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Shook LL, Castro VM, Herzberg EM, Fourman LT, Kaimal AJ, Perlis RH, Edlow AG. Offspring cardiometabolic outcomes and postnatal growth trajectories after exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2024; 32:969-978. [PMID: 38351665 PMCID: PMC11039385 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to determine whether in utero exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with increased risk for a cardiometabolic diagnosis by 18 months of age. METHODS This retrospective electronic health record (EHR)-based cohort study included the live-born offspring of all individuals who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 1, 2020-December 31, 2021) at eight hospitals in Massachusetts. Offspring exposure was defined as a positive maternal SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test during pregnancy. The primary outcome was presence of an ICD-10 code for a cardiometabolic disorder in offspring EHR by 18 months. Weight-, length-, and BMI-for-age z scores were calculated and compared at 6-month intervals from birth to 18 months. RESULTS A total of 29,510 offspring (1599 exposed and 27,911 unexposed) were included. By 18 months, 6.7% of exposed and 4.4% of unexposed offspring had received a cardiometabolic diagnosis (crude odds ratio [OR] 1.47 [95% CI: 1.10 to 1.94], p = 0.007; adjusted OR 1.38 [1.06 to 1.77], p = 0.01). Exposed offspring had a significantly greater mean BMI-for-age z score versus unexposed offspring at 6 months (z score difference 0.19 [95% CI: 0.10 to 0.29], p < 0.001; adjusted difference 0.04 [-0.06 to 0.13], p = 0.4). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk of receiving a cardiometabolic diagnosis by 18 months preceded by greater BMI-for-age at 6 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia L. Shook
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Victor M. Castro
- Center for Quantitative Health and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Research Information Science and Computing, Mass General Brigham, Somerville, MA
| | - Emily M. Herzberg
- Division of Neonatology and Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | - Lindsay T. Fourman
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Anjali J. Kaimal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL
| | - Roy H. Perlis
- Center for Quantitative Health and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Andrea G. Edlow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Yadav D, Ostrea EM, Cheng CT, Kisseih E, Maddipati KR, Thomas RL. Effect of docosahexaenoic acid and olive oil supplementation on pup weight in alcohol-exposed pregnant rats. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1334285. [PMID: 38638591 PMCID: PMC11024321 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1334285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Low birth weight has been observed in offspring of alcoholic mothers due likely to unresolved inflammation and oxidative injury. Dietary lipids play a role in inflammation and its resolution. The primary objective was to investigate the effect of DHA and olive oil on the birth weight of pups born to alcohol-exposed dams. Methods Pregnant rats were randomized to the control or three treatment (alcohol) groups. From gestational days (GD) 8-19, the control group received daily olive oil and malto/dextrose, whereas groups 2 and 3 received olive oil and low-dose alcohol or high-dose alcohol, respectively. Group 4 received daily DHA and high-dose alcohol. The dam's blood was collected on GD 15 and 20 for cytokine analysis. Dams were sacrificed on GD 20. The mean birth weight of pups was compared by one-way ANOVA with post hoc Duncan's test. Results There was a significant increase in the pups' mean birth weight in the high-dose alcohol/DHA and high-dose alcohol/olive oil. Higher pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-12p70) were noted in the alcohol-exposed dams. Conclusions DHA and olive oil supplementation in alcohol-exposed pregnant rats significantly increased their pups' birth weight despite having high pro-inflammatory cytokines. The mechanism of this effect remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Yadav
- Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Enrique M. Ostrea
- Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Charlie T. Cheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Esther Kisseih
- Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Krishna R. Maddipati
- Bioactive Lipids Research Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Ronald L. Thomas
- Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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Reid N, Kent N, Hewlett N, Bagley K, Tsang TW, Goldsbury S, Williams R, Akison L, Holland L, Vanderpeet C, Doyle M, Boaden N, Hayes N. Factors to be considered as part of a holistic assessment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A scoping review. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:2007-2021. [PMID: 38226745 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
We undertook a scoping review to identify the factors outside of current fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) diagnostic criteria to be considered as part of a holistic assessment process. This included physical, social, cultural, mental health and wellbeing factors to inform targeted recommendations and supports to improve outcomes for individuals with FASD. Evidence from this review will be used to inform the revision of the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD. Six electronic databases were searched. Studies were eligible if they included factors outside of the diagnostic criteria that cover dysmorphology, growth restriction, neurodevelopmental impairments. Data charting and content analysis were performed to synthesize the results. One hundred twenty-one studies were included that spanned 12 key areas These included physical health, sleep, adverse postnatal experiences, substance use/other risk-taking behaviors, contact with the criminal justice system, mental health, First Nations cultural considerations, transition to adult roles, involvement with the out-of-home care system, feeding and eating, strengths/interests/external resources and incontinence. Areas to be considered as part of a holistic assessment and diagnostic process spanned individual, family, and system level factors. Results provide guidance for clinicians on the wide range of factors that could influence long-term health, development, and wellbeing for individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD. In practice, this guidance can be used to inform an individualized assessment process to facilitate tailored recommendations and supports to best meet the complex needs of individuals living with FASD and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Reid
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nykola Kent
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole Hewlett
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- The First Nations Cancer & Wellbeing Research Team, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kerryn Bagley
- La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
- Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tracey W Tsang
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Kids Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sarah Goldsbury
- Māori/Indigenous Health Innovation, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Robyn Williams
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentin, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Lisa Akison
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lorelle Holland
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Chelsea Vanderpeet
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Doyle
- Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nirosha Boaden
- School of Social Work, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicole Hayes
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Podgórski R, Galiniak S, Mazur A, Podgórska D, Domin A. Serum Levels of Hormones Regulating Appetite in Patients with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Nutrients 2023; 15:4215. [PMID: 37836499 PMCID: PMC10574197 DOI: 10.3390/nu15194215] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure is the cause of impaired growth and a wide range of developmental and behavioral disorders in the child. Improper eating patterns are commonly associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and may contribute to poor nutrition and growth restriction. To date, there have been only a few studies investigating the hormonal regulation of appetite in patients with FASD. We analyzed the levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), Agouti signaling protein (ASP), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), and kisspeptin (KISS1) in 57 patients with FASD and 23 healthy controls. A comparison of the hormone levels studied was also performed in subgroups of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND PAE), as well as in males and females. We have found no differences in hormone levels tested between affected individuals and the controls and between FASD subgroups. In addition, sex had no effect on hormone levels. However, we identified some associations between hormone concentrations and parameters describing the clinical status of patients with FASD. Most of them concerned ASP, which has shown a positive correlation with age and hormones involved in appetite and metabolism, such as proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). We have also found a negative correlation of α-MSH with age, BMI percentile, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Furthermore, we found a weak negative correlation of NPY with HbA1c. Although FASD has been associated with impaired child growth and development, including nutrition and puberty onset, we did not identify differences in the levels of the hormones studied, which may suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure does not affect the levels of these metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Podgórski
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland;
| | - Sabina Galiniak
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland;
| | - Artur Mazur
- Department of Pediatric, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland; (A.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Dominika Podgórska
- Department of Rheumatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Domin
- Department of Pediatric, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland; (A.M.); (A.D.)
