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Lo JO, Hedges JC, Chou WH, Tager KR, Bachli ID, Hagen OL, Murphy SK, Hanna CB, Easley CA. Influence of substance use on male reproductive health and offspring outcomes. Nat Rev Urol 2024; 21:534-564. [PMID: 38664544 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-024-00868-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of substance use globally is rising and is highest among men of reproductive age. In Africa, and South and Central America, cannabis use disorder is most prevalent and in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Central America, Canada and the USA, opioid use disorder predominates. Substance use might be contributing to the ongoing global decline in male fertility, and emerging evidence has linked paternal substance use with short-term and long-term adverse effects on offspring development and outcomes. This trend is concerning given that substance use is increasing, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preclinical studies have shown that male preconception substance use can influence offspring brain development and neurobehaviour through epigenetic mechanisms. Additionally, human studies investigating paternal health behaviours during the prenatal period suggest that paternal tobacco, opioid, cannabis and alcohol use is associated with reduced offspring mental health, in particular hyperactivity and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The potential effects of paternal substance use are areas in which to focus public health efforts and health-care provider counselling of couples or individuals interested in conceiving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie O Lo
- Department of Urology, Oregon Heath & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Jason C Hedges
- Department of Urology, Oregon Heath & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Wesley H Chou
- Department of Urology, Oregon Heath & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kylie R Tager
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ian D Bachli
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Olivia L Hagen
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Carol B Hanna
- Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Charles A Easley
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Athens, GA, USA
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2
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Karatayev O, Collier AD, Targoff SR, Leibowitz SF. Neurological Disorders Induced by Drug Use: Effects of Adolescent and Embryonic Drug Exposure on Behavioral Neurodevelopment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8341. [PMID: 39125913 PMCID: PMC11313660 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Clinical studies demonstrate that the risk of developing neurological disorders is increased by overconsumption of the commonly used drugs, alcohol, nicotine and cannabis. These drug-induced neurological disorders, which include substance use disorder (SUD) and its co-occurring emotional conditions such as anxiety and depression, are observed not only in adults but also with drug use during adolescence and after prenatal exposure to these drugs, and they are accompanied by long-lasting disturbances in brain development. This report provides overviews of clinical and preclinical studies, which confirm these adverse effects in adolescents and the offspring prenatally exposed to the drugs and include a more in-depth description of specific neuronal systems, their neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms, affected by drug exposure and of specific techniques used to determine if these effects in the brain are causally related to the behavioral disturbances. With analysis of further studies, this review then addresses four specific questions that are important for fully understanding the impact that drug use in young individuals can have on future pregnancies and their offspring. Evidence demonstrates that the adverse effects on their brain and behavior can occur: (1) at low doses with short periods of drug exposure during pregnancy; (2) after pre-conception drug use by both females and males; (3) in subsequent generations following the initial drug exposure; and (4) in a sex-dependent manner, with drug use producing a greater risk in females than males of developing SUDs with emotional conditions and female offspring after prenatal drug exposure responding more adversely than male offspring. With the recent rise in drug use by adolescents and pregnant women that has occurred in association with the legalization of cannabis and increased availability of vaping tools, these conclusions from the clinical and preclinical literature are particularly alarming and underscore the urgent need to educate young women and men about the possible harmful effects of early drug use and to seek novel therapeutic strategies that might help to limit drug use in young individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah F. Leibowitz
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; (O.K.); (S.R.T.)
