthood. Astigmatism (≥1 D) was the most common refractive error, in 13 (40%) and 14 (47%) subjects, respectively. Defective stereoacuity (>60 arc second) was noted in 20 subjects (67%) in childhood and 22 (73%) in adulthood. Heterotropia occurred in 12 subjects (40%) in childhood and 13 (43%) in adulthood. Increased tortuosity of the retinal vessels was found in 8 (27%) subjects in childhood vs 11 (37%) in adulthood. Optic nerve hypoplasia was recorded in 3 children and in 4 young adults. CONCLUSIONS Ophthalmologic findings such as refractive errors, strabismus, and fundus abnormalities are frequent in children with FASD and persist into early adulthood. The facial features characteristic of FAS diminish with age, making a dysmorphology evaluation in adulthood less reliable. An ophthalmologic examination is an important part of the evaluation of FASD in childhood as well as in young adulthood.
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McLachlan K, Vavasour I, MacKay A, Brain U, Oberlander T, Loock C, Reynolds JN, Beaulieu C. Myelin Water Fraction Imaging of the Brain in Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:833-841. [PMID: 30889291 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is linked to alterations of cerebral white matter, including volume and nonspecific diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indices of microstructure in humans. Some animal models of PAE have demonstrated myelination deficiencies, but myelin levels have not yet been evaluated in individuals with PAE. Multiecho T2 MRI offers a quantitative method to estimate myelin water fraction (MWF; related to myelin content) noninvasively, which was used here to evaluate brain myelination in children with PAE. METHODS Participants with PAE (n = 10, 6 females, mean age 13.9 years, range 7 to 18 years) and controls (n = 14, 11 females, mean age 13.2 years, range 9 to 16 years) underwent 3T MRI of the brain. T2 images (15 minutes acquisition for 32 echoes) were used to create MWF maps from which mean MWF was measured in 12 regions of interest (ROIs) including 8 in white matter and 4 in deep gray matter. RESULTS As expected, across the combined sample, MWF was highest for major white matter tracts such as the internal capsule and genu/splenium of the corpus callosum (10 to 18%) while the caudate and putamen had MWF less than 5%. Mean MWF was similar across 11/12 brain white and gray matter regions for the PAE and control groups (L/R internal capsule, major forceps, putamen, caudate nucleus, L minor forceps, genu and splenium of corpus callosum). In the PAE group, MWF was positively correlated with age in the genu of corpus callosum and right minor forceps, notably 2 frontal tracts. CONCLUSIONS Given comparable MRI-derived myelination fraction measures in PAE relative to controls, white matter alterations shown in other imaging studies, such as diffusion tensor imaging, may reflect microstructural anomalies related to axon caliber and density.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irene Vavasour
- Department of Radiology , University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alex MacKay
- Department of Radiology , University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy , University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ursula Brain
- Department of Pediatrics , University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tim Oberlander
- Department of Pediatrics , University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christine Loock
- Department of Pediatrics , University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James N Reynolds
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences , Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering , University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Ciafrè S, Carito V, Ferraguti G, Greco A, Chaldakov GN, Fiore M, Ceccanti M. How alcohol drinking affects our genes: an epigenetic point of view. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 97:345-356. [PMID: 30412425 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2018-0248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This work highlights recent studies in epigenetic mechanisms that play a role in alcoholism, which is a complex multifactorial disorder. There is a large body of evidence showing that alcohol can modify gene expression through epigenetic processes, namely DNA methylation and nucleosomal remodeling via histone modifications. In that regard, chronic exposure to ethanol modifies DNA and histone methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNA expression. The alcohol-mediated chromatin remodeling in the brain promotes the transition from use to abuse and addiction. Unravelling the multiplex pattern of molecular modifications induced by ethanol could support the development of new therapies for alcoholism and drug addiction targeting epigenetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Ciafrè
- a Institute of Translational Pharmacology, IFT-CNR, 100 via del Fosso del Cavaliere, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Valentina Carito
- b Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, IBCN-CNR, c/o Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
| | - Giampiero Ferraguti
- c Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- d Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
| | - George N Chaldakov
- e Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Anatomy and Histology, Medical University, BG-9002 Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Marco Fiore
- b Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, IBCN-CNR, c/o Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Ceccanti
- f Centro Riferimento Alcologico Regione Lazio, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155 (00161), Rome, Italy
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Torres LH, Annoni R, Balestrin NT, Coleto PL, Duro SO, Garcia RCT, Pacheco-Neto M, Mauad T, Camarini R, Britto LRG, Marcourakis T. Environmental tobacco smoke in the early postnatal period induces impairment in brain myelination. Arch Toxicol 2014; 89:2051-8. [PMID: 25182420 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-014-1343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, mainly in children. However, few studies focus on the brain development effects of ETS exposure. Myelination mainly occurs in the early years of life in humans and the first three postnatal weeks in rodents and is sensitive to xenobiotics exposure. This study investigated the effects of early postnatal ETS exposure on myelination. BALB/c mice were exposed to ETS generated from 3R4F reference research cigarettes from the third to the fourteenth days of life. The myelination of nerve fibers in the optic nerve by morphometric analysis and the levels of Olig1 and myelin basic protein (MBP) were evaluated in the cerebellum, diencephalon, telencephalon, and brainstem in infancy, adolescence, and adulthood. Infant mice exposed to ETS showed a decrease in the percentage of myelinated fibers in the optic nerve, compared with controls. ETS induced a decrease in Olig1 protein levels in the cerebellum and brainstem and an increase in MBP levels in the cerebellum at infant. It was also found a decrease in MBP levels in the telencephalon and brainstem at adolescence and in the cerebellum and diencephalon at adulthood. The present study demonstrates that exposure to ETS, in a critical phase of development, affects the percentage of myelinated fibers and myelin-specific proteins in infant mice. Although we did not observe differences in the morphological analysis in adolescence and adulthood, there was a decrease in MBP levels in distinctive brain regions suggesting a delayed effect in adolescence and adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa H Torres
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av Prof Lineu Prestes, 580 Bl 13B, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Raquel Annoni
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia T Balestrin
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av Prof Lineu Prestes, 580 Bl 13B, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Priscila L Coleto
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av Prof Lineu Prestes, 580 Bl 13B, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Stephanie O Duro
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av Prof Lineu Prestes, 580 Bl 13B, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Raphael C T Garcia
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av Prof Lineu Prestes, 580 Bl 13B, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Maurílio Pacheco-Neto
- Department of Clinical Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais Mauad
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rosana Camarini
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz R G Britto
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tania Marcourakis
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av Prof Lineu Prestes, 580 Bl 13B, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil.