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Hwang HM, Kawasawa YI, Basha A, Mohammad S, Ito M, Hashimoto-Torii K. Fatty acid metabolism changes in association with neurobehavioral deficits in animal models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Commun Biol 2023; 6:736. [PMID: 37460609 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05127-z] [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] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) show behavioral problems due to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). A previous study reports changes in gene expressions linked to fatty acid (FA) metabolism in the cerebral cortex of the PAE mouse model. We find an increase of palmitic acid and arachidonic acid in phospholipid in the cerebral cortex of PAE at postnatal day 30. The increase of palmitic acid is consistent with increase of the producing enzyme, Fasn (fatty acid synthase). Decrease of 26:6 FA is also consistent with the increase of the enzyme which uses 26:6 as a substrate for making very long chain FAs, Elovl4 (elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 4). However, there is no increase in the elongated products. Rather, lipid droplets (LDs) accumulated in the brain. Although FA-associated metabolic measurements are not affected by PAE, the abundance of FA-related gut microbiota is altered. This suggests that the gut microbiome could serve as a tool to facilitate uncovering the brain pathophysiology of FASD and a potential target to mitigate neurobehavioral problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Mee Hwang
- Center for Neuroscience Research, The Children's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yuka Imamura Kawasawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Personalized Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Aiesha Basha
- Center for Neuroscience Research, The Children's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Shahid Mohammad
- Center for Neuroscience Research, The Children's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Mariko Ito
- Center for Neuroscience Research, The Children's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kazue Hashimoto-Torii
- Center for Neuroscience Research, The Children's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
- Departments of Pediatrics, and Pharmacology & Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
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Chaudoin TR, Bonasera SJ, Dunaevsky A, Padmashri R. Exploring behavioral phenotypes in a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Dev Neurobiol 2023; 83:184-204. [PMID: 37433012 PMCID: PMC10546278 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22922] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are one of the leading causes of developmental abnormalities worldwide. Maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy leads to a diverse range of cognitive and neurobehavioral deficits. Although moderate-to-heavy levels of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) have been associated with adverse offspring outcomes, there is limited data on the consequences of chronic low-level PAE. Here, we use a model of maternal voluntary alcohol consumption throughout gestation in a mouse model to investigate the effects of PAE on behavioral phenotypes during late adolescence and early adulthood in male and female offspring. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Baseline behaviors, including feeding, drinking, and movement, were examined by performing home cage monitoring studies. The impact of PAE on motor function, motor skill learning, hyperactivity, acoustic reactivity, and sensorimotor gating was investigated by performing a battery of behavioral tests. PAE was found to be associated with altered body composition. No differences in overall movement, food, or water consumption were observed between control and PAE mice. Although PAE offspring of both sexes exhibited deficits in motor skill learning, no differences were observed in basic motor skills such as grip strength and motor coordination. PAE females exhibited a hyperactive phenotype in a novel environment. PAE mice exhibited increased reactivity to acoustic stimuli, and PAE females showed disrupted short-term habituation. Sensorimotor gating was not altered in PAE mice. Collectively, our data show that chronic low-level exposure to alcohol in utero results in behavioral impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy R Chaudoin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Stephen J Bonasera
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Anna Dunaevsky
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Ragunathan Padmashri
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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Beaulieu D, Treit S, Pagano JJ, Beaulieu C, Thompson R. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Individuals With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. CJC PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE 2023; 2:150-161. [PMID: 37969351 PMCID: PMC10642128 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjcpc.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has teratogenic effects on numerous body systems including the heart. However, research magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in humans with PAE have thus far been limited to the brain. This study aims to use MRI to examine heart structure and function, brain volumes, and body composition in children and adolescents with PAE. Methods Heart, brain, and abdominal 3T MRI of 17 children, adolescents, and young adults with PAE and 53 unexposed controls was acquired to measure: (1) left ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume, cardiac output, longitudinal strain, circumferential strain, and heart mass; (2) total brain, cerebellum, white matter, grey matter, caudate, thalamus, putamen, and globus pallidus volumes; and (3) subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, muscle fat, and muscle (body composition). Results Cardiac MRI revealed no abnormalities in the PAE group on evaluation by a paediatric cardiologist and by statistical comparison with a control group. Cardiac parameters in both groups were in line with previous reports, including expected sex- and age-related differences. Cerebellum, caudate, and globus pallidus volumes were all smaller. Body mass index and subcutaneous fat percent were higher in females with PAE relative to control females, but lower in males with PAE relative to control males. Conclusions Children with PAE did not have abnormalities in MRI-derived measures of cardiac structure or function despite smaller brain volumes and sex-specific differences in body composition relative to healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sarah Treit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joseph J. Pagano
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richard Thompson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Domin A, Mazur A. Nutritional status of a group of polish children with FASD: A retrospective study. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1111545. [PMID: 37252249 PMCID: PMC10213223 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1111545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a leading preventable cause of developmental and psychosocial disorders. Prenatal alcohol exposure can be a cause of growth impairment and metabolic problems. In this study, we analyzed data on the growth, weight, and nutritional status of children with FASD. Methods Patients were recruited from the Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, and the Outpatient Endocrinology Clinic in Rzeszów, Poland. Each person referred for evaluation had a diagnosis of FASD based on the recommendations of Polish experts. The population consisted of 59 subjects with measurements of weight and height, and the IGF-1 level test was performed. Results Children with FAS had consistently lower height and weight measurements than children with ND-PAE. In the FAS group, children (<3 percentile) accounted for 42.31%, and in the ND-PAE group - 18.18%. The analysis of the whole group showed the highest prevalence of low body weight (below the third percentile) among subjects with FAS - 53.85%. The prevalence of low body weight and short stature (both parameters <3rd centile) was found to be 27.11% in the whole group. Lower mean BMI values were related to the FAS group (21.71 kg/m2) compared to the ND-PAE group (39.62 kg/m2). In the study group, BMI below the fifth percentile was found in 28.81% of the children, normal weight (5th-85th percentile) in 67.80%. Discussion During the care of children with FASD, a continuous evaluation of nutritional status, height, and weight is necessary. This group of patients is often affected by low birth weight, short stature and weight deficiency, which require differential diagnosis and appropriate dietary and therapeutic management.
