1
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Bradshaw JL, Wilson EN, Gardner JJ, Mabry S, Tucker SM, Rybalchenko N, Vera E, Goulopoulou S, Cunningham RL. Pregnancy-induced oxidative stress and inflammation are not associated with impaired maternal neuronal activity or memory function. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2024; 327:R35-R45. [PMID: 38708544 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00026.2024] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Pregnancy is associated with neural and behavioral plasticity, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress, yet the impact of inflammation and oxidative stress on maternal neural and behavioral plasticity during pregnancy is unclear. We hypothesized that healthy pregnancy transiently reduces learning and memory and these deficits are associated with pregnancy-induced elevations in inflammation and oxidative stress. Cognitive performance was tested with novel object recognition (recollective memory), Morris water maze (spatial memory), and open field (anxiety-like) behavior tasks in female Sprague-Dawley rats of varying reproductive states [nonpregnant (nulliparous), pregnant (near term), and 1-2 mo after pregnancy (primiparous); n = 7 or 8/group]. Plasma and CA1 proinflammatory cytokines were measured with a MILLIPLEX magnetic bead assay. Plasma oxidative stress was measured via advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) assay. CA1 markers of oxidative stress, neuronal activity, and apoptosis were quantified via Western blot analysis. Our results demonstrate that CA1 oxidative stress-associated markers were elevated in pregnant compared with nulliparous rats (P ≤ 0.017) but there were equivalent levels in pregnant and primiparous rats. In contrast, reproductive state did not impact CA1 inflammatory cytokines, neuronal activity, or apoptosis. Likewise, there was no effect of reproductive state on recollective or spatial memory. Even so, spatial learning was impaired (P ≤ 0.007) whereas anxiety-like behavior (P ≤ 0.034) was reduced in primiparous rats. Overall, our data suggest that maternal hippocampal CA1 is protected from systemic inflammation but vulnerable to peripartum oxidative stress. Peripartum oxidative stress elevations, such as in pregnancy complications, may contribute to peripartum neural and behavioral plasticity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Healthy pregnancy is associated with elevated maternal systemic and brain oxidative stress. During postpregnancy, brain oxidative stress remains elevated whereas systemic oxidative stress is resolved. This sustained maternal brain oxidative stress is associated with learning impairments and decreased anxiety-like behavior during the postpregnancy period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Bradshaw
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
| | - E Nicole Wilson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
| | - Jennifer J Gardner
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
| | - Steve Mabry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
| | - Selina M Tucker
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
| | - Nataliya Rybalchenko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
| | - Edward Vera
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
| | - Styliani Goulopoulou
- Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology, Departments of Basic Sciences, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, United States
| | - Rebecca L Cunningham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
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2
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Spalek K, Straathof M, Koyuncu L, Grydeland H, van der Geest A, Van't Hof SR, Crone EA, Barba-Müller E, Carmona S, Denys D, Tamnes CK, Burke S, Hoekzema E. Pregnancy renders anatomical changes in hypothalamic substructures of the human brain that relate to aspects of maternal behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 164:107021. [PMID: 38492349 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Animal studies have shown that pregnancy is associated with neural adaptations that promote maternal care. The hypothalamus represents a central structure of the mammalian maternal brain and hormonal priming of specific hypothalamic nuclei plays a key role in the induction and expression of maternal behavior. In humans, we have previously demonstrated that becoming a mother involves changes in grey matter anatomy, primarily in association areas of the cerebral cortex. In the current study, we investigated whether pregnancy renders anatomical changes in the hypothalamus. Using an advanced delineation technique, five hypothalamic substructures were defined in longitudinal MRI scans of 107 women extracted from two prospective pre-conception cohort studies, including 50 women who were scanned before and after pregnancy and 57 nulliparous control women scanned at a similar time interval. We showed that becoming a mother is associated with volume reductions in the anterior-superior, superior tuberal and posterior hypothalamus. In addition, these structural changes related to hormonal levels during pregnancy and specific aspects of self-reported maternal behavior in late pregnancy, including maternal-fetal attachment and nesting behavior. These findings show that pregnancy leads to changes in hypothalamic anatomy and suggest that these contribute to the development of maternal behavior in humans, supporting the conservation of key aspects of maternal brain circuitry and their role in maternal behavior across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Spalek
- Hoekzema Lab, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Milou Straathof
- Hoekzema Lab, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lal Koyuncu
- Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Håkon Grydeland
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Anouk van der Geest
- Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sophie R Van't Hof
- Hoekzema Lab, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eveline A Crone
- Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Susana Carmona
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Damiaan Denys
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), location University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christian K Tamnes
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sarah Burke
- Brain and Development Research Center, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands; Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Elseline Hoekzema
- Hoekzema Lab, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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3
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Varela-Martínez E, Luigi-Sierra MG, Guan D, López-Béjar M, Casas E, Olvera-Maneu S, Gardela J, Palomo MJ, Osuagwuh UI, Ohaneje UL, Mármol-Sánchez E, Amills M. The landscape of long noncoding RNA expression in the goat brain. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:4075-4091. [PMID: 38278299 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23966] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The brain regulates multiple metabolic processes, such as food intake, energy expenditure, insulin secretion, hepatic glucose production, and glucose and fatty acid metabolism in adipose tissue, which are fundamental for the maintenance of energy and glucose homeostasis during lactation and pregnancy. In addition, brain expression has a fundamental impact on the development of maternal behavior. Although brain functions are partly regulated by long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), their expression profiles have not been characterized in depth in any ruminant species. We have sequenced the transcriptome of 12 brain tissues from 3 goats that were 1 mo pregnant and 4 nonpregnant goats to investigate their lncRNA expression patterns. Between 4,363 (adenohypophysis) and 4,604 (olfactory bulb) lncRNAs were expressed in brain tissues, leading us to establish a set of 794 already annotated lncRNAs and 5,098 novel lncRNA candidates. The detected lncRNAs shared features with those of other mammals, and tissue-specific lncRNAs were enriched in brain development-related terms. Differential expression analyses between goats that were 1 mo pregnant and nonpregnant goats showed that the lncRNA expression profiles of certain brain regions experience substantial changes associated with early pregnancy (238 lncRNAs are differentially expressed in the olfactory bulb), but others do not. Enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed lncRNAs from the olfactory bulb are co-expressed with genes previously linked to behavioral changes related to pregnancy. These findings provide a first characterization of the landscape of lncRNA expression in the goat brain and provides valuable clues to understand the molecular events triggered by early pregnancy in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endika Varela-Martínez
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), B. Sarriena, Leioa 48940, Spain; Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - María Gracia Luigi-Sierra
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Dailu Guan
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Manel López-Béjar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Encarna Casas
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Sergi Olvera-Maneu
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nicosia School of Veterinary Medicine, 2414 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Jaume Gardela
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Maria Jesús Palomo
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Uchebuchi Ike Osuagwuh
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Uchechi Linda Ohaneje
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Emilio Mármol-Sánchez
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Marcel Amills
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain; Department de Ciència Animal I dels Aliments, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
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4
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Paternina-Die M, Martínez-García M, Martín de Blas D, Noguero I, Servin-Barthet C, Pretus C, Soler A, López-Montoya G, Desco M, Carmona S. Women's neuroplasticity during gestation, childbirth and postpartum. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:319-327. [PMID: 38182834 PMCID: PMC10849958 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01513-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a unique neuroplastic period in adult life. This longitudinal study tracked brain cortical changes during the peripartum period and explored how the type of childbirth affects these changes. We collected neuroanatomic, obstetric and neuropsychological data from 110 first-time mothers during late pregnancy and early postpartum, as well as from 34 nulliparous women evaluated at similar time points. During late pregnancy, mothers showed lower cortical volume than controls across all functional networks. These cortical differences attenuated in the early postpartum session. Default mode and frontoparietal networks showed below-expected volume increases during peripartum, suggesting that their reductions may persist longer. Results also pointed to different cortical trajectories in mothers who delivered by scheduled C-section. The main findings were replicated in an independent sample of 29 mothers and 24 nulliparous women. These data suggest a dynamic trajectory of cortical decreases during pregnancy that attenuates in the postpartum period, at a different rate depending on the brain network and childbirth type.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Paternina-Die
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Magdalena Martínez-García
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Martín de Blas
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Noguero
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Camila Servin-Barthet
- Unitat de Recerca en Neurociéncia Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació IMIM, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Anna Soler
- Unitat de Recerca en Neurociéncia Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació IMIM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gonzalo López-Montoya
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Health Science, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR), La Rioja, Spain
| | - Manuel Desco
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Carmona
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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5
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Bradshaw JL, Wilson EN, Gardner JJ, Mabry S, Tucker SM, Rybalchenko N, Vera E, Goulopoulou S, Cunningham RL. Pregnancy-associated oxidative stress and inflammation are not associated with impaired maternal neuronal activity or memory function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.26.577461. [PMID: 38328246 PMCID: PMC10849653 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.26.577461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Pregnancy is associated with neural and behavioral plasticity, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Yet, the impact of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress on maternal neural and behavioral plasticity during pregnancy are unclear. We hypothesized that the maternal hippocampal CA1, a brain region associated with cognition, would be protected from pregnancy-associated systemic elevations in inflammation and oxidative stress, mediating stable peripartum cognitive performance. Cognitive performance was tested using novel object recognition (recollective memory), Morris water maze (spatial memory), and open field (anxiety-like) behavior tasks in female Sprague-Dawley rats of varying reproductive states [non-pregnant (nulliparous), pregnant (near term), and two months post-pregnancy (primiparous); n = 7-8/group]. Plasma and CA1 proinflammatory cytokines were measured using a MILLIPLEX® magnetic bead assay. Plasma oxidative stress was measured via advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) assay. CA1 markers of oxidative stress, neuronal activity, and apoptosis were quantified via western blotting. Our results demonstrate CA1 oxidative stress-associated markers were elevated in pregnant compared to nulliparous rats ( p ≤ 0.017) but were equivalent levels in pregnant and primiparous rats. In contrast, reproductive state did not impact CA1 inflammatory cytokines, neuronal activity, or apoptosis. Likewise, there was no effect of reproductive state on recollective or spatial memory. Even so, spatial learning was impaired ( p ≤ 0.007) while anxiety-like behavior ( p ≤ 0.034) was reduced in primiparous rats. Overall, our data suggest maternal hippocampal CA1 is protected from systemic inflammation but vulnerable to peripartum oxidative stress. Thus, peripartum oxidative stress elevations, such as in pregnancy complications, may contribute to peripartum neural and behavioral plasticity.
