1
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Yaldiko A, Coonrod S, Marella P, Hurley L, Jadavji NM. Maternal dietary deficiencies in folic acid or choline reduce primary neuron viability after exposure to hypoxia through increased levels of apoptosis. Nutr Neurosci 2024:1-8. [PMID: 39230256 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2024.2398365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Objective: Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of death and disability globally. By addressing modifiable risk factors, particularly nutrition, the prevalence of stroke and its dire consequences can be mitigated. One-carbon (1C) metabolism is a critical biosynthetic process that is involved in neural tube closure, DNA synthesis, plasticity, and cellular proliferation. Folates and choline are two active components of 1C metabolism. We have previously demonstrated that maternal dietary deficiencies during pregnancy and lactation in folic acid or choline result in worse stroke outcomes in offspring. However, there is insufficient data to understand the neuronal mechanisms involved.Methods: Using C57Bl/6J female mice maintained on control, folic acid (0.3 mg/kg) or choline (choline bitrate 300 mg/kg) deficient diets we collected embryonic primary neurons from offspring and exposed them to hypoxic conditions for 6 hours. To determine whether increased levels of either folic acid or choline can rescue reduced neuronal viability, we supplemented cell media with folic acid and choline prior to and after exposure to hypoxia.Results: Our results suggest that maternal dietary deficiencies in either folic acid or choline during pregnancy negatively impacts offspring neuronal viability after hypoxia. Furthermore, increasing levels of folic acid (250 mg/ml) or choline chloride (250 mg/ml) prior to and after hypoxia have a beneficial impact on neuronal viability.Conclusion: The findings contribute to our understanding of the intricate interplay between maternal dietary factors, 1C metabolism, and the outcome of offspring to hypoxic events, emphasizing the potential for nutritional interventions in mitigating adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Yaldiko
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Sarah Coonrod
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Purvaja Marella
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Lauren Hurley
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Nafisa M Jadavji
- Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
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2
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Zekri Y, Poulsen R, Hansen M, Flamant F, Guyot R. Combining transcriptomics and metabolomics to assess neurodevelopmental alteration caused by in utero exposure of mice to three putative thyroid hormone system disruptors. Toxicology 2024; 508:153905. [PMID: 39134236 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Gestating mice were exposed to three chemicals, tetrabromo-bisphenol A (TBBPA; 2 mg/kg/day), amitrole (25 and 50 mg/kg/day) and pyraclostrobin (0.4 and 2 mg/kg/day) to assess their capacity to act as thyroid hormone disruptors and compromise neurodevelopment. Propyl-thio-uracyl, a known pharmacological inhibitor of thyroid gland secretion, was used at both high and low dose as a reference thyroid hormone system disruptor (1 ppm, 1500 ppm). A combination of plasma metabolomics and striatum transcriptomics revealed the induced change in pups at the postnatal stages. Although the underlying mechanism is unlikely to involve thyroid hormone disruption, these chemicals had a detectable effect on pups' neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanis Zekri
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rikke Poulsen
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde 4000, Denmark; University of Victoria, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Victoria, BC, Canada.