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Walter KR, Ricketts DK, Presswood BH, Smith SM, Mooney SM. Prenatal alcohol exposure causes persistent microglial activation and age- and sex- specific effects on cognition and metabolic outcomes in an Alzheimer's Disease mouse model. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2023; 49:302-320. [PMID: 36194703 PMCID: PMC11040461 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2022.2119571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes behavioral deficits and increases risk of metabolic diseases. Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that has a higher risk in adults with metabolic diseases. Both present with persistent neuroinflammation.Objectives: We tested whether PAE exacerbates AD-related cognitive decline in a mouse model (3xTg-AD; presenilin/amyloid precursor protein/tau), and assessed associations among cognition, metabolic impairment, and microglial reactivity.Methods: Alcohol-exposed (ALC) pregnant 3xTg-AD mice received 3 g/kg alcohol from embryonic day 8.5-17.5. We evaluated recognition memory and associative memory (fear conditioning) in 8-10 males and females per group at 3 months of age (3mo), 7mo, and 11mo, then assessed glucose tolerance, body composition, and hippocampal microglial activation at 12mo.Results: ALC females had higher body weights than controls from 5mo (p < .0001). Controls showed improved recognition memory at 11mo compared with 3mo (p = .007); this was not seen in ALC mice. Older animals froze more during fear conditioning than younger, and ALC mice were hyper-responsive to the fear-related cue (p = .017). Fasting blood glucose was lower in ALC males and higher in ALC females than controls. Positive associations occurred between glucose and fear-related context (p = .04) and adiposity and fear-related cue (p = .0002) in ALC animals. Hippocampal microglial activation was higher in ALC than controls (p < .0001); this trended to correlate with recognition memory.Conclusions: ALC animals showed age-related cognitive impairments that did not interact with AD risk but did correlate with metabolic dysfunction and somewhat with microglial activation. Thus, metabolic disorders may be a therapeutic target for people with FASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R. Walter
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis NC 28081, USA
| | - Dane K. Ricketts
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis NC 28081, USA
| | - Brandon H. Presswood
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis NC 28081, USA
| | - Susan M. Smith
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis NC 28081, USA
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis NC 28081, USA
| | - Sandra M. Mooney
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis NC 28081, USA
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis NC 28081, USA
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The Association of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis with Appetite Regulation in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15061366. [PMID: 36986097 PMCID: PMC10053353 DOI: 10.3390/nu15061366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure causes growth impairment and a wide range of developmental, physical, and cognitive disorders in children, collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). In the course of FASDs, abnormalities can also affect eating behavior and nutritional status, but these problems have received little attention. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the levels of hormones involved in the action of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: proopiomelanocortin (POMC), cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), in the serum of patients with FASDs. To our knowledge, none of these hormones studied have yet been evaluated in FASDs to date. We investigated 62 FASD patients and 23 healthy controls by applying an enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (ELISA). Fasting POMC levels were significantly lower in patients with FASDs (10.97 vs. 18,57 ng/mL, p = 0.039) compared to controls. However, there were no differences in cortisol concentrations. Additionally, the sex and subgroup status (fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND-PAE), and FASD risk) did not affect hormone levels. POMC was positively correlated with some clinical parameters such as age, BMI percentile, carbohydrate biomarkers, and ACTH. A positive correlation was observed between ACTH and cortisol levels, as well as ACTH and cholesterol levels. Data analysis showed no HPA axis abnormalities in the form of elevated serum cortisol and ACTH levels. Differences in POMC concentration may indicate the involvement and/or impairment of central nervous system structures in hormonal alterations in FASD individuals, caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Hormonal dysregulation in FASDs can contribute to reduced growth and development, as well as many other disturbed processes, including neurological/neurodevelopmental dysfunctions. Further insightful studies involving a larger group of patients are needed to determine the potential impact of the measured hormones.
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Robertson OC, Marceau K, Moding KJ, Knopik VS. Developmental pathways linking obesity risk and early puberty: The thrifty phenotype and fetal overnutrition hypotheses. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2022.101048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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12
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Young SL, Gallo LA, Brookes DSK, Hayes N, Maloney M, Liddle K, James A, Moritz KM, Reid N. Altered bone and body composition in children and adolescents with confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure. Bone 2022; 164:116510. [PMID: 35931325 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2022.116510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure can contribute to long term adverse health outcomes. Development of the skeletal system begins at the early embryonic stage and continues into early adulthood but the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on skeletal growth is relatively unexplored in a clinical population. Here, we performed dual X-ray absorptiometry to examine bone, fat, and muscle accrual in children and adolescents diagnosed with, or at risk of, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Children (aged 4-9 years) with FASD or at risk of FASD (n = 10) had similar growth to age matched controls (n = 27). By adolescence (aged ≥10 years), those with FASDs (n = 13) were shorter and had lower areal bone mineral density and lean tissue mass than typically developing peers (n = 29). Overall, adolescents diagnosed with FASDs had greater odds of impairments to bone and body composition. These findings highlight the importance of early FASD diagnosis and appropriate post-diagnostic medical follow-up to enable timely, effective interventions to optimize bone and body composition during paediatric growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia L Young
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia; Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Linda A Gallo
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Denise S K Brookes
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nicole Hayes
- Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Maree Maloney
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Karen Liddle
- Queensland Children's Hospital, Queensland Health, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Amanda James
- Queensland Children's Hospital, Queensland Health, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Karen M Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia; Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Natasha Reid
- Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, Australia.
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13
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Smith SM, Pjetri E, Friday WB, Presswood BH, Ricketts DK, Walter KR, Mooney SM. Aging-Related Behavioral, Adiposity, and Glucose Impairments and Their Association following Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in the C57BL/6J Mouse. Nutrients 2022; 14:1438. [PMID: 35406051 PMCID: PMC9002573 DOI: 10.3390/nu14071438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
People that experience prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) may have behavioral and metabolic impairments, and it is unclear whether these remain stable or change with age. We assessed behavioral and metabolic endpoints across the lifespan in a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Pregnant C57BL/6J mice received alcohol (ALC; 3 g/kg) or maltose-dextrin (control, CON) daily from embryonic day 8.5 to 17.5. Offspring were tested on accelerating rotarod, Y-maze, novel object recognition, and fear conditioning at 6 weeks and 10 and 17 months; females were also tested at 24 months. Body composition, fasting glucose, and glucose clearance were assessed at 18 months. Female but not male ALC mice had greater adiposity than age-matched CON from 7 months onward. At 18 months, male but not female ALC mice had reduced glucose clearance and ALC mice were more likely to have elevated fasting glucose. In the rotarod training session, ALC females performed worse than CON. In the Y-maze, significant exposure-age interactions affected ALC performance in both sexes versus age-match CON. For fear conditioning, all animals acquired the task and froze more at older ages. In both the context and cued tasks, there were exposure-age interactions and ALC animals frozen less than CON at 10 months. Correlation analysis revealed that fasting glucose and glucose clearance correlated with % of body fat in ALC but not in CON mice. Additionally, glucose intolerance and % body fat negatively correlated with performance in the rotarod, context learning, and novel object recognition tasks in ALC but not CON mice. All mice exhibit worsening of behavioral performance as they age, and PAE did not further exacerbate this. ALC but not CON mice displayed adiposity and glucose intolerance that correlate with their cognitive impairments, suggesting that these may be mechanistically related in PAE. Findings emphasize that FASD should be considered a whole-body disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M. Smith
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (E.P.); (W.B.F.); (B.H.P.); (D.K.R.); (K.R.W.)
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Eneda Pjetri
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (E.P.); (W.B.F.); (B.H.P.); (D.K.R.); (K.R.W.)
| | - Walter B. Friday
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (E.P.); (W.B.F.); (B.H.P.); (D.K.R.); (K.R.W.)
| | - Brandon H. Presswood
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (E.P.); (W.B.F.); (B.H.P.); (D.K.R.); (K.R.W.)
| | - Dane K. Ricketts
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (E.P.); (W.B.F.); (B.H.P.); (D.K.R.); (K.R.W.)
| | - Kathleen R. Walter
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (E.P.); (W.B.F.); (B.H.P.); (D.K.R.); (K.R.W.)
| | - Sandra M. Mooney
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (E.P.); (W.B.F.); (B.H.P.); (D.K.R.); (K.R.W.)