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6
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Foster SA, Kile ML, Hystad P, Diamond ML, Jantunen LM, Mandhane PJ, Moraes TJ, Navaranjan G, Scott JA, Simons E, Subbarao P, Takaro TK, Turvey SE, Brook JR. Organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers in house dust and mental health outcomes among Canadian mothers: A nested prospective cohort study in CHILD. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 240:117451. [PMID: 37871788 PMCID: PMC10841641 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117451] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers (OPEs) are common exposures in modern built environments. Toxicological models report that some OPEs reduce dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Deficiencies in these neurotransmitters are associated with anxiety and depression. We hypothesized that exposure to higher concentrations of OPEs in house dust would be associated with a greater risk of depression and stress in mothers across the prenatal and postpartum periods. We conducted a nested prospective cohort study using data collected on mothers (n = 718) in the CHILD Cohort Study, a longitudinal multi-city Canadian birth cohort (2008-2012). OPEs were measured in house dust sampled at 3-4 months postpartum. Maternal depression and stress were measured at 18 and 36 weeks gestation and 6 months and 1 year postpartum using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression Scale (CES-D) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). We used linear mixed models to examine the association between a summed Z-Score OPE index and continuous depression and stress scores. In adjusted models, one standard deviation increase in the OPE Z-score index was associated with a 0.07-point (95% CI: 0.01, 0.13) increase in PSS score. OPEs were not associated with log-transformed CES-D (β: 0.63%, 95% CI: -0.18%, 1.46%). The effect of OPEs on PSS score was strongest at 36 weeks gestation and weakest at 1 year postpartum. We observed small increases in maternal perceived stress levels, but not depression, with increasing OPEs measured in house dust during the prenatal and early postpartum period in this cohort of Canadian women. Given the prevalence of prenatal and postpartum anxiety and the ubiquity of OPE exposures, additional research is warranted to understand if these chemicals affect maternal mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Foster
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Health, Oregon State University, 160 SW 26th St, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Molly L Kile
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Health, Oregon State University, 160 SW 26th St, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Perry Hystad
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Health, Oregon State University, 160 SW 26th St, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences and School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 149 College Street, Suite 410, Fourth Floor, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P5, Canada.
| | - Liisa M Jantunen
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Government of Canada, Canada.
| | - Piush J Mandhane
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1C9, Canada.
| | - Theo J Moraes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Black Wing Room 1436, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
| | - Garthika Navaranjan
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Sixth Floor, Toronto, ON, MST 3M7, Canada.
| | - James A Scott
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Sixth Floor, Toronto, ON, MST 3M7, Canada.
| | - Elinor Simons
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, 840 Sherbrook Street, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3A 1S1, Canada.
| | - Padmaja Subbarao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Black Wing Room 1436, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Sixth Floor, Toronto, ON, MST 3M7, Canada.
| | - Tim K Takaro
- Department of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Blusson Hall, Room 11300, Burnaby, B.C, V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Stuart E Turvey
- Pediatric Immunology, The University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Jeffrey R Brook
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Sixth Floor, Toronto, ON, MST 3M7, Canada.
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7
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Gorman-Sandler E, Wood G, Cloude N, Frambes N, Brennen H, Robertson B, Hollis F. Mitochondrial might: powering the peripartum for risk and resilience. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1286811. [PMID: 38187925 PMCID: PMC10767224 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1286811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The peripartum period, characterized by dynamic hormonal shifts and physiological adaptations, has been recognized as a potentially vulnerable period for the development of mood disorders such as postpartum depression (PPD). Stress is a well-established risk factor for developing PPD and is known to modulate mitochondrial function. While primarily known for their role in energy production, mitochondria also influence processes such as stress regulation, steroid hormone synthesis, glucocorticoid response, GABA metabolism, and immune modulation - all of which are crucial for healthy pregnancy and relevant to PPD pathology. While mitochondrial function has been implicated in other psychiatric illnesses, its role in peripartum stress and mental health remains largely unexplored, especially in relation to the brain. In this review, we first provide an overview of mitochondrial involvement in processes implicated in peripartum mood disorders, underscoring their potential role in mediating pathology. We then discuss clinical and preclinical studies of mitochondria in the context of peripartum stress and mental health, emphasizing the need for better understanding of this relationship. Finally, we propose mitochondria as biological mediators of resilience to peripartum mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Gorman-Sandler
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
- Columbia VA Healthcare System, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Gabrielle Wood
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Nazharee Cloude
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Noelle Frambes
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Hannah Brennen
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Breanna Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Fiona Hollis
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
- Columbia VA Healthcare System, Columbia, SC, United States
- USC Institute for Cardiovascular Disease Research, Columbia, SC, United States
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8
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Ammari R, Monaca F, Cao M, Nassar E, Wai P, Del Grosso NA, Lee M, Borak N, Schneider-Luftman D, Kohl J. Hormone-mediated neural remodeling orchestrates parenting onset during pregnancy. Science 2023; 382:76-81. [PMID: 37797007 PMCID: PMC7615220 DOI: 10.1126/science.adi0576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
During pregnancy, physiological adaptations prepare the female body for the challenges of motherhood. Becoming a parent also requires behavioral adaptations. Such adaptations can occur as early as during pregnancy, but how pregnancy hormones remodel parenting circuits to instruct preparatory behavioral changes remains unknown. We found that action of estradiol and progesterone on galanin (Gal)-expressing neurons in the mouse medial preoptic area (MPOA) is critical for pregnancy-induced parental behavior. Whereas estradiol silences MPOAGal neurons and paradoxically increases their excitability, progesterone permanently rewires this circuit node by promoting dendritic spine formation and recruitment of excitatory synaptic inputs. This MPOAGal-specific neural remodeling sparsens population activity in vivo and results in persistently stronger, more selective responses to pup stimuli. Pregnancy hormones thus remodel parenting circuits in anticipation of future behavioral need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachida Ammari
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Francesco Monaca
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mingran Cao
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Estelle Nassar
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Patty Wai
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Nicholas A. Del Grosso
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Matthew Lee
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Neven Borak
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Deborah Schneider-Luftman
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Johannes Kohl
- State-dependent Neural Processing Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
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9
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Gorman-Sandler E, Robertson B, Crawford J, Wood G, Ramesh A, Arishe OO, Webb RC, Hollis F. Gestational stress decreases postpartum mitochondrial respiration in the prefrontal cortex of female rats. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 26:100563. [PMID: 37654512 PMCID: PMC10466928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major psychiatric complication of childbirth, affecting up to 20% of mothers, yet remains understudied. Mitochondria, dynamic organelles crucial for cell homeostasis and energy production, share links with many of the proposed mechanisms underlying PPD pathology. Brain mitochondrial function is affected by stress, a major risk factor for development of PPD, and is linked to anxiety-like and social behaviors. Considering the importance of mitochondria in regulating brain function and behavior, we hypothesized that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with behavioral alterations in a chronic stress-induced rat model of PPD. Using a validated and translationally relevant chronic mild unpredictable stress paradigm during late gestation, we induced PPD-relevant behaviors in adult postpartum Wistar rats. In the mid-postpartum, we measured mitochondrial function in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) using high-resolution respirometry. We then measured protein expression of mitochondrial complex proteins and 4-hydroxynonenal (a marker of oxidative stress), and Th1/Th2 cytokine levels in PFC and plasma. We report novel findings that gestational stress decreased mitochondrial function in the PFC, but not the NAc of postpartum dams. However, in groups controlling for the effects of either stress or parity alone, no differences in mitochondrial respiration measured in either brain regions were observed compared to nulliparous controls. This decrease in PFC mitochondrial function in stressed dams was accompanied by negative behavioral consequences in the postpartum, complex-I specific deficits in protein expression, and increased Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha cytokine levels in plasma and PFC. Overall, we report an association between PFC mitochondrial respiration, PPD-relevant behaviors, and inflammation following gestational stress, highlighting a potential role for mitochondrial function in postpartum health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Gorman-Sandler
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- Columbia VA Health Care Systems, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| | - Breanna Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Jesseca Crawford
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- Columbia VA Health Care Systems, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| | - Gabrielle Wood
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Archana Ramesh
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Olufunke O. Arishe
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - R. Clinton Webb
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- USC Institute for Cardiovascular Disease Research, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Fiona Hollis
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- Columbia VA Health Care Systems, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
- Cardiovascular Translational Research Center, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
- USC Institute for Cardiovascular Disease Research, Columbia, SC, USA
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10
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Samuelsen K, Ystrom E, Gjerde LC, Eilertsen EM. Kind of blue - An evaluation of etiologies for prenatal versus postnatal depression symptoms. J Affect Disord 2023; 335:305-312. [PMID: 37196935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal and postnatal depression potentially have severe consequences, but we do not know to what extent they have the same etiological factors. Genetically informative designs yield insight into common etiology between pre- and postnatal depression and inform on potential prevention and intervention efforts. This study evaluates the overlap in genetic and environmental factors in pre- and postnatal depression symptoms. METHODS We conducted univariate and bivariate modeling, using a quantitative, extended twin study. The sample was a subsample of the MoBa prospective pregnancy cohort study in 6039 pairs of related women. Measurement was conducted at week 30 of pregnancy and 6 months following delivery, using a self-report scale. RESULTS The heritability of depressive symptoms was 16.2 % (95 % CI = 10.7-22.1) prenatally and 25.7 % (95 % CI = 19.2-32.2) postnatally. The correlation between risk factors for prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms was at unity (r = 1.00) for genetic effects, and at disunity (r = 0.36) for environmental effects. The genetic effects for postnatal depressive symptoms were 1.7 times larger compared to prenatal depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS Although genes for depression become more influential postpartum, only future studies can inform on the mechanisms for such a socio-biological augmentation of effect. CONCLUSION Genetic risk factors for prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms are indistinguishable in kind, with greater impact after birth, whereas environmental risk factors for depression symptoms are mostly non-overlapping before and after birth. These findings indicate that interventions could be of different kind before and after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Samuelsen
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- PROMENTA Research Centre, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway.
