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Fassarella LB, Neto JGO, Woyames J, Santos GRC, Pereira HMG, Pazos-Moura CC, Trevenzoli IH. Fish oil supplementation during pregnancy decreases liver endocannabinoid system and lipogenic markers in newborn rats exposed to maternal high-fat diet. Eur J Nutr 2024; 63:1565-1579. [PMID: 38727803 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03422-x] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Maternal high-fat diet (HF) programs obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia associated with increased endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the liver of adult male rat offspring. We hypothesized that maternal HF would induce sex specific ECS changes in the liver of newborn rats, prior to obesity onset, and maternal fish oil (FO) supplementation would reprogram the ECS and lipid metabolism markers preventing liver triglycerides (TG) accumulation. METHODS Female rats received a control (CT) (10.9% fat) or HF (28.7% fat) diet 8 weeks prior to mating and during pregnancy. A subgroup of HF dams received 3% FO supplementation in the HF diet (35.4% fat) during pregnancy (HFFO). Serum hormones and liver TG, ECS, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and autophagy markers were assessed in male and female newborn offspring. RESULTS Maternal HF diet increased liver cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in males and decreased CB2 in females, with no effect on liver TG. Maternal FO supplementation reduced liver CB1 regardless of the offspring sex, but reduced TG liver content only in females. FO reduced the liver content of the endocannabinoid anandamide in males, and the content of 2-arachidonoylglycerol in both sexes. Maternal HF increased lipogenic and decreased lipid oxidation markers, and FO induced the opposite regulation in the liver of offspring. CONCLUSION Prenatal HF and FO differentially modulate liver ECS in the offspring before obesity and MASLD development. These results suggest that maternal nutrition at critical stages of development can modulate the offspring's ECS, predisposing or preventing the onset of metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa B Fassarella
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brasil
| | - Jessika G O Neto
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brasil
| | - Juliana Woyames
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brasil
| | - Gustavo R C Santos
- Laboratório Brasileiro de Controle de Dopagem, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Henrique M G Pereira
- Laboratório Brasileiro de Controle de Dopagem, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Carmen C Pazos-Moura
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brasil
| | - Isis H Trevenzoli
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brasil.
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CB2R activation ameliorates late adolescent chronic alcohol exposure-induced anxiety-like behaviors during withdrawal by preventing morphological changes and suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation in prefrontal cortex microglia in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 110:60-79. [PMID: 36754245 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic alcohol exposure (CAE) during late adolescence increases the risk of anxiety development. Alcohol-induced prefrontal cortex (PFC) microglial activation, characterized by morphological changes and increased associations with neurons, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of anxiety. Alcohol exposure increases NLRP3 inflammasome expression, increasing cytokine secretion by activated microglia. Cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R), an essential receptor of the endocannabinoid system, regulates microglial activation and neuroinflammatory reactions. We aimed to investigate the role of CB2R activation in ameliorating late adolescent CAE-induced anxiety-like behaviors and microglial activation in C57BL/6J mice. METHODS Six-week-old C57BL/6J mice were acclimated for 7 days and then were administered alcohol by gavage (4 g/kg, 25 % w/v) for 28 days. The mice were intraperitoneally injected with the specific CB2R agonist AM1241 1 h before alcohol treatment. Anxiety-like behaviors during withdrawal were assessed by open field test and elevated plus maze test 24 h after the last alcohol administration. Microglial activation, microglia-neuron interactions, and CB2R and NLRP3 inflammasome-related molecule expression in the PFC were measured using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical, qPCR, and Western blotting assays. Microglial morphology was evaluated by Sholl analysis and the cell body-to-total cell size index. Additionally, N9 microglia were activated by LPS in vitro, and the effects of AM1241 on NLRP3 and N9 microglial activation were investigated. RESULTS After CAE, mice exhibited severe anxiety-like behaviors during withdrawal. CAE induced obvious microglia-neuron associations, and increased expression of microglial activation markers, CB2R, and NLRP3 inflammasome-related molecules in the PFC. Microglia also showed marked filament retraction and reduction and cell body enlargement after CAE. AM1241 treatment ameliorated anxiety-like behaviors in CAE model mice, and it prevented microglial morphological changes, reduced microglial activation marker expression, and suppressed the microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion induced by CAE. AM1241 suppressed the LPS-induced increase in NLRP3 inflammasome-related molecules, IL-1β release, and M1 phenotype markers (iNOS and CD86) in N9 cell, which was reversed by CB2R antagonist treatment. CONCLUSIONS CAE caused anxiety-like behaviors in late adolescent mice at least partly by inducing microglial activation and increasing microglia-neuron associations in the PFC. CB2R activation ameliorated these effects by preventing morphological changes and suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation in PFC microglia.