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
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14
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Tang MN, Adolphe S, Rogers SR, Frank DA. Failure to Thrive or Growth Faltering: Medical, Developmental/Behavioral, Nutritional, and Social Dimensions. Pediatr Rev 2021; 42:590-603. [PMID: 34725219 DOI: 10.1542/pir.2020-001883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Margot N Tang
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Soukaina Adolphe
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | | | - Deborah A Frank
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
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15
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Kemp AJ, Kazi SE, Megna JL, Leontieva LV. Synergistic Effects of Psychotropics Leading to Extraordinary Weight Gain. Cureus 2021; 13:e17978. [PMID: 34660157 PMCID: PMC8507601 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A 22-year-old woman had significant weight gain after being on two atypical antipsychotics, an antiepileptic, and an antidepressant for 12 months, with her weight increasing from 70 kg to 160 kg, or by 90 kg, over 16 months. This case report examines the possible synergistic effects of psychotropics, particularly two atypical antipsychotics, leading to adverse side effects, particularly severe obesity, in the context of other examined pharmacological and non-pharmacologic risk factors. Psychotropic monotherapy is the advised prescribing treatment guideline. The extraordinary weight gain resulting in severe obesity in this case demonstrates just one of the many concerns for psychotropic polypharmacy from the same sub-class of psychiatric drugs leading to increased morbidity and mortality in the psychiatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allyson J Kemp
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA
| | - Sana E Kazi
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA
| | - James L Megna
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA
| | - Lubov V Leontieva
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA
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16
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Hayes N, Reid N, Akison LK, Moritz KM. The effect of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure on adolescent body mass index and waist-to-height ratio at 12-13 years. Int J Obes (Lond) 2021; 45:2118-2125. [PMID: 34226636 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-021-00884-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has the potential to impact on a wide range of physical outcomes in offspring, including metabolism and body composition, although the evidence to-date is primarily from preclinical studies. The current clinical study examined the association between heavy PAE and indirect measures of adiposity in adolescence. METHODS Analyses drew on data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a national prospective cohort of children and their families from birth to adolescence. Participants included children with heavy PAE (≥70 g/week; n = 46), measured via maternal self-report of alcohol use during pregnancy and a comparison group of children without any PAE (n = 782), frequency matched on sex, ethnicity and socio-economic position. Body mass index (BMI) z-scores, waist-to-height ratios and proportion overweight/obese were calculated from height, weight and waist circumference measured at age 12-13 years. Two (PAE) × two (sex) ANCOVA and logistic regression models were performed, controlling for matching variables, adolescent age, pubertal status and birthweight; maternal age at birth and smoking during pregnancy. RESULTS Female adolescents with heavy PAE during late pregnancy had significantly higher BMI z-scores (M = 0.75, SD = 0.69) and proportion overweight/obese (38.5%) than females not exposed to any prenatal alcohol (M = 0.29, SD = 1.07, P = 0.04; 23.8%, P = 0.03, respectively). There was no significant effect of heavy PAE on male adolescent BMI z-scores and proportion overweight/obese or adolescent waist-to-height ratios (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Heavy PAE had a sex-specific effect on measures of adiposity in early adolescence, with girls more likely to have increased BMI and overweight/obesity status. Further longitudinal follow-up of children exposed to PAE is required to confirm if maternal alcohol consumption is a risk factor for later life obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Hayes
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - N Reid
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - L K Akison
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - K M Moritz
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
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17
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Schiestl ET, Rios JM, Parnarouskis L, Cummings JR, Gearhardt AN. A narrative review of highly processed food addiction across the lifespan. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 106:110152. [PMID: 33127423 PMCID: PMC7750273 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Evidence is growing that highly processed (HP) foods (i.e., foods high in refined carbohydrates and fat) are highly effective in activating reward systems and may even be capable of triggering addictive processes. Unlike traditional drugs of abuse, exposure to HP foods is common very early in development. HP food addiction has been associated with negative outcomes, including higher body mass index (BMI), more frequent binge eating, greater failure in weight loss treatment trials, and poorer mental and physical health. Although most research on HP food addiction has been conducted using adult samples, research on this topic now spans across the life span beginning in utero and extending through older adulthood. HP food addiction and related reward-based changes are associated with negative outcomes at every life stage, which has important implications for developmentally tailored prevention and treatment efforts. Using a developmentally informed approach, the current study comprehensively reviews the existing research on HP food addiction across the lifespan and highlights important areas of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia M Rios
- University of Michigan, United States of America
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18
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Christoforou ER, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Molecular mechanisms governing offspring metabolic programming in rodent models of in utero stress. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:4861-4898. [PMID: 32494846 PMCID: PMC7658077 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03566-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The results of different human epidemiological datasets provided the impetus to introduce the now commonly accepted theory coined as 'developmental programming', whereby the presence of a stressor during gestation predisposes the growing fetus to develop diseases, such as metabolic dysfunction in later postnatal life. However, in a clinical setting, human lifespan and inaccessibility to tissue for analysis are major limitations to study the molecular mechanisms governing developmental programming. Subsequently, studies using animal models have proved indispensable to the identification of key molecular pathways and epigenetic mechanisms that are dysregulated in metabolic organs of the fetus and adult programmed due to an adverse gestational environment. Rodents such as mice and rats are the most used experimental animals in the study of developmental programming. This review summarises the molecular pathways and epigenetic mechanisms influencing alterations in metabolic tissues of rodent offspring exposed to in utero stress and subsequently programmed for metabolic dysfunction. By comparing molecular mechanisms in a variety of rodent models of in utero stress, we hope to summarise common themes and pathways governing later metabolic dysfunction in the offspring whilst identifying reasons for incongruencies between models so to inform future work. With the continued use and refinement of such models of developmental programming, the scientific community may gain the knowledge required for the targeted treatment of metabolic diseases that have intrauterine origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthimia R Christoforou
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK
| | - Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK.