| | - Line C Gjerde
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Espen M Eilertsen
- PROMENTA Research Centre, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
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11
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Barha CK, Best JR, Rosano C, Yaffe K, Catov JM, Liu-Ambrose T. Walking for Cognitive Health: Previous Parity Moderates the Relationship Between Self-Reported Walking and Cognition. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2023; 78:486-493. [PMID: 35670837 PMCID: PMC9977231 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glac123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older females show greater cognitive gains from physical activity (PA) than males, which may be related to long-term consequences of female-specific reproductive events (eg, pregnancy) on cognitive health. METHODS To determine whether previous parity could moderate the relationship between PA and cognitive decline in older women, we conducted secondary analyses of data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study. We tested whether the association between average PA over 10 years and cognition (Modified Mini-Mental State Examination [3MS]) and executive functioning (digit symbol substitution test [DSST]) over 10 years varied by previous parity (nulliparity, low parity, medium parity, and grand multiparity). An analysis of covariance was performed with cognition (average and change over 10 years) as the dependent variables, parity as a categorical predictor, average PA as a continuous predictor, and a set of relevant covariates. RESULTS Significant interactions were found between PA and parity group for all 4 comparisons: average 3MS (p = .014), average DSST (p = .032), change in 3MS (p = .016), and change in DSST (p = .017). Simple slope analyses indicated the positive relationship between PA and average 3MS and DSST was only significant in the nulliparity and grand multiparity groups, and the positive relationship between PA and change in 3MS and DSST was only significant in the grand multiparity group. CONCLUSION The findings suggest the relationship between self-reported walking and cognitive performance was strongest in the groups at risk for cognitive decline and dementia, the nulliparous and grand multiparous groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy K Barha
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - John R Best
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Caterina Rosano
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kristine Yaffe
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, California, San Francisco, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California,USA
| | - Janet M Catov
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Teresa Liu-Ambrose
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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12
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The Mother-Baby Bond: Role of Past and Current Relationships. CHILDREN 2023; 10:children10030421. [PMID: 36979979 PMCID: PMC10046950 DOI: 10.3390/children10030421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
During the perinatal period, up to 25% of women experience difficulties in relating to their child. The mother-child bond promotes the transition to motherhood, protects the woman from depression, and protects the child from the intergenerational transmission of the disease. This study prospectively investigated if the relationship with the co-parent, the attachment style, and the bond that women had with their parents influenced the mother-fetus and then mother-child bond. We also explored the role of depression and anxiety. One hundred nineteen pregnant women were enrolled. We administered clinical interviews and psychometric tools. A telephone interview was conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Maternal insecure attachment style (r = −0.253, p = 0.006) and women’s dyadic adjustment in the couple’s relationships (r = 0.182, p = 0.049) were correlated with lower maternal–fetal attachment. Insecure attachment styles and depression correlate with bottle-feeding rather than breastfeeding. The bond women had with their mothers, not their fathers, was associated with breastfeeding. Depression (OR = 0.243, p = 0.008) and anxiety (OR = 0.185, p = 0.004; OR = 0.304, p < 0.0001) were related to mother-infant bonding. Close relationships, past and present, affect the bond with the fetus and the child differently. Psychotherapy can provide reassuring and restorative intersubjective experiences.
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13
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Moyce Gruber BL, Dolinsky VW. The Role of Adiponectin during Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:301. [PMID: 36836658 PMCID: PMC9958871 DOI: 10.3390/life13020301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy involves a range of metabolic adaptations to supply adequate energy for fetal growth and development. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is defined as hyperglycemia with first onset during pregnancy. GDM is a recognized risk factor for both pregnancy complications and long-term maternal and offspring risk of cardiometabolic disease development. While pregnancy changes maternal metabolism, GDM can be viewed as a maladaptation by maternal systems to pregnancy, which may include mechanisms such as insufficient insulin secretion, dysregulated hepatic glucose output, mitochondrial dysfunction and lipotoxicity. Adiponectin is an adipose-tissue-derived adipokine that circulates in the body and regulates a diverse range of physiologic mechanisms including energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity. In pregnant women, circulating adiponectin levels decrease correspondingly with insulin sensitivity, and adiponectin levels are low in GDM. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge about metabolic adaptations to pregnancy and the role of adiponectin in these processes, with a focus on GDM. Recent studies from rodent model systems have clarified that adiponectin deficiency during pregnancy contributes to GDM development. The upregulation of adiponectin alleviates hyperglycemia in pregnant mice, although much remains to be understood for adiponectin to be utilized clinically for GDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany L. Moyce Gruber
- Diabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba (DREAM), Research Theme of the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T6, Canada
| | - Vernon W. Dolinsky
- Diabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba (DREAM), Research Theme of the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T6, Canada
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14
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Araujo-Menendez CE, Saelzler UG, Stickel AM, Sundermann EE, Banks SJ, Paipilla A, Barnes ML, Panizzon MS. Associations Between Parity and Cognition: Race/Ethnic Differences. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 94:1157-1168. [PMID: 37393496 PMCID: PMC10473123 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221210] [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] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Race/ethnicity is associated with differences in reproductive history and cognition individually, yet it remains an understudied factor in the relationship between parity and later-life cognition. OBJECTIVE To evaluate if the association between parity and cognition differs between racial/ethnic groups. METHODS Participants included 778 older, postmenopausal women from the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Latina: n = 178, Non-Latino Black [NLB]: n = 169, Non-Latino White [NLW]: n = 431) who self-reported at least one birth. Cognitive outcomes included working memory, learning memory, and verbal fluency. Covariates included age, education, cardiovascular and other reproductive health factors, adult socioeconomic status (SES) and depressive symptoms. We fit a series of linear models to examine a) whether parity was associated with cognitive functioning, b) if this association varied by race/ethnicity through parity by race/ethnicity interactions, and c) individual parity with cognition associations stratified by race/ethnicity. RESULTS In the full sample, parity was significantly negatively associated with Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) performance (b = -0.70, p = 0.024) but not Animal Fluency or word-list learning and memory. Tests of race/ethnicity-by-parity interactions were not statistically significant (ps > 0.05). However, stratified analyses by race/ethnicity showed a differential effect of parity on DSST performance, such that parity was significantly negatively associated with DSST performance (b = -1.66, p = 0.007) among Latinas but not in NLWs (b = -0.16, p = 0.74) or NLBs (b = -0.81, p = 0.191). CONCLUSION Among Latina, but not NLB or NLW women, greater parity was associated with worse processing speed/executive functioning later in life. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms driving racial/ethnic differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ursula G. Saelzler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ariana M. Stickel
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Erin E. Sundermann
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sarah J. Banks
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrea Paipilla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - McKinna L. Barnes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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15
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Nolvi S, Merz EC, Kataja EL, Parsons CE. Prenatal Stress and the Developing Brain: Postnatal Environments Promoting Resilience. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 93:942-952. [PMID: 36870895 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Heightened maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with atypical brain development and an elevated risk for psychopathology in offspring. Supportive environments during early postnatal life may promote brain development and reverse atypical developmental trajectories induced by prenatal stress. We reviewed studies focused on the role of key early environmental factors in moderating associations between prenatal stress exposure and infant brain and neurocognitive outcomes. Specifically, we focused on the associations between parental caregiving quality, environmental enrichment, social support, and socioeconomic status with infant brain and neurocognitive outcomes. We examined the evidence that these factors may moderate the effects of prenatal stress on the developing brain. Complementing findings from translational models, human research suggests that high-quality early postnatal environments are associated with indices of infant neurodevelopment that have also been associated with prenatal stress, such as hippocampal volume and frontolimbic connectivity. Human studies also suggest that maternal sensitivity and higher socioeconomic status may attenuate the effects of prenatal stress on established neurocognitive and neuroendocrine mediators of risk for psychopathology, such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning. Biological pathways that may underlie the effects of positive early environments on the infant brain, including the epigenome, oxytocin, and inflammation, are also discussed. Future research in humans should examine resilience-promoting processes in relation to infant brain development using large sample sizes and longitudinal designs. The findings from this review could be incorporated into clinical models of risk and resilience during the perinatal period and used to design more effective early programs that reduce risk for psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saara Nolvi
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Turku Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Medicine, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Emily C Merz
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Eeva-Leena Kataja
- Department of Clinical Medicine, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Christine E Parsons
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Interacting Minds Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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16
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The Genomic Architecture of Pregnancy-Associated Plasticity in the Maternal Mouse Hippocampus. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0117-22.2022. [PMID: 36239981 PMCID: PMC9522463 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0117-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is associated with extraordinary plasticity in the maternal brain. Studies in humans and other mammals suggest extensive structural and functional remodeling of the female brain during and after pregnancy. However, we understand remarkably little about the molecular underpinnings of this natural phenomenon. To gain insight into pregnancy-associated hippocampal plasticity, we performed single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and snATAC-seq from the mouse hippocampus before, during, and after pregnancy. We identified cell type-specific transcriptional and epigenetic signatures associated with pregnancy and postpartum adaptation. In addition, we analyzed receptor-ligand interactions and transcription factor (TF) motifs that inform hippocampal cell type identity and provide evidence of pregnancy-associated adaption. In total, these data provide a unique resource of coupled transcriptional and epigenetic data across a dynamic time period in the mouse hippocampus and suggest opportunities for functional interrogation of hormone-mediated plasticity.
