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Jurczyk M, Król M, Midro A, Dyląg K, Kurnik-Łucka M, Skowron K, Gil K. The Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on the Autonomic Nervous System and Cardiovascular System in Rats in a Sex-Specific Manner. Pediatr Rep 2024; 16:278-287. [PMID: 38651463 PMCID: PMC11036276 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric16020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a consequence of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) associated with a range of effects, including dysmorphic features, prenatal and/or postnatal growth problems, and neurodevelopmental difficulties. Despite advances in treatment methods, there are still gaps in knowledge that highlight the need for further research. The study investigates the effect of PAE on the autonomic system, including sex differences that may aid in early FASD diagnosis, which is essential for effective interventions. METHODS During gestational days 5 to 20, five pregnant female Wistar rats were orally administered either glucose or ethanol. After 22 days, 26 offspring were born and kept with their mothers for 21 days before being isolated. Electrocardiographic recordings were taken on the 29th and 64th day. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were collected, including heart rate (HR), standard deviation (SD), standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), and the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD). Additionally, a biochemical analysis of basic serum parameters was performed on day 68 of the study. RESULTS The study found that PAE had a significant impact on HRV. While electrolyte homeostasis remained mostly unaffected, sex differences were observed across various parameters in both control and PAE groups, highlighting the sex-specific effects of PAE. Specifically, the PAE group had lower mean heart rates, particularly among females, and higher SDNN and RMSSD values. Additionally, there was a shift towards parasympathetic activity and a reduction in heart rate entropy in the PAE group. Biochemical changes induced by PAE were also observed, including elevated levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), especially in males, increased creatinine concentration in females, and alterations in lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS PAE negatively affects the development of the autonomic nervous system, resulting in decreased heart rate and altered sympathetic activity. PAE also induces cardiovascular abnormalities with sex-specific effects, highlighting a relationship between PAE consequences and sex. Elevated liver enzymes in the PAE group may indicate direct toxic effects, while increased creatinine levels, particularly in females, may suggest an influence on nephrogenesis and vascular function. The reduced potassium content may be linked to hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis overactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Jurczyk
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Król
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Midro
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Dyląg
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland
- St. Louis Children Hospital, Strzelecka 2, 31-503 Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kurnik-Łucka
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland
| | - Kamil Skowron
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Gil
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland
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Bake S, Rouzer SK, Mavuri S, Miranda RC, Mahnke AH. The interaction of genetic sex and prenatal alcohol exposure on health across the lifespan. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 71:101103. [PMID: 37802472 PMCID: PMC10922031 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101103] [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: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can reprogram the development of cells and tissues, resulting in a spectrum of physical and neurobehavioral teratology. PAE immediately impacts fetal growth, but its effects carry forward post-parturition, into adolescence and adulthood, and can result in a cluster of disabilities, collectively termed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Emerging preclinical and clinical research investigating neurological and behavioral outcomes in exposed offspring point to genetic sex as an important modifier of the effects of PAE. In this review, we discuss the literature on sex differences following PAE, with studies spanning the fetal period through adulthood, and highlight gaps in research where sex differences are likely, but currently under-investigated. Understanding how sex and PAE interact to affect offspring health outcomes across the lifespan is critical for identifying the full complement of PAE-associated secondary conditions, and for refining targeted interventions to improve the quality of life for individuals with PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shameena Bake
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States
| | - Siara K Rouzer
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States
| | - Shruti Mavuri
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States
| | - Rajesh C Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States
| | - Amanda H Mahnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States.