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19
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Duart-Castells L, Cantacorps L, López-Arnau R, Montagud-Romero S, Puster B, Mera P, Serra D, Camarasa J, Pubill D, Valverde O, Escubedo E. Effects of High-Fat Diet and Maternal Binge-Like Alcohol Consumption and Their Influence on Cocaine Response in Female Mice Offspring. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 24:77-88. [PMID: 32951039 PMCID: PMC7816686 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading cause of neurobehavioral and neurocognitive deficits collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, including eating disorders and increased risk for substance abuse as very common issues. In this context, the present study aimed to assess the interaction between prenatal and lactation alcohol exposure (PLAE) and a high-fat diet (HFD) during childhood and adolescence. METHODS Pregnant C57BL/6 mice underwent a procedure for alcohol binge drinking during gestation and lactation periods. Subsequently, PLAE female offspring were fed with an HFD for 8 weeks, and thereafter, nutrition-related parameters as well as their response to cocaine were assessed. RESULTS In our model, feeding young females with an HFD increased their triglyceride blood levels but did not induce overweight compared with those fed with a standard diet. Moreover, PLAE affected how females responded to the fatty diet as they consumed less food than water-exposed offspring, consistent with a lower gain of body weight. HFD increased the psychostimulant effects of cocaine. Surprisingly, PLAE reduced the locomotor responses to cocaine without modifying cocaine-induced reward. Moreover, PLAE prevented the striatal overexpression of cannabinoid 1 receptors induced by an HFD and induced an alteration of myelin damage biomarker in the prefrontal cortex, an effect that was mitigated by an HFD-based feeding. CONCLUSION Therefore, in female offspring, some effects triggered by one of these factors, PLAE or an HFD, were blunted by the other, suggesting a close interaction between the involved mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Duart-Castells
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB) Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lídia Cantacorps
- Neurobiology of Behavior Research Group (GReNeC-NeuroBio), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl López-Arnau
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB) Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Montagud-Romero
- Neurobiology of Behavior Research Group (GReNeC-NeuroBio), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Brigitte Puster
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB) Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Mera
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dolors Serra
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Camarasa
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB) Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Pubill
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB) Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Correspondence: David Pubill, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27–31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain ()
| | - Olga Valverde
- Neurobiology of Behavior Research Group (GReNeC-NeuroBio), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain,Neuroscience Research Programme. IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Escubedo
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB) Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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20
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Weeks O, Bossé GD, Oderberg IM, Akle S, Houvras Y, Wrighton PJ, LaBella K, Iversen I, Tavakoli S, Adatto I, Schwartz A, Kloosterman D, Tsomides A, Charness ME, Peterson RT, Steinhauser ML, Fazeli PK, Goessling W. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder predisposes to metabolic abnormalities in adulthood. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:2252-2269. [PMID: 32202514 PMCID: PMC7190939 DOI: 10.1172/jci132139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) affects at least 10% of newborns globally and leads to the development of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Despite its high incidence, there is no consensus on the implications of PAE on metabolic disease risk in adults. Here, we describe a cohort of adults with FASDs that had an increased incidence of metabolic abnormalities, including type 2 diabetes, low HDL, high triglycerides, and female-specific overweight and obesity. Using a zebrafish model for PAE, we performed population studies to elucidate the metabolic disease seen in the clinical cohort. Embryonic alcohol exposure (EAE) in male zebrafish increased the propensity for diet-induced obesity and fasting hyperglycemia in adulthood. We identified several consequences of EAE that may contribute to these phenotypes, including a reduction in adult locomotor activity, alterations in visceral adipose tissue and hepatic development, and persistent diet-responsive transcriptional changes. Taken together, our findings define metabolic vulnerabilities due to EAE and provide evidence that behavioral changes and primary organ dysfunction contribute to resultant metabolic abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Weeks
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gabriel D. Bossé
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Isaac M. Oderberg
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sebastian Akle
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yariv Houvras
- Department of Surgery and
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Paul J. Wrighton
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kyle LaBella
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Isabelle Iversen
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sahar Tavakoli
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Isaac Adatto
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Arkadi Schwartz
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daan Kloosterman
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Allison Tsomides
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael E. Charness
- Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA
- Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Randall T. Peterson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Matthew L. Steinhauser
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pouneh K. Fazeli
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wolfram Goessling
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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21
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Nguyen VT, Tieng QM, Mardon K, Zhang C, Chong S, Galloway GJ, Kurniawan ND. Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Micro-Computed Tomography reveal brain morphological abnormalities in a mouse model of early moderate prenatal ethanol exposure. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2019; 77:106849. [PMID: 31838218 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2019.106849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated the effects of early moderate prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) on the brain in a mouse model that mimics a scenario in humans, whereby moderate daily drinking ceases after a woman becomes aware of her pregnancy. METHODS C57BL/6J pregnant mice were given 10% v/v ethanol from gestational day 0-8 in the drinking water. The male offspring were used for imaging. Anatomical and diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging were performed in vivo at postnatal day 28 (P28, adolescence) and P80 (adulthood). Micro-Computed Tomography was performed on fixed whole heads at P80. Tensor-based morphometry (TBM) was applied to detect alterations in brain structure and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for skull morphology. Diffusion tensor and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging models were used to detect microstructural changes. Neurofilament (NF) immunohistochemistry was used to validate findings by in vivo diffusion MRI. RESULTS TBM showed that PEE mice exhibited a significantly smaller third ventricle at P28 (family-wise error rate (FWE), p < 0.05). All other macro-structural alterations did not survive FWE corrections but when displayed with an uncorrected p < 0.005 showed multiple regional volume reductions and expansions, more prominently in the right hemisphere. PEE-induced gross volume changes included a bigger thalamus, hypothalamus and ventricles at P28, and bigger total brain volumes at both P28 and P80 (2-sample t-tests). Disproportionately smaller olfactory bulbs following PEE were revealed at both time-points. No alterations in diffusion parameters were detected, but PEE animals exhibited reduced NF positive staining in the thalamus and striatum and greater bone density in various skull regions. CONCLUSION Our results show that early moderate PEE can cause alterations in the brain that are detectable during development and adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T Nguyen
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Quang M Tieng
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karine Mardon
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; National Imaging Facility, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christine Zhang
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Suyinn Chong
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Graham J Galloway
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; National Imaging Facility, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nyoman D Kurniawan
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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22
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Chang RC, Thomas KN, Bedi YS, Golding MC. Programmed increases in LXRα induced by paternal alcohol use enhance offspring metabolic adaptation to high-fat diet induced obesity. Mol Metab 2019; 30:161-172. [PMID: 31767168 PMCID: PMC6807343 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2019.09.016] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Paternally inherited alterations in epigenetic programming are emerging as relevant factors in numerous disease states, including the growth and metabolic defects observed in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. In rodents, chronic paternal alcohol use induces fetal growth restriction, as well as sex-specific alterations in insulin signaling and lipid homeostasis in the offspring. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that the observed metabolic irregularities are the consequence of paternally inherited alterations liver x receptor (LXR) activity. Methods Male offspring of alcohol-exposed sires were challenged with a high-fat diet and the molecular pathways controlling glucose and lipid homeostasis assayed for LXR-induced alterations. Results Similar to findings in studies employing LXR agonists we found that the male offspring of alcohol-exposed sires display resistance to diet-induced obesity and improved glucose homeostasis when challenged with a high-fat diet. This improved metabolic adaptation is mediated by LXRα trans-repression of inflammatory cytokines, releasing IKKβ inhibition of the insulin signaling pathway. Interestingly, paternally programmed increases in LXRα expression are liver-specific and do not manifest in the pancreas or visceral fat. Conclusions These studies identify LXRα as a key mediator of the long-term metabolic alterations induced by preconception paternal alcohol use. Chronic paternal alcohol use induces up-regulation of LXRα in the male offspring. Male offspring of alcohol-exposed fathers are protected from diet-induced obesity. Paternally-inherited up-regulation of LXRα only manifests in the liver. Improved metabolic adaptation is linked to LXRα suppression of cytokine production. Male offspring exhibit the same phenotypes observed in studies of LXR agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard C Chang