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17
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Gotlieb N, Wilsterman K, Finn SL, Browne MF, Bever SR, Iwakoshi-Ukena E, Ukena K, Bentley GE, Kriegsfeld LJ. Impact of Chronic Prenatal Stress on Maternal Neuroendocrine Function and Embryo and Placenta Development During Early-to-Mid-Pregnancy in Mice. Front Physiol 2022; 13:886298. [PMID: 35770190 PMCID: PMC9234491 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.886298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychological stress, both leading up to and during pregnancy, is associated with increased risk for negative pregnancy outcomes. Although the neuroendocrine circuits that link the stress response to reduced sexual motivation and mating are well-described, the specific pathways by which stress negatively impacts gestational outcomes remain unclear. Using a mouse model of chronic psychological stress during pregnancy, we investigated 1) how chronic exposure to stress during gestation impacts maternal reproductive neuroendocrine circuitry, and 2) whether stress alters developmental outcomes for the fetus or placenta by mid-pregnancy. Focusing on the stress-responsive neuropeptide RFRP-3, we identified novel contacts between RFRP-3-immunoreactive (RFRP-3-ir) cells and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons in the arcuate nucleus, thus providing a potential pathway linking the neuroendocrine stress response directly to pituitary prolactin production and release. However, neither of these cell populations nor circulating levels of pituitary hormones were affected by chronic stress. Conversely, circulating levels of steroid hormones relevant to gestational outcomes (progesterone and corticosterone) were altered in chronically-stressed dams across gestation, and those dams were qualitatively more likely to experience delays in fetal development. Together, these findings suggest that, up until at least mid-pregnancy, mothers appear to be relatively resilient to the effects of elevated glucocorticoids on reproductive neuroendocrine system function. We conclude that understanding how chronic psychological stress impacts reproductive outcomes will require understanding individual susceptibility and identifying reliable neuroendocrine changes resulting from gestational stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neta Gotlieb
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Kathryn Wilsterman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
- Biology Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Samantha L. Finn
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Madison F. Browne
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Savannah R. Bever
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Eiko Iwakoshi-Ukena
- Laboratory of Neurometabolism, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Ukena
- Laboratory of Neurometabolism, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - George E. Bentley
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Lance J. Kriegsfeld
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Lance J. Kriegsfeld,
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18
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Sanson A, Bosch OJ. Dysfunctions of brain oxytocin signaling: Implications for poor mothering. Neuropharmacology 2022; 211:109049. [PMID: 35390436 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Good mothering has profound impact on both the mother's and the young's well-being. Consequently, experiencing inadequate maternal care - or even neglect - in the first stages of life is a major risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders, and even for poor parenting towards the future offspring. Thus, understanding the neurobiological basis of maternal neglect becomes crucial. Along with other neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, oxytocin (OXT) has long been known as one of the main modulators of maternal behavior. In rodents, disruptions of central OXT transmission have been associated with poor maternal responses, like impaired onset of nursing behaviors, and reduced care and defense of the pups. Importantly, such behavioral and molecular deficits can be transmitted through generations, creating a vicious circle of low-quality maternal behavior. Similarly, evidence from human studies shows that OXT signaling is defective in conditions of inadequate mothering and child neglect. On those premises, this review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of animal and human studies linking perturbed OXT transmission to poor maternal behavior. Considering the important fallouts of inadequate maternal responses, we believe that unraveling the alterations in OXT transmission might provide useful insights for a better understanding of maternal neglect and, ultimately, for future intervention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Sanson
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Oliver J Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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19
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Holmberg E, Kataja EL, Davis EP, Pajulo M, Nolvi S, Hakanen H, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Korja R. The Connection and Development of Unpredictability and Sensitivity in Maternal Care Across Early Childhood. Front Psychol 2022; 13:803047. [PMID: 35330718 PMCID: PMC8940198 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.803047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Both patterns of maternal sensory signals and sensitive care have shown to be crucial elements shaping child development. However, research concerning these aspects of maternal care has focused mainly on maternal sensitivity with fewer studies evaluating the impact of patterns of maternal behaviors and changes in these indices across infancy and childhood. The aims of this study were to explore how maternal unpredictability of sensory signals and sensitivity develop and associate with each other from infancy to toddlerhood and whether elevated maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms relate to maternal unpredictable signals and sensitivity in toddlerhood. The study population consisted of 356 mother–child dyads assessed at 30 months; a subset of 103 mother–child dyads additionally participated in 8 months assessment. Maternal unpredictability and sensitivity were assessed from video-recorded free-play episodes at 8 and 30 months. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed with questionnaires at gestational weeks 14, 24, 34 and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Mean level of mothers’ unpredictability decreased on average whereas sensitivity did not change between infancy and toddlerhood. Both maternal unpredictability and sensitivity showed moderate level of individual stability from infancy to toddlerhood and these two measures were modestly correlated within each age. Elevated maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were not related to unpredictability but related to lower maternal sensitivity in toddlerhood. These results identify unpredictable sensory signals as a characteristic of parental care that is independent of standard quality measures and suggest that it may be less influenced by maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eeva Holmberg
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- *Correspondence: Eeva Holmberg,
| | - Eeva-Leena Kataja
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Marjukka Pajulo
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Saara Nolvi
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Turku Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hetti Hakanen
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland
| | - Riikka Korja
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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20
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Animal models of postpartum depression revisited. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 136:105590. [PMID: 34839082 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a heterogeneous mood disorder and the most frequent psychiatric complication of the postnatal period. Given its potential long-lasting repercussions on the well-being of the mother and the infants, it should be a priority in public health. In spite of efforts devoted to clinical investigation and preclinical studies, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of this disorder remain unknown in detail. Much of the progress in the area has been made from animal models, especially rodent models. The aim of this mini-review is to update the current rodent models in PPD research and their main contributions to the field. Animal models are critical tools to advance understanding of the pathophysiological basis of this disorder and to help the development of new therapeutic strategies. Here, we group PPD models into 2 main categories (Models based on hormone manipulations, Models based on stress exposure), each of which includes different paradigms that reflect risk factors or physiological conditions associated with this disease. Finally, we provide an overview of emerging models that provide new perspectives on the study of possible pathophysiological factors related to PPD, to contribute to tackling potential therapeutic targets.
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21
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Pawluski JL, Hoekzema E, Leuner B, Lonstein JS. Less can be more: Fine tuning the maternal brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 133:104475. [PMID: 34864004 PMCID: PMC8807930 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PAWLUSKI, J.L., Hoekzema, E., Leuner, B., and Lonstein, J.S. Less can be more: Fine tuning the maternal brain. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV (129) XXX-XXX, 2022. Plasticity in the female brain across the lifespan has recently become a growing field of scientific inquiry. This has led to the understanding that the transition to motherhood is marked by some of the most significant changes in brain plasticity in the adult female brain. Perhaps unexpectedly, plasticity occurring in the maternal brain often involves a decrease in brain volume, neurogenesis and glial cell density that presumably optimizes caregiving and other postpartum behaviors. This review summarizes what we know of the 'fine-tuning' of the female brain that accompanies motherhood and highlights the implications of these changes for maternal neurobehavioral health. The first part of the review summarizes structural and functional brain changes in humans during pregnancy and postpartum period with the remainder of the review focusing on neural and glial plasticity during the peripartum period in animal models. The aim of this review is to provide a clear understanding of when 'less is more' in maternal brain plasticity and where future research can focus to improve our understanding of the unique brain plasticity occurring during matrescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi L. Pawluski
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France.,Corresponding author: Jodi L. Pawluski, University of Rennes 1, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Elseline Hoekzema
- Brain and Development Laboratory, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Hoekzema Lab, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Benedetta Leuner
- The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology & Department of Neuroscience Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joseph S. Lonstein
- Neuroscience Program & Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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22
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Aleknaviciute J, Evans TE, Aribas E, de Vries MW, Steegers EAP, Ikram MA, Tiemeier H, Kavousi M, Vernooij MW, Kushner SA. Long-term association of pregnancy and maternal brain structure: the Rotterdam Study. Eur J Epidemiol 2022; 37:271-281. [PMID: 34989970 PMCID: PMC9110529 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-021-00818-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The peripartum period is the highest risk interval for the onset or exacerbation of psychiatric illness in women’s lives. Notably, pregnancy and childbirth have been associated with short-term structural and functional changes in the maternal human brain. Yet the long-term effects of pregnancy on maternal brain structure remain unknown. We investigated a large population-based cohort to examine the association between parity and brain structure. In total, 2,835 women (mean age 65.2 years; all free from dementia, stroke, and cortical brain infarcts) from the Rotterdam Study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T) between 2005 and 2015. Associations of parity with global and lobar brain tissue volumes, white matter microstructure, and markers of vascular brain disease were examined using regression models. We found that parity was associated with a larger global gray matter volume (β = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.09–0.19), a finding that persisted following adjustment for sociodemographic factors. A non-significant dose-dependent relationship was observed between a higher number of childbirths and larger gray matter volume. The gray matter volume association with parity was globally proportional across lobes. No associations were found regarding white matter volume or integrity, nor with markers of cerebral small vessel disease. The current findings suggest that pregnancy and childbirth are associated with robust long-term changes in brain structure involving a larger global gray matter volume that persists for decades. Future studies are warranted to further investigate the mechanism and physiological relevance of these differences in brain morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurate Aleknaviciute
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tavia E Evans
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 90, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elif Aribas
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 90, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Merel W de Vries
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric A P Steegers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammad Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 90, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maryam Kavousi
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 90, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Meike W Vernooij
- Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. .,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 90, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Steven A Kushner
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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23
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Worthen RJ, Beurel E. Inflammatory and neurodegenerative pathophysiology implicated in postpartum depression. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 165:105646. [PMID: 35104645 PMCID: PMC8956291 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common psychiatric complication associated with pregnancy and childbirth with debilitating symptoms that negatively impact the quality of life of the mother as well as inflict potentially long-lasting developmental impairments to the child. Much of the theoretical pathophysiology put forth to explain the emergence of PPD overlaps with that of major depressive disorder (MDD) and, although not conventionally described in such terms, can be seen as neurodegenerative in nature. Framing the disorder from the perspective of the well-established inflammatory theory of depression, symptoms are thought to be driven by dysregulation, and subsequent hyperactivation of the body's immune response to stress. Compounded by physiological stressors such as drastic fluctuations in hormone signaling, physical and psychosocial stressors placed upon new mothers lay bare a number of significant vulnerabilities, or points of potential failure, in systems critical for maintaining healthy brain function. The inability to compensate or properly adapt to meet the changing demands placed upon these systems has the potential to damage neurons, hinder neuronal growth and repair, and disrupt neuronal circuit integrity such that essential functional outputs like mood and cognition are altered. The impact of this deterioration in brain function, which includes depressive symptoms, extends to the child who relies on the mother for critical life-sustaining care as well as important cognitive stimulation, accentuating the need for further research.