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Hartel TC, Oelofse A, De Smidt JJA. Vascular Effects, Potential Pathways and Mediators of Fetal Exposure to Alcohol and Cigarette Smoking during Pregnancy: A Narrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6398. [PMID: 37510630 PMCID: PMC10378932 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Programming of atherosclerosis results in vascular structure and function alterations, which may be attributed to fetal exposure to maternal tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and several lifestyle factors in the first few years of life. This review aims to study the effects of teratogen exposure in utero on vascular dysfunction in offspring and consider mediators and pathways originating from the fetal environment. (2) Methods: Eligible studies were identified in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. After the full-text screening, 20 articles were included in the narrative synthesis. (3) Results: The literature presents evidence supporting the detrimental effects of fetal exposure to tobacco smoking on vascular alterations in both human and animal studies. Alcohol exposure impaired endothelial dilation in animal studies, but human studies on both tobacco and alcohol exposure are still sparse. Reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and alterations in the epigenome in infants through the upregulation of pro-oxidative and proinflammatory genes may be the common denominators. (4) Conclusion: While maternal smoking and alcohol consumption have more negative outcomes on the infant in the short term, several factors during the first few years of life may mediate the development of vascular dysfunction. Therefore, more prospective studies are needed to ascertain the long-term effects of teratogen exposure, specifically in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy C Hartel
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, Cape Town 7530, South Africa
| | - André Oelofse
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, Cape Town 7530, South Africa
| | - Juléy J A De Smidt
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, Cape Town 7530, South Africa
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Sexual Dimorphism in the Expression of Cardiac and Hippocampal Renin-Angiotensin and Kallikrein–Kinin Systems in Offspring from Mice Exposed to Alcohol during Gestation. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12030541. [PMID: 36978790 PMCID: PMC10045732 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) impairs fetal development. Alcohol consumption was shown to modulate the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). This study aimed to analyze the effects of PAE on the expression of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) and kallikrein–kinin system (KKS) peptide systems in the hippocampus and heart of mice of both sexes. C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to alcohol during pregnancy at a concentration of 10% (v/v). On postnatal day 45 (PN45), mouse hippocampi and left ventricles (LV) were collected and processed for messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of components of the RAS and KKS. In PAE animals, more pronounced expression of AT1 and ACE mRNAs in males and a restored AT2 mRNA expression in females were observed in both tissues. In LV, increased AT2, ACE2, and B2 mRNA expressions were also observed in PAE females. Furthermore, high levels of H2O2 were observed in males from the PAE group in both tissues. Taken together, our results suggest that modulation of the expression of these peptidergic systems in PAE females may make them less susceptible to the effects of alcohol.
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Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on the Development and Myocardium of Adult Mice: Morphometric Changes, Transcriptional Modulation of Genes Related to Cardiac Dysfunction, and Antioxidant Cardioprotection. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020256. [PMID: 36829814 PMCID: PMC9952294 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) varies considerably between individuals, leading to morphological and genetic changes. However, minor changes usually go undetected in PAE children. We investigated PAE's effects on gene transcription of genes related to cardiac dysfunction signaling in mouse myocardium and morphological changes. C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to a 10% PAE protocol. In postnatal days 2 and 60 (PN2 and PN60), morphometric measurements in the offspring were performed. Ventricular samples of the heart were collected in PN60 from male offspring for quantification of mRNA expression of 47 genes of nine myocardial signal transduction pathways related to cardiovascular dysfunction. Animals from the PAE group presented low birth weight than the Control group, but the differences were abolished in adult mice. In contrast, the mice's size was similar in PN2; however, PAE mice were oversized at PN60 compared with the Control group. Cardiac and ventricular indexes were increased in PAE mice. PAE modulated the mRNA expression of 43 genes, especially increasing the expressions of genes essential for maladaptive tissue remodeling. PAE animals presented increased antioxidant enzyme activities in the myocardium. In summary, PAE animals presented morphometric changes, transcription of cardiac dysfunction-related genes, and increased antioxidant protection in the myocardium.