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3
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McCarthy DM, Spencer TJ, Bhide PG. Preclinical Models of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Neurobiology, Drug Discovery, and Beyond. J Atten Disord 2024; 28:880-894. [PMID: 38084074 DOI: 10.1177/10870547231215286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We offer an overview of ADHD research using mouse models of nicotine exposure. METHOD Nicotine exposure of C57BL/6 or Swiss Webster mice occurred during prenatal period only or during the prenatal and the pre-weaning periods. Behavioral, neuroanatomical and neurotransmitter assays were used to investigate neurobiological mechanisms of ADHD and discover candidate ADHD medications. RESULTS Our studies show that norbinaltorphimine, a selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist is a candidate novel non-stimulant ADHD treatment and that a combination of methylphenidate and naltrexone has abuse deterrent potential with therapeutic benefits for ADHD. Other studies showed transgenerational transmission of ADHD-associated behavioral traits and demonstrated that interactions between untreated ADHD and repeated mild traumatic brain injury produced behavioral traits not associated with either condition alone. CONCLUSION Preclinical models contribute to novel insights into ADHD neurobiology and are valuable tools for drug discovery and translation to benefit humans with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas J Spencer
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pradeep G Bhide
- Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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4
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Huang N, Cui J, Fan G, Pan T, Han K, Xu K, Jiang C, Liu X, Wang F, Ma L, Le Q. Transcriptomic effects of paternal cocaine-seeking on the reward circuitry of male offspring. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:120. [PMID: 38409093 PMCID: PMC10897445 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02839-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been previously established that paternal development of a strong incentive motivation for cocaine can predispose offspring to develop high cocaine-seeking behavior, as opposed to sole exposure to the drug that results in drug resistance in offspring. However, the adaptive changes of the reward circuitry have not been fully elucidated. To infer the key nuclei and possible hub genes that determine susceptibility to addiction in offspring, rats were randomly assigned to three groups, cocaine self-administration (CSA), yoked administration (Yoke), and saline self-administration (SSA), and used to generate F1. We conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of the male F1 offspring across seven relevant brain regions, both under drug-naïve conditions and after cocaine self-administration. Pairwise differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) exhibited more pronounced transcriptomic changes in response to cocaine exposure, while the dorsal hippocampus (dHip), dorsal striatum (dStr), and ventral tegmental area (VTA) exhibited changes that were more closely associated with the paternal voluntary cocaine-seeking behavior. Consistently, these nuclei showed decreased dopamine levels, elevated neuronal activation, and elevated between-nuclei correlations, indicating dopamine-centered rewiring of the midbrain circuit in the CSA offspring. To determine if possible regulatory cascades exist that drive the expression changes, we constructed co-expression networks induced by paternal drug addiction and identified three key clusters, primarily driven by transcriptional factors such as MYT1L, POU3F4, and NEUROD6, leading to changes of genes regulating axonogenesis, synapse organization, and membrane potential, respectively. Collectively, our data highlight vulnerable neurocircuitry and novel regulatory candidates with therapeutic potential for disrupting the transgenerational inheritance of vulnerability to cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jian Cui
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Guangyuan Fan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Tao Pan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Kunxiu Han
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Kailiang Xu
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Changyou Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xing Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lan Ma
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Qiumin Le
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Research Unit of Addiction Memory, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU009), Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Smith LH, Nist MD, Fortney CA, Warren B, Harrison T, Gillespie S, Herbell K, Militello L, Anderson CM, Tucker S, Ford J, Chang MW, Sayre C, Pickler R. Using the life course health development model to address pediatric mental health disparities. JOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING 2024; 37:e12452. [PMID: 38368550 DOI: 10.1111/jcap.12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
TOPIC Early-life experiences, the transmission of health and disease within families, and the influence of cumulative risks as well as protective factors throughout life shape the trajectory of health, including mental health. Long-term health trajectories established early in life are influenced by biologic, social, and environmental factors. Negative trajectories may be more salient if exposures to adversity occur during critical developmental periods. PURPOSE The purpose of this brief is to (a) review pediatric health disparities related to depression and the intergenerational transmission of pediatric depression using a Life Course Health Development (LCHD) model and (b) provide recommendations for pediatric mental health research. SOURCES Peer-reviewed papers available for PubMed, CINAL, and Medline. Other sources include published books, papers, and gray materials. CONCLUSIONS The LCHD model is a perspective to guide and foster new scientific inquiry about the development of mental health outcomes over the life course. The model enables synthesis of mental health, nursing, and public health, linking mental health prevention, risk reduction, and treatment in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laureen H Smith
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Marliese D Nist
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Christine A Fortney
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Barbara Warren
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Tondi Harrison
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Shannon Gillespie
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kayla Herbell
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Lisa Militello
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Cindy M Anderson
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sharon Tucker
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jodi Ford
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Mei-Wei Chang
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Christine Sayre
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rita Pickler
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women Children and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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6