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24
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Martínez-García M, Cardenas SI, Pawluski J, Carmona S, Saxbe DE. Recent Neuroscience Advances in Human Parenting. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 27:239-267. [PMID: 36169818 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-97762-7_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The transition to parenthood entails brain adaptations to the demands of caring for a newborn. This chapter reviews recent neuroscience findings on human parenting, focusing on neuroimaging studies. First, we describe the brain circuits underlying human maternal behavior, which comprise ancient subcortical circuits and more sophisticated cortical regions. Then, we present the short-term and long-term functional and structural brain adaptations that characterize the transition to motherhood, discuss the long-term effects of parenthood on the brain, and propose several underlying neural mechanisms. We also review neuroimaging findings in biological fathers and alloparents (such as other relatives or adoptive parents), who engage in parenting without directly experiencing pregnancy or childbirth. Finally, we describe perinatal mental illnesses and discuss the neural responses associated with such disorders. To date, studies indicate that parenthood is a period of enhanced brain plasticity within brain areas critical for cognitive and social processing and that both parenting experience and gestational-related factors can prime such plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Martínez-García
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sofia I Cardenas
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jodi Pawluski
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), Rennes, France
| | - Susanna Carmona
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Darby E Saxbe
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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25
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Provenzi L, Villa M, Mambretti F, Citterio A, Grumi S, Bertazzoli E, Biasucci G, Decembrino L, Gardella B, Giacchero R, Magnani ML, Nacinovich R, Pisoni C, Prefumo F, Orcesi S, Scelsa B, Giorda R, Borgatti R. Is Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor Methylation Involved in the Association Between Prenatal Stress and Maternal Postnatal Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:950455. [PMID: 35911240 PMCID: PMC9329563 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.950455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic is a collective trauma that may expose susceptible individuals to high levels of stress. Pregnant women represent a high-risk population, considering that pregnancy is a period of heightened neuroplasticity and susceptibility to stress through epigenetic mechanisms. Previous studies showed that the methylation status of the BDNF gene is linked with prenatal stress exposure. The goals of this study were (a) to assess the association between pandemic-related stress and postnatal anxiety and (b) to investigate the potential role of maternal BDNF methylation as a significant mediator of this association. METHODS In the present study, we report data on the association among pandemic-related stress during pregnancy, maternal BDNF methylation, and postnatal anxiety symptoms. Pandemic-related stress and postnatal anxiety were assessed through self-report instruments. BDNF methylation was estimated in 11 CpG sites in DNA from mothers' buccal cells. Complete data were available from 108 mothers. RESULTS Results showed that pandemic-related stress was associated with an increased risk of postnatal anxiety, r = 0.20, p < 0.05. CpG-specific BDNF methylation was significantly associated with both prenatal pandemic-related stress, r = 0.21, p < 0.05, and postnatal maternal anxious symptoms, r = 0.25, p = 0.01. Moreover, a complete mediation by the BDNF CpG6 methylation emerged between pandemic-related stress during pregnancy and postnatal maternal anxiety, ACME = 0.66, p < 0.05. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that BDNF epigenetic regulation by pandemic-related stress might contribute to increase the risk of anxiety in mothers. Policymakers should prioritize the promotion of health and wellbeing in pregnant women and mothers during the present healthcare emergency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Provenzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Villa
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | | | | | - Serena Grumi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Barbara Gardella
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Renata Nacinovich
- ASST Monza, Monza, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Federico Prefumo
- ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.,Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Orcesi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Giorda
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Renato Borgatti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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26
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Strain J, Spaans F, Serhan M, Davidge ST, Connor KL. Programming of weight and obesity across the lifecourse by the maternal metabolic exposome: A systematic review. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 87:100986. [PMID: 34167845 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.100986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Exposome research aims to comprehensively understand the multiple environmental exposures that influence human health. To date, much of exposome science has focused on environmental chemical exposures and does not take a lifecourse approach. The rising prevalence of obesity, and the limited success in its prevention points to the need for a better understanding of the diverse exposures that associate with, or protect against, this condition, and the mechanisms driving its pathogenesis. The objectives of this review were to 1. evaluate the evidence on the maternal metabolic exposome in the programming of offspring growth/obesity and 2. identify and discuss the mechanisms underlying the programming of obesity. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to capture articles that investigated early life metabolic exposures and offspring weight and/or obesity outcomes. Scientific databases were searched using pre-determined indexed search terms, and risk of bias assessments were conducted to determine study quality. A final total of 76 articles were obtained and extracted data from human and animal studies were visualised using GOfER diagrams. Multiple early life exposures, including maternal obesity, diabetes and adverse nutrition, increase the risk of high weight at birth and postnatally, and excess adipose accumulation in human and animal offspring. The main mechanisms through which the metabolic exposome programmes offspring growth and obesity risk include epigenetic modifications, altered placental function, altered composition of the gut microbiome and breast milk, and metabolic inflammation, with downstream effects on development of the central appetite system, adipose tissues and liver. Understanding early life risks and protectors, and the mechanisms through which the exposome modifies health trajectories, is critical for developing and applying early interventions to prevent offspring obesity later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Strain
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Floor Spaans
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Mohamed Serhan
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Kristin L Connor
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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27
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The Characterization of Sex Differences in Hypoglycemia-Induced Activation of HPA Axis on the Transcriptomic Level. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 42:1523-1542. [PMID: 33544274 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01043-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis using an insulin tolerance test (ITT) is a medical diagnostic procedure that is frequently used in humans to assess the HPA and growth-hormone (GH) axes. Whether sex differences exist in the response to ITT stress is unknown. Thus, investigations into the analysis of transcripts during activation of the HPA axis in response to hypoglycemia have revealed the underlying influences of sex in signaling pathways that stimulate the HPA axis. We assessed four time points of ITT application in Balb/c mice. After insulin injection, expression levels of 192 microRNAs and 41 mRNAs associated with the HPA, GH and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes were determined by real-time RT-PCR in the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal tissues, as well as blood samples (Raw data accession: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10qI00NAtjxOepcNKxSJnQbJeBFa6zgHK?usp=sharing ). Although the ITT is commonly used as a gold standard for evaluating the HPA axis, we found completely different responses between males and females with respect to activation of the HPA axis. While activation of several transcripts in the hypothalamus and pituitary was observed after performing the ITT in males within 10 min, females responded via the pituitary and adrenal immediately and durably over 40 min. Additionally, we found that microRNA alterations precede mRNA responses in the HPA axis. Furthermore, robust changes in the levels of several transcripts including Avpr1b and Avpr2 observed at all time points strongly suggest that transcriptional control of these genes occurs mostly via differential signaling in pituitary and blood between males and females. Male and female HPA axis responses to ITT involve a number of sophisticated regulatory signaling pathways of miRNAs and mRNAs. Our results highlight the first robust markers in several layers of HPA, HPG and GH axis involved in ITT/hypoglycemia stress-induced dynamics.