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Kable JA, Mehta PK, Rashid F, Coles CD. Path analysis of the impact of prenatal alcohol on adult vascular function. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:116-126. [PMID: 36330744 PMCID: PMC9974564 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14970] [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: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vascular system may be particularly vulnerable to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Alterations in angiogenesis and epigenetic changes to vascular development have been implicated as a probable mechanism for this vulnerability. METHODS We assessed the long-term impact of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on adult vascular health using a prospective cohort first identified while in utero. Participants with no PAE (n = 37, mean age = 36.7 [SD = 1.6] years) were compared to participants with PAE (n = 51, mean age = 36.3 [SD = 1.7] years). Their vascular health was assessed by arterial blood pressure (BP) and peripheral arterial tonometry, which yields an index of endothelial function (reactive hyperemia index) and a measure of arterial stiffness (augmentation index). Blood samples were collected to assess cholesterol levels and insulin resistance (glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and insulin). Path analysis was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of PAE on vascular health after adjusting for other known physical outcomes. RESULTS Participants with a history of PAE weighed less, trended towards being shorter, had smaller body mass, and had more alcohol-related dysmorphic features than those without PAE. Path analysis suggested that the impact of PAE on BP was through its indirect relationships with height, body mass index, and dysmorphic features and resulted in protective effects relative to the Contrast group who were disproportionately overweight. PAE was also found to have a direct negative effect on endothelial function. An index of total alcohol-related dysmorphic features was negatively had both a direct effect on arterial stiffness and an indirect effect on endothelial function. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal alcohol exposures' impact on vascular function is not independent of other common physical and environmental factors but endothelial function and arterial stiffness seemed most compromised after controlling for these other factors. Level of alcohol-related dysmorphic features seems to be predictive of more adverse effects than endothelial function and vascular stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Kable
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Puja K Mehta
- Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Fauzia Rashid
- Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Claire D Coles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Alcohol as an early life stressor: Epigenetics, metabolic, neuroendocrine and neurobehavioral implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 118:654-668. [PMID: 32976915 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol exposure during gestation is an early life stressor that profoundly dysregulates structure and functions of the embryonal nervous system, altering the cognitive and behavioral development. Such dysregulation is also achieved by epigenetic mechanisms, which, altering the chromatin structure, redraw the entire pattern of gene expression. In parallel, an oxidative stress response at the cellular level and a global upregulation of neuroendocrine stress response, regulated by the HPA axis, exist and persist in adulthood. This neurobehavioral framework matches those observed in other psychiatric diseases such as mood diseases, depression, autism; those early life stressing events, although probably triggered by specific and different epigenetic mechanisms, give rise to largely overlapping neurobehavioral phenotypes. An early diagnosis of prenatal alcohol exposure, using reliable markers of ethanol intake, together with a deeper understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms, some of them reversible by their nature, can offer a temporal "window" of intervention. Supplementing a mother's diet with protective and antioxidant substances in addition to supportive psychological therapies can protect newborns from being affected.
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Prenatal alcohol exposure affects renal function in overweight schoolchildren: birth cohort analysis. Pediatr Nephrol 2020; 35:695-702. [PMID: 31820144 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-019-04429-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal ethanol exposure has been shown to reduce nephron endowment in animal models, but the effect of alcohol during human pregnancy on postnatal kidney function has not been explored. We aim to investigate the potential association of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy with the offspring renal function, considering potential confounding by intrauterine growth and children's current nutritional status. METHODS Prospective longitudinal study in a random sample of 1093 children from a population-based birth cohort. Anthropometrics and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed at 7 years of age. Multiple linear regression models were fitted, adjusting for child's gender, age, birthweight, and maternal age, education, prepregnancy nutritional status, and smoking. RESULTS Thirteen percent of mothers consumed alcohol during pregnancy. At 7 years of age, eGFR was significantly lower in children with prenatal alcohol exposure (134 ± 17 vs.138 ± 16 mL/min/1.73m2, p = 0.014). The effect was dose dependent and only present in overweight and obese children, among whom adjusted eGFR was -6.6(-12.0 to -1.1)mL/min/1.73m2 and -11.1(-21.3 to -1.2)mL/min/1.73m2 in those exposed to ≤ 40 g and to > 40 g of alcohol per week, respectively, compared to no consumption (ptrend = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Prenatal alcohol exposure has a dose-dependent adverse effect on renal function at school age in overweight and obese children.