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Tiwari SK, Agarwal S, Chauhan LKS, Mishra VN, Chaturvedi RK. Bisphenol-A impairs myelination potential during development in the hippocampus of the rat brain. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 51:1395-416. [PMID: 25084756 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-8817-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Myelin is the functional implication of oligodendrocytes (OLs), which is involved in insulation of axons and promoting rapid propagation of action potential in the brain. OLs are derived from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), which proliferate, differentiate, and migrate throughout the central nervous system. Defects in myelination process lead to the onset of several neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. Exposure to synthetic xenoestrogen bisphenol-A (BPA) causes cognitive dysfunction, impairs hippocampal neurogenesis, and causes onset of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the effects of BPA on OPC proliferation, differentiation and myelination, and associated cellular and molecular mechanism(s) in the hippocampus of the rat brain are still largely unknown. We found that BPA significantly decreased bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cell proliferation and number and size of oligospheres. We observed reduced co-localization of BrdU with myelination markers CNPase and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFR-α), suggesting impaired proliferation and differentiation of OPCs by BPA in culture. We studied the effects of BPA exposure during prenatal and postnatal periods on cellular and molecular alteration(s) in the myelination process in the hippocampus region of the rat brain at postnatal day 21 and 90. BPA exposure both in vitro and in vivo altered proliferation and differentiation potential of OPCs and decreased the expression of genes and levels of proteins that are involved in myelination. Ultrastructural electron microscopy analysis revealed that BPA exposure caused decompaction of myelinated axons and altered g-ratio at both the developmental periods as compared to control. These results suggest that BPA exposure both during prenatal and postnatal periods alters myelination in the hippocampus of the rat brain leading to cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Kant Tiwari
- Developmental Toxicology Division, Systems Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), 80 MG Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226001, India
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Niciu MJ, Henter ID, Sanacora G, Zarate CA. Glial abnormalities in substance use disorders and depression: does shared glutamatergic dysfunction contribute to comorbidity? World J Biol Psychiatry 2014; 15:2-16. [PMID: 24024876 PMCID: PMC4180366 DOI: 10.3109/15622975.2013.829585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Preclinical and clinical research in neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly mood and substance use disorders, have historically focused on neurons; however, glial cells-astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes - also play key roles in these disorders. METHODS Peer-reviewed PubMed/Medline articles published through December 2012 were identified using the following keyword combinations: glia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes/glia, microglia, substance use, substance abuse, substance dependence, alcohol, opiate, opioid, cocaine, psychostimulants, stimulants, and glutamate. RESULTS Depressive and substance use disorders are highly comorbid, suggesting a common or overlapping aetiology and pathophysiology. Reduced astrocyte cell number occurs in both disorders. Altered glutamate neurotransmission and metabolism - specifically changes in the levels/activity of transporters, receptors, and synaptic proteins potentially related to synaptic physiology - appear to be salient features of both disorders. Glial cell pathology may also underlie the pathophysiology of both disorders via impaired astrocytic production of neurotrophic factors. Microglial/neuroinflammatory pathology is also evident in both depressive and substance use disorders. Finally, oligodendrocyte impairment decreases myelination and impairs expression of myelin-related genes in both substance use and depressive disorders. CONCLUSIONS Glial-mediated glutamatergic dysfunction is a common neuropathological pathway in both substance use and depression. Therefore, glutamatergic neuromodulation is a rational drug target in this comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J. Niciu
- Yale University Department of Psychiatry/Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit (CNRU), New Haven, CT, USA,Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ioline D. Henter
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Gerard Sanacora
- Yale University Department of Psychiatry/Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit (CNRU), New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Carlos A. Zarate
- Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Rai NK, Ashok A, Rai A, Tripathi S, Nagar GK, Mitra K, Bandyopadhyay S. Exposure to As, Cd and Pb-mixture impairs myelin and axon development in rat brain, optic nerve and retina. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2013; 273:242-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2012] [Revised: 04/13/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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