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Kara N Thomas
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yudhishtar S Bedi
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Michael C Golding
- Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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Mohammadi MR, Mostafavi SA, Hooshyari Z, Khaleghi A, Ahmadi N. Body Mass Index Status across Different Psychiatric Disorders in a National Survey amongst Children and Adolescents: To Identify the Role of Gender. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2019; 14:253-264. [PMID: 32071598 PMCID: PMC7007508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Body mass index undergoes a substantial change in some psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to explore the status of body mass index (BMI) in different psychiatric disorders in a national survey among children and adolescents and to identify the role of gender in this regard. Method : A total of 30 532 children and adolescents were randomly selected using cluster sampling method with equal blocks of three age groups and two genders. Psychiatric disorders were assessed using a standardized face-to-face diagnostic interview of Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (KSADS-PL), and Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured for each participant. Results: In this study, 22 730 children and adolescents (109 46 boys and 11784 girls), with valid data of BMI, completed the KSADS-PL interview. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 21.2% among underweight participants, 22.8% among overweight participants, and 22.2% among obese participants, which was significantly higher than normal weight participants with 19.6% (X2 = 17.55; p = 0.001). In boys' subgroup, depression and separation anxiety were mostly seen among the underweight category, while tic disorder was mostly seen in the obese category. In girls' subgroup, on the other hand, generalized anxiety was mostly observed in the underweight category, while oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), depression, and mental retardation were mostly observed in the obese category. In total, the highest mean BMI rates were among the children and adolescents with alcohol abuse disorder, mania, and panic disorder. However, the lowest BMI rates were among those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), and enuresis. Conclusion: This study gives an overall picture of BMI status in different psychiatric disorders according to gender. Furthermore, in a multidisciplinary approach, the results of this study drew the attention of child psychiatrists to the status of BMI in their clients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Mohammadi
- Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed-Ali Mostafavi
- Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Corresponding Author: Address: Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran, Postal Code: 13333795914. Tel: +98-2155413540, Fax: +98-2155421959,
| | - Zahra Hooshyari
- Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Khaleghi
- Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nastaran Ahmadi
- Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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24
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Akison LK, Reid N, Wyllie M, Moritz KM. Adverse Health Outcomes in Offspring Associated With Fetal Alcohol Exposure: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies With a Focus on Metabolic and Body Composition Outcomes. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:1324-1343. [DOI: 10.1111/acer.14078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K. Akison
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD Australia
- Child Health Research Centre The University of Queensland South Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Natasha Reid
- Child Health Research Centre The University of Queensland South Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Melissa Wyllie
- Child Health Research Centre The University of Queensland South Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Karen M. Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD Australia
- Child Health Research Centre The University of Queensland South Brisbane QLD Australia
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25
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Zhang CR, Kurniawan ND, Yamada L, Fleming W, Kaminen-Ahola N, Ahola A, Galloway G, Chong S. Early gestational ethanol exposure in mice: Effects on brain structure, energy metabolism and adiposity in adult offspring. Alcohol 2019; 75:1-10. [PMID: 30316966 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
We examined whether an early-life event - ethanol exposure in the initial stages of pregnancy - affected offspring brain structure, energy metabolism, and body composition in later life. Consumption of 10% (v/v) ethanol by inbred C57BL/6J female mice from 0.5 to 8.5 days post coitum was used to model alcohol exposure during the first 3-4 weeks of gestation in humans, when pregnancy is not typically recognized. At adolescence (postnatal day [P] 28) and adulthood (P64), the brains of male offspring were scanned ex vivo using ultra-high field (16.4 T) magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging. Energy metabolism and body composition were measured in adulthood by indirect calorimetry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), respectively. Ethanol exposure had no substantial impact on white matter organization in the anterior commissure, corpus callosum, hippocampal commissure, internal capsule, optic tract, or thalamus. Whole brain volume and the volumes of the neocortex, cerebellum, and caudate putamen were also unaffected. Subtle, but non-significant, effects were observed on the hippocampus and the hypothalamus in adult ethanol-exposed male offspring. Ethanol exposure was additionally associated with a trend toward decreased oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and reduced daily energy expenditure, as well as significantly increased adiposity, albeit with normal body weight and food intake, in adult male offspring. In summary, ethanol exposure restricted to early gestation had subtle long-term effects on the structure of specific brain regions in male offspring. The sensitivity of the hippocampus to ethanol-induced damage is reminiscent of that reported by other studies - despite differences in the level, timing, and duration of exposure - and likely contributes to the cognitive impairment that characteristically results from prenatal ethanol exposure. The hypothalamus plays an important role in regulating metabolism and energy homeostasis. Our finding of altered daily energy expenditure and adiposity in adult ethanol-exposed males is consistent with the idea that central nervous system abnormalities also underpin some of the metabolic phenotypes associated with ethanol exposure in pregnancy.
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26
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Shelton D, Reid N, Till H, Butel F, Moritz K. Responding to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Australia. J Paediatr Child Health 2018; 54:1121-1126. [PMID: 30294984 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.14152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a significant public health issue in Australia that is poorly diagnosed, chronic and costly. FASD is a diffuse acquired brain injury secondary to prenatal alcohol exposure. The prevalence rate of FASD among the general population in Australia is currently unknown; however, an Australian study in a selected high-risk population reported some of the highest rates of FASD in the world. A common misconception among clinicians is that a child must have 'the face' of FASD to have the disorder. This is incorrect. The three sentinel facial features only occur in the minority of individuals with FASD. FASD should be considered as a 'whole body' disorder as increased susceptibility to chronic health problems suggests suboptimal in utero environments places the individual at risk of later disease. Clinicians are reluctant to consider FASD as a possible diagnosis because of the concern of inducing stigma; however, this concern is neither supported by the evidence nor patient stories. The Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD is now available to assist health professionals in providing timely and accurate diagnoses, which can lead to improved outcomes via evidence-based intervention and is an important first step in future prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug Shelton
- Community Child Health, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.,Neurodevelopmental and Behavioural Paediatric Society of Australasia (https://nbpsa.org/)
| | - Natasha Reid
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haydn Till
- Community Child Health, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Francoise Butel
- Community Child Health, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen Moritz
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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27
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Ortega-García JA, Kloosterman N, Alvarez L, Tobarra-Sánchez E, Cárceles-Álvarez A, Pastor-Valero R, López-Hernández FA, Sánchez-Solis M, Claudio L. Full Breastfeeding and Obesity in Children: A Prospective Study from Birth to 6 Years. Child Obes 2018; 14:327-337. [PMID: 29912590 PMCID: PMC6066191 DOI: 10.1089/chi.2017.0335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a major public health crisis among both children and adults and contributes to significant physical, psychological, and economic burden. We aim to investigate the effect of duration of breastfeeding on excessive weight and obesity at 6 years of age. SUBJECTS/METHODS Data on breastfeeding and child anthropometric measurements were collected in a birth-cohort study in Murcia, Spain (n = 350). Breastfeeding status and body mass index (BMI) were established according to WHO definitions. Other factors potentially related to children's weight were considered. Multiple log-linear and ordinal regressions were used to analyze the effects of breastfeeding on overweight and obesity when considering potential confounders. RESULTS 33% and 17.3% of children in the study were of excess weight and obesity, respectively. Univariate predictors of BMI in children aged 6 were as follows: pregestational maternal BMI (kg/m2) (R2 = 0.127, p < 0.01); full breastfeeding (weeks) R2 = -0.035, p < 0.01); infant weight gain (kg) (R2 = 0.348, p < 0.01); and maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy (g/day) (R2 = 0.266, p < 0.01) at age 6. In the ordinal logistic regression, full breastfeeding was associated with a significant decrease in obesity -0.052 (95% CI, -0.10 to -0.003). CONCLUSIONS The delay of bottle feeding introduction may have a protective effect against obesity at 6 years of age. Our findings reinforce the need for greater support of breastfeeding and to promote a healthy environment and antipoverty interventions during pregnancy and infancy, alongside other strategies for obesity prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Ortega-García