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Jones SK, McCarthy DM, Stanwood GD, Schatschneider C, Bhide PG. Learning and memory deficits produced by aspartame are heritable via the paternal lineage. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14326. [PMID: 37652922 PMCID: PMC10471780 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41213-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental exposures produce heritable traits that can linger in the population for one or two generations. Millions of individuals consume substances such as artificial sweeteners daily that are declared safe by regulatory agencies without evaluation of their potential heritable effects. We show that consumption of aspartame, an FDA-approved artificial sweetener, daily for up to 16-weeks at doses equivalent to only 7-15% of the FDA recommended maximum daily intake value (equivalent to 2-4 small, 8 oz diet soda drinks per day) produces significant spatial learning and memory deficits in mice. Moreover, the cognitive deficits are transmitted to male and female descendants along the paternal lineage suggesting that aspartame's adverse cognitive effects are heritable, and that they are more pervasive than current estimates, which consider effects in the directly exposed individuals only. Traditionally, deleterious environmental exposures of pregnant and nursing women are viewed as risk factors for the health of future generations. Environmental exposures of men are not considered to pose similar risks. Our findings suggest that environmental exposures of men can produce adverse impact on cognitive function in future generations and demonstrate the need for considering heritable effects via the paternal lineage as part of the regulatory evaluations of artificial sweeteners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara K Jones
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115, West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Deirdre M McCarthy
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115, West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Center for Brain Repair, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Gregg D Stanwood
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115, West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Center for Brain Repair, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Christopher Schatschneider
- Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Pradeep G Bhide
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115, West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
- Center for Brain Repair, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
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7
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Castro EM, Lotfipour S, Leslie FM. Nicotine on the developing brain. Pharmacol Res 2023; 190:106716. [PMID: 36868366 PMCID: PMC10392865 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Developmental periods such as gestation and adolescence have enhanced plasticity leaving the brain vulnerable to harmful effects from nicotine use. Proper brain maturation and circuit organization is critical for normal physiological and behavioral outcomes. Although cigarette smoking has declined in popularity, noncombustible nicotine products are readily used. The misperceived safety of these alternatives lead to widespread use among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and adolescents. Nicotine exposure during these sensitive developmental windows is detrimental to cardiorespiratory function, learning and memory, executive function, and reward related circuitry. In this review, we will discuss clinical and preclinical evidence of the adverse alterations in the brain and behavior following nicotine exposure. Time-dependent nicotine-induced changes in reward related brain regions and drug reward behaviors will be discussed and highlight unique sensitivities within a developmental period. We will also review long lasting effects of developmental exposure persisting into adulthood, along with permanent epigenetic changes in the genome which can be passed to future generations. Taken together, it is critical to evaluate the consequences of nicotine exposure during these vulnerable developmental windows due to its direct impact on cognition, potential trajectories for other substance use, and implicated mechanisms for the neurobiology of substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Castro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Shahrdad Lotfipour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Frances M Leslie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Zeid D, Gould TJ. Chronic nicotine exposure alters sperm small RNA content in C57BL/6J mouse model. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22367. [PMID: 36811365 PMCID: PMC9978956 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Multigenerational inheritance is a nongenomic form of heritability characterized by altered phenotypes in the first generation born from the exposed parent. Multigenerational factors may account for inconsistencies and gaps in heritable nicotine addiction vulnerability. Our lab previously found that F1 offspring of male C57BL/6J mice chronically exposed to nicotine exhibited altered hippocampus functioning and related learning, nicotine-seeking, nicotine metabolism, and basal stress hormones. In an effort to identify germline mechanisms underlying these multigenerational phenotypes, the current study sequenced small RNA extracted from sperm of males chronically administered nicotine using our previously established exposure model. We identified 16 miRNAs whose expression in sperm was dysregulated by nicotine exposure. A literature review of previous research on these transcripts suggested an enrichment for regulation of psychological stress and learning. mRNAs predicted to be regulated by differentially expressed sperm small RNAs were further analyzed using exploratory enrichment analysis, which suggested potential modulation of pathways related to learning, estrogen signaling, and hepatic disease, among other findings. Overall, our findings point to links between nicotine-exposed F0 sperm miRNA and altered F1 phenotypes in this multigenerational inheritance model, particularly F1 memory, stress, and nicotine metabolism. These findings provide a valuable foundation for future functional validation of these hypotheses and characterization of mechanisms underlying male-line multigenerational inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Zeid
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | - Thomas J. Gould
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park PA, USA
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Transgenerational transmission of aspartame-induced anxiety and changes in glutamate-GABA signaling and gene expression in the amygdala. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2213120119. [PMID: 36459641 PMCID: PMC9894161 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213120119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the effects of aspartame on anxiety-like behavior, neurotransmitter signaling and gene expression in the amygdala, a brain region associated with the regulation of anxiety and fear responses. C57BL/6 mice consumed drinking water containing 0.015% or 0.03% aspartame, a dose equivalent of 8 to 15% of the FDA recommended maximum human daily intake, or plain drinking water. Robust anxiety-like behavior (evaluated using open field test and elevated zero maze) was observed in male and female mice consuming the aspartame-containing water. Diazepam, an allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor, alleviated the anxiety-like behavior. RNA sequencing of the amygdala followed by KEGG biological pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes showed glutamatergic and GABAergic synapse pathways as significantly enriched. Quantitative PCR showed upregulation of mRNA for the glutamate NMDA receptor subunit 2D (Grin2d) and metabotropic receptor 4 (Grm4) and downregulation of the GABA-A receptor associated protein (Gabarap) mRNA. Thus, taken together, our diazepam and gene expression data show that aspartame consumption shifted the excitation-inhibition equilibrium in the amygdala toward excitation. Even more strikingly, the anxiety-like behavior, its response to diazepam, and changes in amygdala gene expression were transmitted to male and female offspring in two generations descending from the aspartame-exposed males. Extrapolation of the findings to humans suggests that aspartame consumption at doses below the FDA recommended maximum daily intake may produce neurobehavioral changes in aspartame-consuming individuals and their descendants. Thus, human population at risk of aspartame's potential mental health effects may be larger than current expectations, which only include aspartame-consuming individuals.