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Bodnar TS, Raineki C, Wertelecki W, Yevtushok L, Plotka L, Granovska I, Zymak-Zakutnya N, Pashtepa A, Wells A, Honerkamp-Smith G, Coles CD, Kable JA, Chambers CD, Weinberg J. Immune network dysregulation associated with child neurodevelopmental delay: modulatory role of prenatal alcohol exposure. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:39. [PMID: 31992316 PMCID: PMC6988366 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-1717-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence suggests that cytokine imbalances may be at the root of deficits that occur in numerous neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Notably, while clinical studies have demonstrated maternal cytokine imbalances with alcohol consumption during pregnancy—and data from animal models have identified immune disturbances in alcohol-exposed offspring—to date, immune alterations in alcohol-exposed children have not been explored. Thus, here we hypothesized that perturbations in the immune environment as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure will program the developing immune system, and result in immune dysfunction into childhood. Due to the important role of cytokines in brain development/function, we further hypothesized that child immune profiles might be associated with their neurodevelopmental status. Methods As part of a longitudinal study in Ukraine, children of mothers reporting low/no alcohol consumption or moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy were enrolled in the study and received neurodevelopmental assessments. Group stratification was based on maternal alcohol consumption and child neurodevelopmental status resulting in the following groups: A/TD, alcohol-consuming mother, typically developing child; A/ND, alcohol-consuming mother, neurodevelopmental delay in the child; C/TD, control mother (low/no alcohol consumption), typically development child; and C/ND, control mother, neurodevelopmental delay in the child. Forty cytokines/chemokines were measured in plasma and data were analyzed using regression and constrained principle component analysis. Results Analyses revealed differential cytokine network activity associated with both prenatal alcohol exposure and neurodevelopmental status. Specifically, alcohol-exposed children showed activation of a cytokine network including eotaxin-3, eotaxin, and bFGF, irrespective of neurodevelopmental status. However, another cytokine network was differentially activated based on neurodevelopmental outcome: A/TD showed activation of MIP-1β, MDC, and MCP-4, and inhibition of CRP and PlGF, with opposing pattern of activation/inhibition detected in the A/ND group. By contrast, in the absence of alcohol-exposure, activation of a network including IL-2, TNF-β, IL-10, and IL-15 was associated with neurodevelopmental delay. Conclusions Taken together, this comprehensive assessment of immune markers allowed for the identification of unique immune milieus that are associated with alcohol exposure as well as both alcohol-related and alcohol-independent neurodevelopmental delay. These findings are a critical step towards establishing unique immune biomarkers for alcohol-related and alcohol-independent neurodevelopmental delay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara S Bodnar
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 3307 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Charlis Raineki
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 3307 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Lyubov Yevtushok
- OMNI-Net for Children International Charitable Fund, Rivne Oblast Medical Diagnostic Center, Rivne, Ukraine
| | - Larisa Plotka
- OMNI-Net for Children International Charitable Fund, Rivne Oblast Medical Diagnostic Center, Rivne, Ukraine
| | - Irina Granovska
- OMNI-Net for Children International Charitable Fund, Rivne Oblast Medical Diagnostic Center, Rivne, Ukraine
| | - Natalya Zymak-Zakutnya
- OMNI-Net for Children International Charitable Fund, Khmelnytsky Perinatal Center, Khmelnytsky, Ukraine
| | - Alla Pashtepa
- OMNI-Net for Children International Charitable Fund, Khmelnytsky Perinatal Center, Khmelnytsky, Ukraine
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | | | - Claire D Coles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - Julie A Kable
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - Christina D Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA.,Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 3307 - 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Arnold C, Ullrich C, Wensing M, Pfinder M. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Associated Risk of Elevated Blood Pressure: A Cross-sectional Analysis of 3- to 17-Year-Olds in Germany. Am J Hypertens 2019; 32:1118-1125. [PMID: 31269195 DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpz107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the prevalence of obesity and high blood pressure increases among the population, early action is needed to reduce blood pressure. Certain lifestyles during pregnancy have negative effects resulting in high blood pressure for children and adolescents. Using data from the "German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents" (KiGGS), this study analyzed: (i) the association between low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and the risk of increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and (ii) whether associations were modified by socioeconomic status (SES), prenatal smoke exposure (PSE), and body mass index (BMI) of the children and adolescents. METHODS We applied multivariate logistic regression analyses and stratified analyses by SES, PSE, and BMI with cross-sectional data from the KiGGS study (N = 14,253) to examine the association between PAE and prehypertension or hypertension in 3- to 17-year-olds. RESULTS Of the surveyed children and adolescents, 13.7% had a systolic prehypertension and 11.5% had a diastolic prehypertension. A further 7.5% were identified as having systolic hypertension and 6.0% diastolic hypertension. In the regression analyses, PAE resulted in a decreased risk of systolic prehypertension (odds ratio [OR]: 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70, 0.99) and diastolic prehypertension (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.98). Risk reductions were not significant in surveyed children and adolescents with hypertension. Interactions between PAE and SES, PSE, and offspring BMI were not significant. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our initial hypothesis, PAE reduces the risk of prehypertension. Animal studies suggest that vasodilation is induced by nitric oxide in small quantities of PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Arnold