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Molecular Alterations of the Endocannabinoid System in Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094764. [PMID: 35563156 PMCID: PMC9104141 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic benefits of the current medications for patients with psychiatric disorders contrast with a great variety of adverse effects. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) components have gained high interest as potential new targets for treating psychiatry diseases because of their neuromodulator role, which is essential to understanding the regulation of many brain functions. This article reviewed the molecular alterations in ECS occurring in different psychiatric conditions. The methods used to identify alterations in the ECS were also described. We used a translational approach. The animal models reproducing some behavioral and/or neurochemical aspects of psychiatric disorders and the molecular alterations in clinical studies in post-mortem brain tissue or peripheral tissues were analyzed. This article reviewed the most relevant ECS changes in prevalent psychiatric diseases such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, autism, attentional deficit, eating disorders (ED), and addiction. The review concludes that clinical research studies are urgently needed for two different purposes: (1) To identify alterations of the ECS components potentially useful as new biomarkers relating to a specific disease or condition, and (2) to design new therapeutic targets based on the specific alterations found to improve the pharmacological treatment in psychiatry.
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Almeida MM, Dias-Rocha CP, Calviño C, Trevenzoli IH. Lipid endocannabinoids in energy metabolism, stress and developmental programming. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2022; 542:111522. [PMID: 34843899 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates brain development and function, energy metabolism and stress in a sex-, age- and tissue-dependent manner. The ECS comprises mainly the bioactive lipid ligands anandamide (AEA) and 2-aracdonoylglycerol (2-AG), cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), and several metabolizing enzymes. The endocannabinoid tonus is increased in obesity, stimulating food intake and a preference for fat, reward, and lipid accumulation in peripheral tissues, as well as favoring a positive energy balance. Energy balance and stress responses share adaptive mechanisms regulated by the ECS that seem to underlie the complex relationship between feeding and emotional behavior. The ECS is also a key regulator of development. Environmental insults (diet, toxicants, and stress) in critical periods of developmental plasticity, such as gestation, lactation and adolescence, alter the ECS and may predispose individuals to the development of chronic diseases and behavioral changes in the long term. This review is focused on the ECS and the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Macedo Almeida
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Camila Calviño
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Isis Hara Trevenzoli
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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de Melo Reis RA, Isaac AR, Freitas HR, de Almeida MM, Schuck PF, Ferreira GC, Andrade-da-Costa BLDS, Trevenzoli IH. Quality of Life and a Surveillant Endocannabinoid System. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:747229. [PMID: 34776851 PMCID: PMC8581450 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.747229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an important brain modulatory network. ECS regulates brain homeostasis throughout development, from progenitor fate decision to neuro- and gliogenesis, synaptogenesis, brain plasticity and circuit repair, up to learning, memory, fear, protection, and death. It is a major player in the hypothalamic-peripheral system-adipose tissue in the regulation of food intake, energy storage, nutritional status, and adipose tissue mass, consequently affecting obesity. Loss of ECS control might affect mood disorders (anxiety, hyperactivity, psychosis, and depression), lead to drug abuse, and impact neurodegenerative (Alzheimer's, Parkinson, Huntington, Multiple, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and neurodevelopmental (autism spectrum) disorders. Practice of regular physical and/or mind-body mindfulness and meditative activities have been shown to modulate endocannabinoid (eCB) levels, in addition to other players as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). ECS is involved in pain, inflammation, metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunctions, general immune responses (asthma, allergy, and arthritis) and tumor expansion, both/either in the brain and/or in the periphery. The reason for such a vast impact is the fact that arachidonic acid, a precursor of eCBs, is present in every membrane cell of the body and on demand eCBs synthesis is regulated by electrical activity and calcium shifts. Novel lipid (lipoxins and resolvins) or peptide (hemopressin) players of the ECS also operate as regulators of physiological allostasis. Indeed, the presence of cannabinoid receptors in intracellular organelles as mitochondria or lysosomes, or in