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10
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Maurer JJ, Wimmer ME, Turner CA, Herman RJ, Zhang Y, Ragnini K, Ferrante J, Kimmey BA, Crist RC, Pierce RC, Schmidt HD. Paternal nicotine taking elicits heritable sex-specific phenotypes that are mediated by hippocampal Satb2. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3864-3874. [PMID: 35595980 PMCID: PMC9675874 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01622-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Nicotine intake, whether through tobacco smoking or e-cigarettes, remains a global health concern. An emerging preclinical literature indicates that parental nicotine exposure produces behavioral, physiological, and molecular changes in subsequent generations. However, the heritable effects of voluntary parental nicotine taking are unknown. Here, we show increased acquisition of nicotine taking in male and female offspring of sires that self-administered nicotine. In contrast, self-administration of sucrose and cocaine were unaltered in male and female offspring suggesting that the intergenerational effects of paternal nicotine taking may be reinforcer specific. Further characterization revealed memory deficits and increased anxiety-like behaviors in drug-naive male, but not female, offspring of nicotine-experienced sires. Using an unbiased, genome-wide approach, we discovered that these phenotypes were associated with decreased expression of Satb2, a transcription factor known to play important roles in synaptic plasticity and memory formation, in the hippocampus of nicotine-sired male offspring. This effect was sex-specific as no changes in Satb2 expression were found in nicotine-sired female offspring. Finally, increasing Satb2 levels in the hippocampus prevented the escalation of nicotine intake and rescued the memory deficits associated with paternal nicotine taking in male offspring. Collectively, these findings indicate that paternal nicotine taking produces heritable sex-specific molecular changes that promote addiction-like phenotypes and memory impairments in male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J. Maurer
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mathieu E. Wimmer
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Christopher A. Turner
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rae J. Herman
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yafang Zhang
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kael Ragnini
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Julia Ferrante
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Blake A. Kimmey
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Richard C. Crist
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - R. Christopher Pierce
- Brain Health Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Heath D. Schmidt
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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11
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McCarthy DM, Zhang L, Wilkes BJ, Vaillancourt DE, Biederman J, Bhide PG. Nicotine and the developing brain: Insights from preclinical models. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 214:173355. [PMID: 35176350 PMCID: PMC9063417 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Use of tobacco products during pregnancy is associated with increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring. Preclinical models of developmental nicotine exposure have offered valuable insights into the neurobiology of nicotine's effects on the developing brain and demonstrated lasting effects of developmental nicotine exposure on brain structure, neurotransmitter signaling and behavior. These models have facilitated discovery of novel compounds as candidate treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with prenatal nicotine exposure. Using these models the significance of heritability of behavioral phenotypes from the nicotine-exposed pregnant female or adult male to multiple generations of descendants has been demonstrated. Finally, research using the preclinical models has demonstrated synergistic interactions between developmental nicotine exposure and repetitive mild traumatic brain injury that contribute to "worse" outcomes from the injury in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder associated with developmental nicotine exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre M McCarthy
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL 32306, United States of America
| | - Lin Zhang
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL 32306, United States of America
| | - Bradley J Wilkes
- Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | - David E Vaillancourt
- Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | - Joseph Biederman
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America
| | - Pradeep G Bhide
- Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL 32306, United States of America.
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