- Department of General Practice and Health Service Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Ullrich
- Department of General Practice and Health Service Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michel Wensing
- Department of General Practice and Health Service Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuela Pfinder
- Department of General Practice and Health Service Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Health Promotion, AOK Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart, Germany
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Ninh VK, El Hajj EC, Mouton AJ, Gardner JD. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Causes Adverse Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Changes and Dysfunction in Neonatal Mice. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2019; 19:389-400. [PMID: 30684169 PMCID: PMC7261018 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-018-09503-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most severe condition of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and is associated with congenital heart defects. However, more subtle defects such as ventricular wall thinning and cardiac compliance may be overlooked in FASD. Our studies focus on the role of cardiac fibroblasts in the neonatal heart, and how they are affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). We hypothesize that PAE affects fibroblast function contributing to dysregulated collagen synthesis, which leads to cardiac dysfunction. To investigate these effects, pregnant C57/BL6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with 2.9 g EtOH/kg dose to achieve a blood alcohol content of approximately 0.35 on gestation days 6.75 and 7.25. Pups were sacrificed on neonatal day 5 following echocardiography measurements of left ventricular (LV) chamber dimension and function. Hearts were used for primary cardiac fibroblast isolation or protein expression analysis. PAE animals had thinner ventricular walls than saline exposed animals, which was associated with increased LV wall stress and decreased ejection fraction. In isolated fibroblasts, PAE decreased collagen I/III ratio and increased gene expression of profibrotic markers, including α-smooth muscle actin and lysyl oxidase. Notch1 signaling was assessed as a possible mechanism for fibroblast activation, and indicated that gene expression of Notch1 receptor and downstream Hey1 transcription factor were increased. Cardiac tissue analysis revealed decreased collagen I/III ratio and increased protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin and lysyl oxidase. However, Notch1 signaling components decreased in whole heart tissue. Our study demonstrates that PAE caused adverse changes in the cardiac collagen profile and a decline in cardiac function in the neonatal heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van K Ninh
- Department of Physiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, 1901 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Elia C El Hajj
- Department of Physiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, 1901 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Alan J Mouton
- Department of Physiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, 1901 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Jason D Gardner
- Department of Physiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, 1901 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
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Moritz KM, Reid N, Akison LK. Can Fetal Alcohol Exposure Increase the Risk of Hypertension? A New Study in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Suggests It Can. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:2057-2059. [PMID: 31403704 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen 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
| | - Natasha Reid
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lisa 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
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N-Acetylcysteine prevents the decreases in cardiac collagen I/III ratio and systolic function in neonatal mice with prenatal alcohol exposure. Toxicol Lett 2019; 315:87-95. [PMID: 31425726 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is often associated with congenital heart defects, most commonly septal, valvular, and great vessel defects. However, there have been no known studies on whether PAE affects the resulting fibroblast population after development, and whether this has any consequences in the postnatal period. Our previous study focused on the effects of PAE on the postnatal fibroblast population, which translated into changes in cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and cardiac function in the neonatal heart. Moreover, our lab has previously demonstrated that alcohol-induced fibrosis is mediated by oxidative stress mechanisms in adult rat hearts following chronic alcohol exposure. Thus, we hypothesize that PAE alters cardiac ECM composition that persists into the postnatal period, leading to cardiac dysfunction, and these effects are prevented by antioxidant treatment. To investigate these effects, pregnant mice were intraperitoneally injected with 2.9 g EtOH/kg body weight on gestation days 6.75 and 7.25. Controls were injected with vehicle saline. Randomly selected dams in both groups were then treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) immediately after EtOH or vehicle administration. Left ventricular (LV) chamber dimension and function were assessed in sedated animals on neonatal day 5 using echocardiography. Ejection fraction decreased in the PAE group. NAC treatment prevented this depression of systolic function in PAE neonates. Hearts were analyzed for expression of fibroblast activation markers. Alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) increased in PAE neonatal hearts, and this increase was prevented by NAC treatment. In PAE pups, collagen I decreased, but collagen III expression increased compared to saline animals; the overall collagen I/III ratio significantly decreased. When PAE mice were treated with NAC, collagen I/III ratio did not change. Overall, our data demonstrate that prenatal alcohol exposure produces changes in collagen subtype in neonatal cardiac ECM and a decline in systolic function, and these adverse effects were prevented by NAC treatment.