nuclear targets as PPARγ might impact energy consumption, metabolism and cell death. To live a better life implies in a vigilant ECS, through healthy diet selection (based on a balanced omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids), weekly exercises and meditation therapy, all of which regulating eCBs levels, surrounded by a constructive social network. Cannabidiol, a diet supplement has been a major player with anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antioxidant activities. Cognitive challenges and emotional intelligence might strengthen the ECS, which is built on a variety of synapses that modify human behavior. As therapeutically concerned, the ECS is essential for maintaining homeostasis and cannabinoids are promising tools to control innumerous targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Augusto de Melo Reis
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alinny Rosendo Isaac
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hércules Rezende Freitas
- Laboratory of Neuroenergetics and Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Macedo de Almeida
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patricia Fernanda Schuck
- Laboratory of Neuroenergetics and Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Costa Ferreira
- Laboratory of Neuroenergetics and Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Isis Hara Trevenzoli
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Tovar R, Vargas A, Aranda J, Sánchez-Salido L, González-González L, Chowen JA, Rodríguez de Fonseca F, Suárez J, Rivera P. Analysis of Both Lipid Metabolism and Endocannabinoid Signaling Reveals a New Role for Hypothalamic Astrocytes in Maternal Caloric Restriction-Induced Perinatal Programming. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126292. [PMID: 34208173 PMCID: PMC8230792 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal malnutrition in critical periods of development increases the risk of developing short- and long-term diseases in the offspring. The alterations induced by this nutritional programming in the hypothalamus of the offspring are of special relevance due to its role in energy homeostasis, especially in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in metabolic functions. Since astrocytes are essential for neuronal energy efficiency and are implicated in brain endocannabinoid signaling, here we have used a rat model to investigate whether a moderate caloric restriction (R) spanning from two weeks prior to the start of gestation to its end induced changes in offspring hypothalamic (a) ECS, (b) lipid metabolism (LM) and/or (c) hypothalamic astrocytes. Monitorization was performed by analyzing both the gene and protein expression of proteins involved in LM and ECS signaling. Offspring born from caloric-restricted mothers presented hypothalamic alterations in both the main enzymes involved in LM and endocannabinoids synthesis/degradation. Furthermore, most of these changes were similar to those observed in hypothalamic offspring astrocytes in culture. In conclusion, a maternal low caloric intake altered LM and ECS in both the hypothalamus and its astrocytes, pointing to these glial cells as responsible for a large part of the alterations seen in the total hypothalamus and suggesting a high degree of involvement of astrocytes in nutritional programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Tovar
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (R.T.); (A.V.); (J.A.); (L.S.-S.); (L.G.-G.); (F.R.d.F.)
- UGC Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
- Andalucia Tech, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Antonio Vargas
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (R.T.); (A.V.); (J.A.); (L.S.-S.); (L.G.-G.); (F.R.d.F.)
- UGC Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Jesús Aranda
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (R.T.); (A.V.); (J.A.); (L.S.-S.); (L.G.-G.); (F.R.d.F.)
- Andalucia Tech, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Lourdes Sánchez-Salido
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (R.T.); (A.V.); (J.A.); (L.S.-S.); (L.G.-G.); (F.R.d.F.)
- UGC Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Laura González-González
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (R.T.); (A.V.); (J.A.); (L.S.-S.); (L.G.-G.); (F.R.d.F.)
| | - Julie A. Chowen
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica la Princesa, Fundación Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, 28009 Madrid, Spain;
- CIBEROBN (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28009 Madrid, Spain
- IMDEA Food Institute, CEI UAM + CSIC, 28009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (R.T.); (A.V.); (J.A.); (L.S.-S.); (L.G.-G.); (F.R.d.F.)
- UGC Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Juan Suárez
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (R.T.); (A.V.); (J.A.); (L.S.-S.); (L.G.-G.); (F.R.d.F.)
- Departamento de Anatomía Humana, Medicina Legal e Historia de la Ciencia, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (P.R.); Tel.: +34-952614012 (J.S.); +34-952614012 (P.R.)
| | - Patricia Rivera
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (R.T.); (A.V.); (J.A.); (L.S.-S.); (L.G.-G.); (F.R.d.F.)
- UGC Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (P.R.); Tel.: +34-952614012 (J.S.); +34-952614012 (P.R.)