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28
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Lindberg M, Nolvi S, Härkönen J, Aatsinki AK, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Uusitupa HM. Associations between maternal socioeconomic, psychosocial and seasonal factors, infant characteristics and human milk cortisol concentrations. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 33:e23561. [PMID: 33398927 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Glucocorticoids are one component of human milk (HM) potentially affecting offspring development. Previous studies have identified various maternal, obstetric and socioeconomic characteristics that are associated with HM cortisol concentration but the literature is still scarce concerning these determinants in human populations. We aimed to identify which factors are linked with HM cortisol concentration at 2 months postpartum. METHODS We analyzed data from 340 lactating Finnish mothers using ordinary least squares regression with log-transformed HM cortisol concentration as the dependent variable. Potential predictors included obstetric and maternal factors (maternal age, parity status, delivery mode, gestational age, pre-pregnancy obesity, and smoking in pregnancy), socioeconomic status (education and socioeconomic class), subjective economic well-being, maternal psychosocial factors (postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms), infant sex and age, and HM sample characteristics (time of the day and season of the year at sample collection). RESULTS The strongest and most robust predictors were season of the year of sample collection and parity status. HM cortisol concentration was significantly higher for primiparas than multiparas. HM samples collected in summer showed significantly higher cortisol concentrations than those collected in winter, spring or autumn. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that parity and season of the year at sample collection may be important factors to control for when examining HM cortisol. The strongest and most robust associations were related to maternal and sample characteristics and not to socioeconomic and psychosocial distress. This may be related to the fact that the study was conducted in a low-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Lindberg
- Department of Social Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Saara Nolvi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Medical Psychology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Turku Institute for Advanced Studies, Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Juho Härkönen
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute, Florence, Italy.,Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna-Katariina Aatsinki
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Henna-Maria Uusitupa
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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29
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Kim P. How stress can influence brain adaptations to motherhood. Front Neuroendocrinol 2021; 60:100875. [PMID: 33038383 PMCID: PMC7539902 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Research shows that a woman's brain and body undergo drastic changes to support her transition to parenthood during the perinatal period. The presence of this plasticity suggests that mothers' brains may be changed by their experiences. Exposure to severe stress may disrupt adaptive changes in the maternal brain and further impact the neural circuits of stress regulation and maternal motivation. Emerging literature of human mothers provides evidence that stressful experience, whether from the past or present environment, is associated with altered responses to infant cues in brain circuits that support maternal motivation, emotion regulation, and empathy. Interventions that reduce stress levels in mothers may reverse the negative impact of stress exposure on the maternal brain. Finally, outstanding questions regarding the timing, chronicity, types, and severity of stress exposure, as well as study design to identify the causal impact of stress, and the role of race/ethnicity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilyoung Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States.
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30
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Alomar-Dominguez C, Dostal L, Thaler J, Putz G, Humpel C, Lederer W. Beta-amyloid peptides(1-42) and (1-40) in the cerebrospinal fluid during pregnancy: a prospective observational study. Arch Womens Ment Health 2021; 24:455-461. [PMID: 33009578 PMCID: PMC8116303 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-020-01072-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate changes in concentrations of selected biomarkers, neurotrophic factors, and growth factors in the cerebrospinal fluid during pregnancy. A prospective observational study was conducted in 32 pregnant women undergoing gynecological and obstetrical surgery under spinal anesthesia in a university hospital. Beta-amyloid(1-42) and beta-amyloid(1-40) peptides, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor were analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Eight women in second trimester pregnancy who underwent spinal anesthesia for gynecological or obstetrical surgery were compared with 24 matched women in third trimester pregnancies. CSF concentrations of beta-amyloid(1-42) were significantly higher in third trimester pregnancies (p = 0.025). During third trimester, the beta-amyloid ratio correlated with the vascular endothelial growth factor (rs = 0.657; p = 0.008). Higher concentrations of beta-amyloid(1-42) in cerebrospinal fluid of third trimester pregnancies and correlations between the beta-amyloid ratio and the vascular endothelial growth factor support the hypothesis that beta-amyloid peptides are involved in complex adaptive brain alterations during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Alomar-Dominguez
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - L Dostal
- Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - J Thaler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - G Putz
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - C Humpel
- Psychiatric Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - W Lederer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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31
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Holmberg E, Teppola T, Pajulo M, Davis EP, Nolvi S, Kataja EL, Sinervä E, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Korja R. Maternal Anxiety Symptoms and Self-Regulation Capacity Are Associated With the Unpredictability of Maternal Sensory Signals in Caregiving Behavior. Front Psychol 2020; 11:564158. [PMID: 33414740 PMCID: PMC7782240 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.564158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The unpredictability of maternal sensory signals in caregiving behavior has been recently found to be linked with infant neurodevelopment. The research area is new, and very little is yet known, how maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms and specific parental characteristics relate to the unpredictable maternal care. The aims of the current study were to explore how pre- and postnatal maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms and self-regulation capacity associate with the unpredictability of maternal sensory signals. The study population consisted of 177 mother-infant dyads. The unpredictability of the maternal sensory signals was explored from the video-recorded mother-infant free play situation when the infant was 8 months of age. Pre- and postnatal anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured by questionnaires prenatally at gwks 14, 24, 34, and 3 and 6 months postpartum. Maternal self-regulation capacity, a trait considered to be stable in adulthood, was assessed using adult temperament questionnaire when the infant was 12 months of age. We found that elevated prenatal maternal anxiety symptoms associated with higher unpredictability in the maternal care while depressive symptoms were unrelated to the unpredictability of maternal care. Moreover, the association was moderated by maternal self-regulation capacity, as higher anxiety symptoms during pre-and postnatal period were associated more unpredictability among the mothers with low self-regulation capacity. The combination of higher amount of maternal anxiety symptoms and lower self-regulation capacity seems to constitute specific risk for the unpredictable maternal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eeva Holmberg
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Taija Teppola
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Marjukka Pajulo
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Saara Nolvi
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Turku Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt - Univeristät zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eeva-Leena Kataja
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Eija Sinervä
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland
| | - Riikka Korja
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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de Lange AG, Barth C, Kaufmann T, Anatürk M, Suri S, Ebmeier KP, Westlye LT. The maternal brain: Region-specific patterns of brain aging are traceable decades after childbirth. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:4718-4729. [PMID: 32767637 PMCID: PMC7555081 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy involves maternal brain adaptations, but little is known about how parity influences women's brain aging trajectories later in life. In this study, we replicated previous findings showing less apparent brain aging in women with a history of childbirths, and identified regional brain aging patterns linked to parity in 19,787 middle- and older-aged women. Using novel applications of brain-age prediction methods, we found that a higher number of previous childbirths were linked to less apparent brain aging in striatal and limbic regions. The strongest effect was found in the accumbens-a key region in the mesolimbic reward system, which plays an important role in maternal behavior. While only prospective longitudinal studies would be conclusive, our findings indicate that subcortical brain modulations during pregnancy and postpartum may be traceable decades after childbirth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann‐Marie G. de Lange
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Claudia Barth
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Tobias Kaufmann
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Melis Anatürk
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Sana Suri
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Lars T. Westlye
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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Qiu W, Hodges TE, Clark EL, Blankers SA, Galea LAM. Perinatal depression: Heterogeneity of disease and in animal models. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 59:100854. [PMID: 32750403 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Perinatal depression (PND) can have either an antepartum or postpartum onset. Although the greatest risk factor for PND is previous depression history,de novoPND occurs with the majority of cases occurring in the postpartum. Timing of depression can impact etiology, prognosis, and response to treatment. Thus, it is crucial to study the impact of the heterogeneity of PND for better health outcomes. In this review, we outline the differences between antepartum and postpartum depression onset of PND. We discuss maternal physiological changes that differ between pregnancy and postpartum and how these may differentially impact depression susceptibility. We highlight changes in the maternal steroid and peptide hormone levels, immune signalling, serotonergic tone, metabolic factors, brain morphology, and the gut microbiome. Finally, we argue that studying the heterogeneity of PND in clinical and preclinical models can lead to improved knowledge of disease etiopathology and treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wansu Qiu
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Travis E Hodges
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emily L Clark
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Samantha A Blankers
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Liisa A M Galea
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada.
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de Lange AMG, Barth C, Kaufmann T, Maximov II, van der Meer D, Agartz I, Westlye LT. Women's brain aging: Effects of sex-hormone exposure, pregnancies, and genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:5141-5150. [PMID: 32856754 PMCID: PMC7670641 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones such as estrogen fluctuate across the female lifespan, with high levels during reproductive years and natural decline during the transition to menopause. Women's exposure to estrogen may influence their heightened risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) relative to men, but little is known about how it affects normal brain aging. Recent findings from the UK Biobank demonstrate less apparent brain aging in women with a history of multiple childbirths, highlighting a potential link between sex-hormone exposure and brain aging. We investigated endogenous and exogenous sex-hormone exposure, genetic risk for AD, and neuroimaging-derived biomarkers for brain aging in 16,854 middle to older-aged women. The results showed that as opposed to parity, higher cumulative sex-hormone exposure was associated with more evident brain aging, indicating that i) high levels of cumulative exposure to sex-hormones may have adverse effects on the brain, and ii) beneficial effects of pregnancies on the female brain are not solely attributable to modulations in sex-hormone exposure. In addition, for women using hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), starting treatment earlier was associated with less evident brain aging, but only in women with a genetic risk for AD. Genetic factors may thus contribute to how timing of HRT initiation influences women's brain aging trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Marie G de Lange
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Claudia Barth
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tobias Kaufmann
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ivan I Maximov
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Psychiatry, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T Westlye
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test whether perception of insufficient milk (PIM) supply in the breast-feeding relationship of one child predicts how long mothers breast-feed subsequent children, and whether this association differs for first-time mothers v. mothers with previous children. DESIGN Secondary analysis of Infant Feeding Practices Study II (ordinary least squares regression) and Year 6 follow-up. SETTING Mailed, self-report survey of US mother-infant dyads, 2005-2012. PARTICIPANTS Women pregnant with a singleton were recruited from a consumer opinion panel. Exclusion criteria included: mother age <18; infant born <5 lbs, born before 35 weeks or with extended NICU stay, and mother or infant diagnosed with condition that impacts feeding. A subsample with PIM data (n 1460) was analysed. RESULTS We found that women who weaned because of PIM with the index child stopped breast-feeding 5·7 weeks earlier than those who weaned due to other reasons (4·9 weeks earlier for multiparas, P < 0·001; 7·1 weeks earlier for primiparas, P < 0·001). Using Year 6 follow-up data (n 350), we found subsequent child 1 weaned 9·2 weeks earlier if the mother experiences PIM as a multipara (P = 0·020) and 10·6 weeks earlier if the mother experiences PIM as a primipara (P = 0·019). For subsequent child 2 (n 78), the magnitude of association was even larger, although insignificant due to low power. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that PIM may carry forward in the reproductive life course, especially for first-time mothers. Perceptions of breast milk insufficiency and contributors to actual inadequate milk supply with the first child should be targeted, rather than intervening later in the reproductive life course.