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Nicole Kloosterman
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Lizbeth Alvarez
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Esther Tobarra-Sánchez
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Alberto Cárceles-Álvarez
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Rebeca Pastor-Valero
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Manuel Sánchez-Solis
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Luz Claudio
- Division of International Health, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
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Amos-Kroohs RM, Nelson DW, Hacker TA, Yen CLE, Smith SM. Does prenatal alcohol exposure cause a metabolic syndrome? (Non-)evidence from a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199213. [PMID: 29953483 PMCID: PMC6023152 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Although prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) reduces offspring growth, it may increase obesity risk at adolescence. Animal models of PAE display glucose intolerance and increased adiposity, suggesting that PAE causes metabolic reprogramming. We tested this hypothesis in a mouse model of binge PAE, wherein pregnant C57Bl/6J females received 3 g/kg alcohol (ETOH) daily from gestational day 12.5 to 17.5; maltodextrin (MD) and medium chain triglycerides (MCT) served as isocaloric nutritional controls, and sham (H2O) treatment controlled for gavage stress. Our comprehensive assessment quantified body composition, energy expenditure, glucose tolerance, and cardiovascular function in offspring at age 17 weeks. Although ETOH pups were initially lighter than all other groups, they did not have a unique obesogenic phenotype. Instead, a similar obesogenic phenotype emerged in all three caloric groups (MCT, MD, ETOH), such that caloric groups had greater post-weaning weight gain (both sexes), reduced gonadal fat weight (males), and reduced glucose clearance (males) compared against H2O offspring. PAE did not affect body composition, respiratory exchange ratio, metabolic adaption to high-fat or low-fat diet, eating behavior, and blood pressure, and ETOH values did not differ from those obtained from isocaloric controls. Exposure to a higher alcohol dose (4.5 g/kg) or a high-fat (60%) diet did not exacerbate differences in body composition or glucose tolerance. “PAE-specific” effects on postnatal growth, glucose tolerance, adiposity, or hypertension only emerged when PAE offspring were compared just against H2O controls, or against MD controls. We conclude that prior reports of obesity and glucose intolerance in adult PAE offspring reflect the contribution of added gestational calories, and not alcohol’s pharmacologic action. Results suggest that the increased adiposity risk in FASD is not caused by metabolic reprogramming, and instead originates from behavioral, medication, and/or dietary practices. This study highlights the importance of appropriate dietary controls in nutritional studies of PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn M. Amos-Kroohs
- UNC Nutritional Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - David W. Nelson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Timothy A. Hacker
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Chi-Liang Eric Yen
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Susan M. Smith
- UNC Nutritional Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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29
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Bake S, Gardner R, Tingling JD, Miranda RC, Sohrabji F. Fetal Alcohol Exposure Alters Blood Flow and Neurological Responses to Transient Cerebral Ischemia in Adult Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 41:117-127. [PMID: 27987329 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can result in physical and neurocognitive deficits that are collectively termed "fetal alcohol spectrum disorders" (FASD). Although FASD is associated with lifelong intellectual disability, the mechanisms mediating the emergence of secondary mental health and physical disabilities are poorly understood. Based on our previous data showing that maternal ethanol (EtOH) exposure in mice resulted in an immediate reduction in cranially directed fetal blood flow, we hypothesized that such exposure would also result in persistent alterations in cranially directed blood flow in the prenatally alcohol-exposed (PAE) adult. We also hypothesized that PAE adults exposed to an acute cerebrovascular insult would exhibit more brain damage and neurobehavioral impairment compared to non-PAE adult controls. METHODS Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were exposed to EtOH, 3 g/kg, or water by intragastric gavage. Blood flow in carotid, renal, and femoral arteries was assessed by ultrasound imaging in PAE and control adults at 3, 6, and 12 months of age. To mimic ischemic stroke in young adult populations, 3-month-old PAE and control animals were subject to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and subsequently assessed for behavioral recovery, stroke infarct volume, and brain cytokine profiles. RESULTS PAE resulted in a significant age-related decrease in blood acceleration in adult mice, specifically in the carotid artery. A unilateral transient MCAo resulted in equivalent cortico-striatal damage in both PAE and control adults. However, PAE adult mice exhibited significantly decreased poststroke behavioral recovery compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Our data collectively show that PAE adult mice exhibit a persistent, long-term loss of cranially directed blood flow, and decreased capacity to compensate for brain trauma due to acute-onset adult diseases like ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shameena Bake
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas
| | - Rachel Gardner
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas
| | - Joseph D Tingling
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas
| | - Rajesh C Miranda
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas
| | - Farida Sohrabji
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas
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30
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Lunde ER, Washburn SE, Golding MC, Bake S, Miranda RC, Ramadoss J. Alcohol-Induced Developmental Origins of Adult-Onset Diseases. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 40:1403-14. [PMID: 27254466 PMCID: PMC5067080 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol exposure may impair growth, development, and function of multiple organ systems and is encompassed by the term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Research has so far focused on the mechanisms, prevention, and diagnosis of FASD, while the risk for adult-onset chronic diseases in individuals exposed to alcohol in utero is not well explored. David Barker's hypothesis on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) suggests that insults to the milieu of the developing fetus program it for adult development of chronic diseases. In the 25 years since the introduction of this hypothesis, epidemiological and animal model studies have made significant advancements in identifying in utero developmental origins of chronic adult-onset diseases affecting cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and psychobehavioral systems. Teratogen exposure is an established programming agent for adult diseases, and recent studies suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure correlates with adult onset of neurobehavioral deficits, cardiovascular disease, endocrine dysfunction, and nutrient homeostasis instability, warranting additional investigation of alcohol-induced DOHaD, as well as patient follow-up well into adulthood for affected individuals. In utero epigenetic alterations during critical periods of methylation are a key potential mechanism for programming and susceptibility of adult-onset chronic diseases, with imprinted genes affecting metabolism being critical targets. Additional studies in epidemiology, phenotypic characterization in response to timing, dose, and duration of exposure, as well as elucidation of mechanisms underlying FASD-DOHaD inter relation, are thus needed to clinically define chronic disease associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. These studies are critical to establish interventional strategies that decrease incidence of these adult-onset diseases and promote healthier aging among individuals affected with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie R. Lunde
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Shannon E. Washburn
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Michael C. Golding
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Shameena Bake
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Rajesh C. Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Jayanth Ramadoss
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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31
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Toxic-metabolic Risk Factors in Pediatric Pancreatitis: Recommendations for Diagnosis, Management, and Future Research. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2016; 62:609-17. [PMID: 26594832 PMCID: PMC4805437 DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000001035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatitis in children can result from metabolic and toxic risk factors, but the evidence linking these factors is sparse. We review the evidence for association or causality of these risk factors in pancreatitis, discuss management strategies, and their rationale. We conducted a review of the pediatric pancreatitis literature with respect to the following risk factors: hyperlipidemia, hypercalcemia, chronic renal failure, smoking exposure, alcohol, and medications. Areas of additional research were identified. Hypertriglyceridemia of 1000 mg/dL or greater poses an absolute risk for pancreatitis; persistent elevations of calcium are predisposing. Further research is necessary to determine whether end-stage renal disease leads to increased pancreatitis in children similar to adults. It is unknown whether cigarette smoking exposure, which clearly increases risk in adults, also increases risk in children. The role of alcohol in pediatric pancreatitis, whether direct or modifying, needs to be elucidated. The evidence supporting most cases of medication-induced pancreatitis is poor. Drug structure, improper handling of drug by host, and bystander status may be implicated. Other pancreatitis risk factors must be sought in all cases. The quality of evidence supporting causative role of various toxic and metabolic factors in pediatric pancreatitis is variable. Careful phenotyping is essential, including search for other etiologic risk factors. Directed therapy includes correction/removal of any agent identified, and general supportive measures. Further research is necessary to improve our understanding of these pancreatitis risk factors in children.