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Bekdash R, Zhang C, Sarkar D. Fetal alcohol programming of hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin system by epigenetic mechanisms and later life vulnerability to stress. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2014; 38:2323-30. [PMID: 25069392 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, one of the major regulators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, immune functions, and energy homeostasis, are vulnerable to the adverse effects of fetal alcohol exposure (FAE). These effects are manifested in POMC neurons by a decrease in Pomc gene expression, a decrement in the levels of its derived peptide β-endorphin and a dysregulation of the stress response in the adult offspring. The HPA axis is a major neuroendocrine system with pivotal physiological functions and mode of regulation. This system has been shown to be perturbed by prenatal alcohol exposure. It has been demonstrated that the perturbation of the HPA axis by FAE is long-lasting and is linked to molecular, neurophysiological, and behavioral changes in exposed individuals. Recently, we showed that the dysregulation of the POMC system function by FAE is induced by epigenetic mechanisms such as hypermethylation of Pomc gene promoter and an alteration in histone marks in POMC neurons. This developmental programming of the POMC system by FAE altered the transcriptome in POMC neurons and induced a hyperresponse to stress in adulthood. These long-lasting epigenetic changes influenced subsequent generations via the male germline. We also demonstrated that the epigenetic programming of the POMC system by FAE was reversed in adulthood with the application of the inhibitors of DNA methylation or histone modifications. Thus, prenatal environmental influences, such as alcohol exposure, could epigenetically modulate POMC neuronal circuits and function to shape adult behavioral patterns. Identifying specific epigenetic factors in hypothalamic POMC neurons that are modulated by fetal alcohol and target Pomc gene could be potentially useful for the development of new therapeutic approaches to treat stress-related diseases in patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rola Bekdash
- Endocrinology Program, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Neuroscience Graduate Program, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
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Ojeda ML, Nogales F, Murillo ML, Carreras O. Selenium or selenium plus folic acid-supplemented diets ameliorate renal oxidation in ethanol-exposed pups. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36:1863-72. [PMID: 22486362 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01788.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2011] [Accepted: 02/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ethanol (EtOH) exposure during gestation and lactation induces an oxidative stress in offspring. In kidney, the oxidative damage is the primary pathway to alcohol-induced injury. In this study, we have demonstrated that a diet supplemented with selenium (Se) (0.5 ppm) or with Se (0.5 ppm) + folic acid (8 ppm) administered to EtOH-exposed (20% v/v) dams during gestation and lactation prevents the oxidative EtOH-provoked effects in their offspring's kidneys. METHODS All the studies were performed on 21-day-old pups. Serum, urine, and kidney Se levels were assessed by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Se and creatinine clearance, antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid and protein peroxidation were determined by a spectrophotometric method in kidney. RESULTS Dietary supplementation treatments used could not improve the glomerular filtration function altered by EtOH exposure during gestation and lactation; however, they did improve renal Se deposits, renal development, and renal protein content while decreasing lipid and protein oxidation and modifying antioxidant enzymes' activity. CONCLUSIONS Se or Se + folic acid supplementations improve renal development and protein content and modify antioxidant enzymes' activity, decreasing lipid and protein oxidation after EtOH exposure. In this context, a double-supplemented diet appears to reduce protein peroxidation more efficiently than the Se-only-supplemented one, probably via superoxide dismutase and catalase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Ojeda
- Department of Physiology and Zoology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Seville University, Seville, Spain