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Camacho-Arroyo I, Piña-Medina AG, Bello-Alvarez C, Zamora-Sánchez CJ. Sex hormones and proteins involved in brain plasticity. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2020; 114:145-165. [PMID: 32723542 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
It is well known that peripheral sex steroid hormones cross the blood-brain barrier and control a broad spectrum of reproductive behaviors. However, their role in other essential brain functions was investigated since the 1980s, when the accumulation of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone in the brain of mammalian species was determined. Since then, numerous studies have demonstrated the participation of sex hormones in brain plasticity processes. Sex hormones through both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms of action are capable of inducing gene transcription or activating signaling cascades that result in the promotion of different physiological and pathological events of brain plasticity, such as remodeling or formation of dendritic spines, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis or myelination. In this chapter, we will present the effects of sex hormones and proteins involved in brain plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Ana Gabriela Piña-Medina
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, México
| | - Claudia Bello-Alvarez
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carmen J Zamora-Sánchez
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
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37
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Barth C, de Lange AMG. Towards an understanding of women's brain aging: the immunology of pregnancy and menopause. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 58:100850. [PMID: 32504632 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Women are at significantly greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and show higher prevalence of autoimmune conditions relative to men. Women's brain health is historically understudied, and little is therefore known about the mechanisms underlying epidemiological sex differences in neurodegenerative diseases, and how female-specific factors may influence women's brain health across the lifespan. In this review, we summarize recent studies on the immunology of pregnancy and menopause, emphasizing that these major immunoendocrine transition phases may play a critical part in women's brain aging trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Barth
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ann-Marie G de Lange
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK.
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38
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Scarola S, Kent M, Neal S, Trejo JP, Bardi M, Lambert K. Postpartum environmental challenges alter maternal responsiveness and offspring development. Horm Behav 2020; 122:104761. [PMID: 32330549 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Because many threats exist in an animal's natural habitat, it is important to understand the impact of environmental challenges on maternal-offspring interactions and outcomes. In the current study, a rodent model incorporating the presence of restricted resources and an environmental threat (e.g. predator-related odors and sounds) was investigated. Specifically, pregnant females were assigned to one of four treatments: standard resources, without threat (SR; n = 7); standard resources plus threat (SR-T; n = 8); restricted resources, without threat (RR; n = 7); and restricted resources plus threat (RR-T; n = 6). Maternal rats were moved into the assigned conditions on postnatal day 2 and remained until pups were weaned. Following a standard pup retrieval task on postnatal days 2 and 6, maternal rats were exposed to a retrieval challenge task on postnatal day 8 in which each rat had to traverse a novel barrier to retrieve pups. For neurobiological measures of stress/resilience responsiveness, fecal samples were collected for detection of corticosterone and DHEA metabolites; additionally, immunohistochemistry was conducted on the maternal brains to indicate the presence of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus. Pup development measures, including body weight and tail length, were also collected. Results suggest that maternal rats with restricted resources exhibited diminished maternal responsiveness that resulted in altered pup development measures; further, restricted resource rats exhibited endocrine markers of compromised emotional resilience (lower DHEA) and decreased neural markers of neuroplasticity (BDNF) and emotional resilience (NPY). Interestingly, predator threat affected various aspects of maternal-pup interactions but had no effect on neurobiological variables, suggesting that restricted resources had a more negative impact on maternal-related outcomes than the presence of predator threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Scarola
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
| | - Molly Kent
- Department of Biology, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA 25440, USA
| | - Steven Neal
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
| | - Jose Perdomo Trejo
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
| | - Massimo Bardi
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
| | - Kelly Lambert
- Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173, USA.
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39
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Witteveen AB, Stramrood CAI, Henrichs J, Flanagan JC, van Pampus MG, Olff M. The oxytocinergic system in PTSD following traumatic childbirth: endogenous and exogenous oxytocin in the peripartum period. Arch Womens Ment Health 2020; 23:317-329. [PMID: 31385103 PMCID: PMC7244459 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-019-00994-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Birth experiences can be traumatic and may give rise to PTSD following childbirth (PTSD-FC). Peripartum neurobiological alterations in the oxytocinergic system are highly relevant for postpartum maternal behavioral and affective adaptions like bonding and lactation but are also implicated in the response to traumatic events. Animal models demonstrated that peripartum stress impairs beneficial maternal postpartum behavior. Early postpartum activation of the oxytocinergic system may, however, reverse these effects and thereby prevent adverse long-term consequences for both mother and infant. In this narrative review, we discuss the impact of trauma and PTSD-FC on normal endogenous oxytocinergic system fluctuations in the peripartum period. We also specifically focus on the potential of exogenous oxytocin (OT) to prevent and treat PTSD-FC. No trials of exogenous OT after traumatic childbirth and PTSD-FC were available. Evidence from non-obstetric PTSD samples and from postpartum healthy or depressed samples implies restorative functional neuroanatomic and psychological effects of exogenous OT such as improved PTSD symptoms and better mother-to-infant bonding, decreased limbic activation, and restored responsiveness in dopaminergic reward regions. Adverse effects of intranasal OT on mood and the increased fear processing and reduced top-down control over amygdala activation in women with acute trauma exposure or postpartum depression, however, warrant cautionary use of intranasal OT. Observational and experimental studies into the role of the endogenous and exogenous oxytocinergic system in PTSD-FC are needed and should explore individual and situational circumstances, including level of acute distress, intrapartum exogenous OT exposure, or history of childhood trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. B. Witteveen
- Department of Midwifery Science/AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Van der Boechorststraat 7, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C. A. I. Stramrood
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ The Netherlands
| | - J. Henrichs
- Department of Midwifery Science/AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Van der Boechorststraat 7, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J. C. Flanagan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., Charleston, 29425 SC USA
| | - M. G. van Pampus
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, OLVG, Oosterpark 9, Amsterdam, 1091 AC The Netherlands
| | - M. Olff
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ The Netherlands
- Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Nienoord 5, Diemen, 1112 XE The Netherlands
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40
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Creeth HDJ, John RM. The placental programming hypothesis: Placental endocrine insufficiency and the co-occurrence of low birth weight and maternal mood disorders. Placenta 2020; 98:52-59. [PMID: 33039032 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Polypeptide hormones and steroid hormones, either expressed by the placenta or dependant on the placenta for their synthesis, are key to driving adaptations in the mother during pregnancy that support growth in utero. These adaptations include changes in maternal behaviour that take place in pregnancy and after the birth to ensure that offspring receive appropriate care and nutrition. Placentally-derived hormones implicated in the programming of maternal caregiving in rodents include prolactin-related hormones and steroid hormones. Neuromodulators produced by the placenta may act directly on the fetus to support brain development. A number of imprinted genes function antagonistically in the placenta to regulate the development of key placental endocrine lineages expressing these hormones. Gain-in-expression of the normally maternally expressed gene Phlda2 or loss-of-function of the normally paternally expressed gene Peg3 results in fewer endocrine cells in the placenta, and pups are born low birth weight. Importantly, wild type dams carrying these genetically altered pups display alterations in their behaviour with decreased focus on nurturing (Phlda2) or heightened anxiety (Peg3). These same genes may regulate placental hormones in human pregnancies, with the potential to influence birth weight and maternal mood. Consequently, the aberrant expression of imprinted genes in the placenta may underlie the reported co-occurrence of low birth weight with maternal prenatal depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- H D J Creeth
- Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - R M John
- Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
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41
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Deems NP, Leuner B. Pregnancy, postpartum and parity: Resilience and vulnerability in brain health and disease. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 57:100820. [PMID: 31987814 PMCID: PMC7225072 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Risk and resilience in brain health and disease can be influenced by a variety of factors. While there is a growing appreciation to consider sex as one of these factors, far less attention has been paid to sex-specific variables that may differentially impact females such as pregnancy and reproductive history. In this review, we focus on nervous system disorders which show a female bias and for which there is data from basic research and clinical studies pointing to modification in disease risk and progression during pregnancy, postpartum and/or as a result of parity: multiple sclerosis (MS), depression, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In doing so, we join others (Shors, 2016; Galea et al., 2018a) in aiming to illustrate the importance of looking beyond sex in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P Deems
- The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Benedetta Leuner
- The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology, Columbus, OH, USA.