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Huber HF, Jenkins SL, Li C, Nathanielsz PW. Strength of nonhuman primate studies of developmental programming: review of sample sizes, challenges, and steps for future work. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 11:297-306. [PMID: 31566171 PMCID: PMC7103515 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174419000539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Nonhuman primate (NHP) studies are crucial to biomedical research. NHPs are the species most similar to humans in lifespan, body size, and hormonal profiles. Planning research requires statistical power evaluation, which is difficult to perform when lacking directly relevant preliminary data. This is especially true for NHP developmental programming studies, which are scarce. We review the sample sizes reported, challenges, areas needing further work, and goals of NHP maternal nutritional programming studies. The literature search included 27 keywords, for example, maternal obesity, intrauterine growth restriction, maternal high-fat diet, and maternal nutrient reduction. Only fetal and postnatal offspring studies involving tissue collection or imaging were included. Twenty-eight studies investigated maternal over-nutrition and 33 under-nutrition; 23 involved macaques and 38 baboons. Analysis by sex was performed in 19; minimum group size ranged from 1 to 8 (mean 4.7 ± 0.52, median 4, mode 3) and maximum group size from 3 to 16 (8.3 ± 0.93, 8, 8). Sexes were pooled in 42 studies; minimum group size ranged from 2 to 16 (mean 5.3 ± 0.35, median 6, mode 6) and maximum group size from 4 to 26 (10.2 ± 0.92, 8, 8). A typical study with sex-based analyses had group size minimum 4 and maximum 8 per sex. Among studies with sexes pooled, minimum group size averaged 6 and maximum 8. All studies reported some significant differences between groups. Therefore, studies with group sizes 3-8 can detect significance between groups. To address deficiencies in the literature, goals include increasing age range, more frequently considering sex as a biological variable, expanding topics, replicating studies, exploring intergenerational effects, and examining interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary F. Huber
- Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Susan L. Jenkins
- Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Cun Li
- Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Peter W. Nathanielsz
- Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Bukiya AN. Physiology of the Endocannabinoid System During Development. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1162:13-37. [PMID: 31332732 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-21737-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system comprises endogenously produced cannabinoids (CBs), enzymes of their production and degradation, and CB-sensing receptors and transporters. The eCB system plays a critical role in virtually all stages of animal development. Studies on eCB system components and their physiological role have gained increasing attention with the rising legalization and medical use of marijuana products. The latter represent exogenous interventions that target the eCB system. This chapter summarizes knowledge in the field of CB contribution to gametogenesis, fertilization, embryo implantation, fetal development, birth, and adolescence-equivalent periods of ontogenesis. The material is complemented by the overview of data from our laboratory documenting the functional presence of the eCB system within cerebral arteries of baboons at different stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna N Bukiya
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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Pepper I, Vinik A, Lattanzio F, McPheat W, Dobrian A. Countering the Modern Metabolic Disease Rampage With Ancestral Endocannabinoid System Alignment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:311. [PMID: 31156558 PMCID: PMC6533883 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
When primitive vertebrates evolved from ancestral members of the animal kingdom and acquired complex locomotive and neurological toolsets, a constant supply of energy became necessary for their continued survival. To help fulfill this need, the endocannabinoid (eCB) system transformed drastically with the addition of the cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) to its gene repertoire. This established an eCB/CB1R signaling mechanism responsible for governing the whole organism's energy balance, with its activation triggering a shift toward energy intake and storage in the brain and the peripheral organs (i.e., liver and adipose). Although this function was of primal importance for humans during their pre-historic existence as hunter-gatherers, it became expendable following the successive lifestyle shifts of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. Modernization of the world has further increased food availability and decreased energy expenditure, thus shifting the eCB/CB1R system into a state of hyperactive deregulated signaling that contributes to the 21st century metabolic disease pandemic. Studies from the literature supporting this perspective come from a variety of disciplines, including biochemistry, human medicine, evolutionary/comparative biology, anthropology, and developmental biology. Consideration of both biological and cultural evolution justifies the design of improved pharmacological treatments for obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) that focus on peripheral CB1R antagonism. Blockade of peripheral CB1Rs, which universally promote energy conservation across the vertebrate lineage, represents an evolutionary medicine strategy for clinical management of present-day metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Pepper
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Ian Pepper
| | - Aaron Vinik
- Strelitz Diabetes Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Frank Lattanzio
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - William McPheat
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Anca Dobrian
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
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Maternal high-fat diet consumption induces sex-dependent alterations of the endocannabinoid system and redox homeostasis in liver of adult rat offspring. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14751. [PMID: 30282988 PMCID: PMC6170403 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32906-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal diet plays a critical role in health development. Perinatal overnutrition induces metabolic dysfunctions and obesity in the offspring. Obesity is associated with endocannabinoid system (ECS) over activation and oxidative stress. Liver ECS activation induces hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis while the antagonism of cannabinoid receptors ameliorates these alterations. Here, we investigated the effect of perinatal maternal high-fat diet (HF, 29% of calories as fat) on the ECS and antioxidant system in liver of male and female adult rat offspring (180 days old). Maternal HF diet increased hepatic cannabinoid receptors, ECS metabolizing enzymes and triglyceride content, with male offspring more affected. ECS changes are likely independent of estradiol serum levels but associated with increased hepatic content of estrogen receptor, which can stimulate the expression of ECS components. Differently, maternal HF diet decreased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, and increased oxidative stress markers in both sexes. Alterations in the redox homeostasis were associated with mitochondria damage but not with liver fibrosis. Our data suggest that maternal HF diet induces ECS over activation in adulthood, and that male offspring are at higher risk to develop liver disease compared with female rats.
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