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Kenna K, De Matteo R, Hanita T, Rees S, Sozo F, Stokes V, Walker D, Bocking A, Brien J, Harding R. Daily ethanol exposure during late ovine pregnancy: physiological effects in the mother and fetus in the apparent absence of overt fetal cerebral dysmorphology. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2011; 301:R926-36. [PMID: 21715699 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00711.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
High levels of ethanol (EtOH) consumption during pregnancy adversely affect fetal development; however, the effects of lower levels of exposure are less clear. Our objectives were to assess the effects of daily EtOH exposure (3.8 USA standard drinks) on fetal-maternal physiological variables and the fetal brain, particularly white matter. Pregnant ewes received daily intravenous infusions of EtOH (0.75 g/kg maternal body wt over 1 h, 8 fetuses) or saline (8 fetuses) from 95 to 133 days of gestational age (DGA; term ∼145 DGA). Maternal and fetal arterial blood was sampled at 131-133 DGA. At necropsy (134 DGA) fetal brains were collected for analysis. Maternal and fetal plasma EtOH concentrations reached similar maximal concentration (∼0.11 g/dl) and declined at the same rate. EtOH infusions produced mild reductions in fetal arterial oxygenation but there were no changes in maternal oxygenation, maternal and fetal Pa(CO(2)), or in fetal mean arterial pressure or heart rate. Following EtOH infusions, plasma lactate levels were elevated in ewes and fetuses, but arterial pH fell only in ewes. Fetal body and brain weights were similar between groups. In three of eight EtOH-exposed fetuses there were small subarachnoid hemorrhages in the cerebrum and cerebellum associated with focal cortical neuronal death and gliosis. Overall, there was no evidence of cystic lesions, inflammation, increased apoptosis, or white matter injury. We conclude that daily EtOH exposure during the third trimester-equivalent of ovine pregnancy has modest physiological effects on the fetus and no gross effects on fetal white matter development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Kenna
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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Gray SP, Denton KM, Cullen-McEwen L, Bertram JF, Moritz KM. Prenatal exposure to alcohol reduces nephron number and raises blood pressure in progeny. J Am Soc Nephrol 2010; 21:1891-902. [PMID: 20829403 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2010040368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure is teratogenic, but the effects of ethanol on kidney development and the health of offspring are incompletely understood. Our objective was to investigate the effects of acute ethanol exposure during pregnancy on nephron endowment, mean arterial pressure, and renal function in offspring. We administered ethanol or saline by gavage to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats on embryonic days 13.5 and 14.5. At 1 month of age, the nephron number was 15% lower and 10% lower in ethanol-exposed males and females, respectively, compared with controls. Mean arterial pressure, measured in conscious animals via indwelling tail-artery catheter, was 10% higher in both ethanol-exposed males and females compared with controls. GFR was 20% higher in ethanol-exposed males but 15% lower in ethanol-exposed females; moreover, males had increased proteinuria compared with controls. Furthermore, embryonic kidneys cultured in the presence of ethanol for 48 hours had 15% fewer ureteric branch points and tips than kidneys cultured in control media. Taken together, these data demonstrate that acute prenatal ethanol exposure reduces the number of nephrons, possibly as a result of inhibited ureteric branching morphogenesis, and that these changes affect adult cardiovascular and renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Gray
- Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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May CN, Evans RG. Frontiers in research series: Neural, hormonal and renal interactions in long-term blood pressure control II. Introduction. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2009; 37:272-3. [PMID: 19930420 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2009.05341.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clive N May
- Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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