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42
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Rincón-Cortés M, Grace AA. Adaptations in reward-related behaviors and mesolimbic dopamine function during motherhood and the postpartum period. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 57:100839. [PMID: 32305528 PMCID: PMC7531575 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Initiation and maintenance of maternal behavior is driven by a complex interaction between the physiology of parturition and offspring stimulation, causing functional changes in maternal brain and behavior. Maternal behaviors are among the most robust and rewarding motivated behaviors. Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system alterations during pregnancy and the postpartum enable enhanced reward-related responses to offspring stimuli. Here, we review behavioral evidence demonstrating postpartum rodents exhibit a bias towards pups and pup-related stimuli in reward-related tasks. Next, we provide an overview of normative adaptations in the mesolimbic DA system induced by parturition and the postpartum, which likely mediate shifts in offspring valence. We also discuss a causal link between dopaminergic dysfunction and disrupted maternal behaviors, which are recapitulated in postpartum depression (PPD) and relevant rodent models. In sum, mesolimbic DA system activation drives infant-seeking behavior and strengthens the mother-infant bond, potentially representing a therapeutic target for reward-related deficits in PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Millie Rincón-Cortés
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, United States.
| | - Anthony A Grace
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, United States
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43
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Reorganization of perineuronal nets in the medial Preoptic Area during the reproductive cycle in female rats. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5479. [PMID: 32214157 PMCID: PMC7096482 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62163-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are aggregations of extracellular matrix associated with specific neuronal populations in the central nervous system, suggested to play key roles in neural development, synaptogenesis and experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. Pregnancy and lactation are characterized by a dramatic increase in neuroplasticity. However, dynamic changes in the extracellular matrix associated with maternal circuits have been mostly overlooked. We analyzed the structure of PNNs in an essential nucleus of the maternal circuit, the medial preoptic area (mPOA), during the reproductive cycle of rats, using the Wisteria floribunda (WFA) label. PNNs associated to neurons in the mPOA start to assemble halfway through gestation and become highly organized prior to parturition, fading through the postpartum period. This high expression of PNNs during pregnancy appears to be mediated by the influence of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, since a hormonal simulated-gestation treatment induced the expression of PNNs in ovariectomized females. We found that PNNs associated neurons in the mPOA express estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptors, supporting a putative role of reproductive hormones in the signaling mechanisms that trigger the assembly of PNNs in the mPOA. This is the first report of PNNs presence and remodeling in mPOA during adulthood induced by physiological variables.
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Behura SK, Kelleher AM, Spencer TE. Regulation of uterine genes during the peri‐implantation period, and its relationship to the maternal brain in gestating mice. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:482-492. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susanta K. Behura
- Division of Animal SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbia Missouri
- Institute for Data Science and InformaticsUniversity of MissouriColumbia Missouri
| | | | - Thomas E. Spencer
- Division of Animal SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbia Missouri
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's HealthUniversity of MissouriColumbia Missouri
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Misztal T, Czauderna MR, Młotkowska P, Misztal A, Marciniak E. Temporal changes in the cerebrospinal fluid allopregnanolone concentration and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in sheep during pregnancy and early lactation. Livest Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Population-based neuroimaging reveals traces of childbirth in the maternal brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:22341-22346. [PMID: 31615888 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1910666116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal brain adaptations have been found across pregnancy and postpartum, but little is known about the long-term effects of parity on the maternal brain. Using neuroimaging and machine learning, we investigated structural brain characteristics in 12,021 middle-aged women from the UK Biobank, demonstrating that parous women showed less evidence of brain aging compared to their nulliparous peers. The relationship between childbirths and a "younger-looking" brain could not be explained by common genetic variation or relevant confounders. Although prospective longitudinal studies are needed, the results suggest that parity may involve neural changes that could influence women's brain aging later in life.
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Hakanen H, Flykt M, Sinervä E, Nolvi S, Kataja EL, Pelto J, Karlsson H, Karlsson L, Korja R. How maternal pre- and postnatal symptoms of depression and anxiety affect early mother-infant interaction? J Affect Disord 2019; 257:83-90. [PMID: 31299408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal pre- and postnatal psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, may negatively affect mother-infant interaction quality. However, more information is needed on the role of specific types and timings of pre- and postnatal distress symptoms on mother-infant interaction. Research on the role of maternal anxiety is especially scarce. METHODS We examined whether maternal pregnancy- related anxiety (gestational weeks 24 and 34), general anxiety or depressive symptoms (gw 14, 24 and 34 and at the infant age of 3 and 6 months) associate with the quality of mother-infant interaction when the child is eight months old. Maternal symptoms (N = 190) were measured with EPDS, SCL-90 anxiety subscale and PRAQ-R2. Mother-infant interaction was measured with the Emotional Availability Scales (EAS). RESULTS After controlling for background factors, general anxiety at the 3rd pregnancy trimester was associated with higher maternal intrusiveness in EAS. Depressive symptoms at 6 months postpartum associated with lower maternal structuring behavior and with the child's lower involvement of the mother. LIMITATIONS A very small number of mothers with severe symptoms of depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal anxiety and postnatal depressive symptoms may each have unique effects on the different areas of mother-infant interaction, suggesting the need to develop more targeted interventions for mothers with different symptom profiles and timings. Prenatally anxious mothers could potentially benefit from early interventions decreasing stress and anxiety symptoms and specifically promoting their ability to read infant cues appropriately. Infants of postnatally depressed mothers may need interventions where both members of the dyad receive help.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hetti Hakanen
- University of Turku, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku, Finland; University of Turku, Department of Psychology, Turku, Finland.
| | - Marjo Flykt
- University of Tampere, The Department of Psychology, Finland; Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, USA
| | - Eija Sinervä
- University of Turku, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku, Finland
| | - Saara Nolvi
- University of Turku, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku, Finland; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Department of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eeva-Leena Kataja
- University of Turku, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku, Finland; University of Turku, Department of Psychology, Turku, Finland
| | - Juho Pelto
- University of Turku, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- University of Turku, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- University of Turku, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku, Finland; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku, Finland
| | - Riikka Korja
- University of Turku, Department of Psychology, Turku, Finland; University of Turku, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku, Finland
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Bukhari SA, Saul MC, James N, Bensky MK, Stein LR, Trapp R, Bell AM. Neurogenomic insights into paternal care and its relation to territorial aggression. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4437. [PMID: 31570726 PMCID: PMC6768867 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12212-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Motherhood is characterized by dramatic changes in brain and behavior, but less is known about fatherhood. Here we report that male sticklebacks—a small fish in which fathers provide care—experience dramatic changes in neurogenomic state as they become fathers. Some genes are unique to different stages of paternal care, some genes are shared across stages, and some genes are added to the previously acquired neurogenomic state. Comparative genomic analysis suggests that some of these neurogenomic dynamics resemble changes associated with pregnancy and reproduction in mammalian mothers. Moreover, gene regulatory analysis identifies transcription factors that are regulated in opposite directions in response to a territorial challenge versus during paternal care. Altogether these results show that some of the molecular mechanisms of parental care might be deeply conserved and might not be sex-specific, and suggest that tradeoffs between opposing social behaviors are managed at the gene regulatory level. Compared to motherhood, the molecular changes associated with fatherhood are less understood. Here, the authors investigate gene expression changes associated with paternal care in male stickleback fish, and compare them with patterns in territorial aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Abbas Bukhari
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 1206 Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 616 E. Green St., Urbana, IL, 61820, USA.,Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Michael C Saul
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 1206 Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Jackson Labs, 600 Main St., Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA
| | - Noelle James
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Miles K Bensky
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Laura R Stein
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Room 314, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Rebecca Trapp
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Alison M Bell
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 1206 Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA. .,Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA. .,Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA. .,Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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Arbeitman MN. Maternal Experience Leads to Lasting Gene Expression Changes in Some Regions of the Mouse Brain. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:2623-2628. [PMID: 31164388 PMCID: PMC6686928 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Rodent maternal behaviors are due to the coordinated effects of fluctuating hormones, with their onset triggered by interactions with newborn pups. Previous studies have shown that many genes have changes in expression during peripartum stages. However, it is unclear if there are long-lasting changes in gene expression, well after the performance of maternal behaviors, that could influence physiology and behavior throughout the remaining lifespan. Here, gene expression differences were examined in mouse between age-matched virgin and primiparous females, at least 4 weeks after weaning. Of the five brain regions examined-hypothalamus, hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum, and the amygdala-only the hypothalamus had thousands of genes with significant expression differences. The cerebellum had 130 genes with expression differences, and the other brain regions had no significant changes detected. The expression changes in the hypothalamus include an enrichment of genes that could mediate long-lasting behavioral and physiological changes, given their known roles in parental behavior, including galanin and prolactin receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle N Arbeitman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306
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50
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Barrientos RM, Brunton PJ, Lenz KM, Pyter L, Spencer SJ. Neuroimmunology of the female brain across the lifespan: Plasticity to psychopathology. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 79:39-55. [PMID: 30872093 PMCID: PMC6591071 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The female brain is highly dynamic and can fundamentally remodel throughout the normal ovarian cycle as well as in critical life stages including perinatal development, pregnancy and old-age. As such, females are particularly vulnerable to infections, psychological disorders, certain cancers, and cognitive impairments. We will present the latest evidence on the female brain; how it develops through the neonatal period; how it changes through the ovarian cycle in normal individuals; how it adapts to pregnancy and postpartum; how it responds to illness and disease, particularly cancer; and, finally, how it is shaped by old age. Throughout, we will highlight female vulnerability to and resilience against disease and dysfunction in the face of environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Barrientos
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Wexner Medical Centre, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Wexner Medical Centre, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Chronic Brain Injury Program, Discovery Themes Initiative, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - P J Brunton
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK; Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Joint Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, PR China
| | - K M Lenz
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Wexner Medical Centre, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Psychology, Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - L Pyter
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Wexner Medical Centre, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Wexner Medical Centre, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - S J Spencer
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic. 3083, Australia.
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