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32
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Abnormal Eating Behaviors Are Common in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. J Pediatr 2016; 169:194-200.e1. [PMID: 26608087 PMCID: PMC4729627 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the eating behaviors and nutrition-related concerns in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) with those in typically developing children. STUDY DESIGN A survey that assessed eating behaviors was completed between October 2013 and May 2014 by the caregivers of children screened for FASD at the University of Minnesota's Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Program, and typically developing children recruited from that clinic or from the Research Participation Core of the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin. RESULTS Compared with controls (N = 81), children with FASD (N = 74) had delayed acquisition of self-feeding behavior (P < .001) and solid food introduction (P < .001). Impaired satiety was common and independent of medication use: 23.0% were never full/satisfied, 31.1% snacked constantly, and 27.0% concealed food (all P ≤ .002). They consumed the equivalent of an additional meal/snack daily (P < .01). Children with FASD were more likely to have a past diagnosis of underweight (P < .001). Mean body mass index was significantly reduced for males (P = .009) but not females (P = .775) with FASD, and only 2 children with FASD were currently underweight. Children with FASD were more physically active (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Abnormal eating patterns are common in children with FASD and may contribute to their delayed growth and nutritional inadequacies. Their poor satiety may reflect poor impulse control. Children with FASD may benefit from diet counseling. Conversely, some children with hyperphagia may warrant referral for FASD screening.
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Xue J, Ideraabdullah FY. An assessment of molecular pathways of obesity susceptible to nutrient, toxicant and genetically induced epigenetic perturbation. J Nutr Biochem 2015; 30:1-13. [PMID: 27012616 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2015] [Revised: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the etiology of human disease has greatly improved with the inclusion of epigenetic mechanisms, in particular as a common link between environment and disease. However, for most diseases we lack a detailed interpretation of the epigenetic regulatory pathways perturbed by environment and causal mechanisms. Here, we focus on recent findings elucidating nutrient-related epigenetic changes linked to obesity. We highlight studies demonstrating that obesity is a complex disease linked to disruption of epigenetically regulated metabolic pathways in the brain, adipose tissue and liver. These pathways regulate (1) homeostatic and hedonic eating behaviors, (2) adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation, and (3) energy expenditure. By compiling these data, we illustrate that obesity-related phenotypes are repeatedly linked to disruption of critical epigenetic mechanisms that regulate key metabolic genes. These data are supported by genetic mutation of key epigenetic regulators, and many of the diet-induced epigenetic mechanisms of obesity are also perturbed by exposure to environmental toxicants. Identifying similarly perturbed epigenetic mechanisms in multiple experimental models of obesity strengthens the translational applications of these findings. We also discuss many of the ongoing challenges to understanding the role of environmentally induced epigenetic pathways in obesity and suggest future studies to elucidate these roles. This assessment illustrates our current understanding of molecular pathways of obesity that are susceptible to environmental perturbation via epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, it lays the groundwork for dissecting the complex interactions between diet, genes and toxicants that contribute to obesity and obesity-related phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xue
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Folami Y Ideraabdullah
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 120 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Department of Nutrition, 120 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
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34
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Paolozza A, Munn R, Munoz DP, Reynolds JN. Eye movements reveal sexually dimorphic deficits in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:76. [PMID: 25814922 PMCID: PMC4356081 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We examined the accuracy and characteristics of saccadic eye movements in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) compared with typically developing control children. Previous studies have found that children with FASD produce saccades that are quantifiably different from controls. Additionally, animal studies have found sex-based differences for behavioral effects after prenatal alcohol exposure. Therefore, we hypothesized that eye movement measures will show sexually dimorphic results. Methods: Children (aged 5–18 years) with FASD (n = 71) and typically developing controls (n = 113) performed a visually-guided saccade task. Saccade metrics and behavior were analyzed for sex and group differences. Results: Female control participants had greater amplitude saccades than control males or females with FASD. Accuracy was significantly poorer in the FASD group, especially in males, which introduced significantly greater variability in the data. Therefore, we conducted additional analyses including only those trials in which the first saccade successfully reached the target within a ± 1° window. In this restricted amplitude dataset, the females with FASD made saccades with significantly lower velocity and longer duration, whereas the males with FASD did not differ from the control group. Additionally, the mean and peak deceleration were selectively decreased in the females with FASD. Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that children with FASD exhibit specific deficits in eye movement control and sensory-motor integration associated with cerebellar and/or brain stem circuits. Moreover, prenatal alcohol exposure may have a sexually dimorphic impact on eye movement metrics, with males and females exhibiting differential patterns of deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Paolozza
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Rebecca Munn
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Douglas P Munoz
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University Kingston, ON, Canada ; Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - James N Reynolds
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University Kingston, ON, Canada ; Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University Kingston, ON, Canada
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Prenatal alcohol exposure and adolescent stress increase sensitivity to stress and gonadal hormone influences on cognition in adult female rats. Physiol Behav 2015; 148:157-65. [PMID: 25707383 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.02.033] [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: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal activity of stress hormone (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal [HPA]), and gonadal hormone (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal [HPG]) systems is reported following prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). PAE increases vulnerability of brain regions involved in regulation of these systems to stressors or challenges during sensitive periods of development, such as adolescence. In addition, HPA and HPG functions are linked to higher order functions such as executive function (EF), with dysregulation of either system adversely affecting EF processes, including attention and response inhibition, that influence cognition. However, how HPA and HPG systems interact to influence cognitive performance in individuals with an FASD is not fully understood. To investigate, we used a rat model of moderate PAE. Adolescent female PAE and control offspring were exposed to 10days of chronic mild stress (CMS) and cognitive function was assessed on the radial arm maze (RAM) in adulthood. On the final test day, animals were sacrificed, with blood collected for hormone analyses, and vaginal smears taken to assess estrus stage at the time of termination. Analyses showed that adolescent CMS significantly increased levels of CORT and RAM errors during proestrus in adult PAE but not control females. Moreover, CORT levels were correlated with estradiol levels and with RAM errors, but only in PAE females, with outcome dependent on adolescent CMS condition. These results suggest that PAE increases sensitivity to the influences of stress and gonadal hormones on cognition, and thus, in turn, that HPA and HPG dysregulation may underlie some of the deficits in executive function described previously in PAE females.
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