| | - Martin Hansen
- University of Victoria, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Frédéric Flamant
- ENS de Lyon, INRAE, CNRS, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Lyon 69364, France
| | - Romain Guyot
- ENS de Lyon, INRAE, CNRS, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Lyon 69364, France
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3
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Gomes NS, Fiorenza NG, Monteiro CEDS, Silva FGO, das Candeias R, Saldanha LC, Sabino SMDV, Castro HIR, Soares PMG, Macêdo DS. Age and sex-dependent gut alterations in mice induced by neonatal immune activation with lipopolysaccharide. J Neuroimmunol 2024; 395:578424. [PMID: 39128432 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Neonatal immune activation (NIA) through exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces adult behavioral changes in rodents that resemble symptoms of developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder. The neonatal timing of LPS exposure appears to play a crucial role in determining the nature and extent of long-term changes. This study aims to explore whether a 3-day LPS-NIA triggers sex- and age-related changes in gut function, potentially linking LPS-NIA to gastrointestinal dysfunction. Male and female Swiss mice received intraperitoneal injections of LPS or saline on postnatal days (PN) 3, 5, and 7. At PN35 (juvenile) and PN70 (adult), gut inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated in addition to assessments of working memory, depressive-like symptoms, sociability, and repetitive behavior. Gut examination showed elevated C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) in LPS-NIA mice, while MyD88 and Zonulin expressions were significantly higher only in adult LPS-NIA females. Interleukin (IL)-23 expression increased in juvenile and adult male and juvenile female LPS-NIA mice. Oxidative changes included decreased duodenal reduced glutathione (GSH) in juvenile females and ileal GSH in adult females exposed to LPS-NIA. Regarding behavioral alterations, adult LPS-NIA females exhibited depressive-like behavior. Working memory deficits were observed across all LPS-NIA groups. Only juvenile LPS-NIA females increased grooming, while rearing was higher in adult LPS-NIA mice of both sexes. The findings imply that LPS-NIA impacts intestinal barrier function and causes gut inflammatory alterations that are sex- and age-specific. These findings pave the way for exploring potential mechanisms that could contribute to LPS-induced gastrointestinal disturbances among individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayana Soares Gomes
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Natália Gindri Fiorenza
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo da Silva Monteiro
- LEFFAG- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology Study of Gastrointestinal Tract, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Francisca Géssica Oliveira Silva
- LEFFAG- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology Study of Gastrointestinal Tract, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Raimunda das Candeias
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Lucas Calixto Saldanha
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Suellen Monike do Vale Sabino
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Hoanna Izabely Rego Castro
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Pedro Marcos Gomes Soares
- LEFFAG- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology Study of Gastrointestinal Tract, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Danielle S Macêdo
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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4
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Volianskis R, Lundbye CJ, Petroff GN, Jane DE, Georgiou J, Collingridge GL. Cage effects on synaptic plasticity and its modulation in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230484. [PMID: 38853552 PMCID: PMC11343313 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0484] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is characterized by impairments in executive function including different types of learning and memory. Long-term potentiation (LTP), thought to underlie the formation of memories, has been studied in the Fmr1 mouse model of FXS. However, there have been many discrepancies in the literature with inconsistent use of littermate and non-littermate Fmr1 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) control mice. Here, the influence of the breeding strategy (cage effect) on short-term potentiation (STP), LTP, contextual fear conditioning (CFC), expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits and the modulation of NMDARs, were examined. The largest deficits in STP, LTP and CFC were found in KO mice compared with non-littermate WT. However, the expression of NMDAR subunits was unchanged in this comparison. Rather, NMDAR subunit (GluN1, 2A, 2B) expression was sensitive to the cage effect, with decreased expression in both WT and KO littermates compared with non-littermates. Interestingly, an NMDAR-positive allosteric modulator, UBP714, was only effective in potentiating the induction of LTP in non-littermate KO mice and not the littermate KO mice. These results suggest that commonly studied phenotypes in Fmr1 KOs are sensitive to the cage effect and therefore the breeding strategy may contribute to discrepancies in the literature.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Long-term potentiation: 50 years on'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasa Volianskis
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, OntarioM5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, OntarioM5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Camilla J. Lundbye
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, OntarioM5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, OntarioM5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Gillian N. Petroff
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, OntarioM5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, OntarioM5S 1A8, Canada
| | - David. E. Jane
- Hello Bio Limited, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, BristolBS11 0QL, UK
| | - John Georgiou
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, OntarioM5G 1X5, Canada
- TANZ Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, OntarioM5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Graham L. Collingridge
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, OntarioM5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, OntarioM5S 1A8, Canada
- TANZ Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, OntarioM5S 1A8, Canada
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Arraes GC, Barreto FS, Vasconcelos GS, Lima CNDC, da Silva FER, Ribeiro WLC, de Sousa FCF, Furtado CLM, Macêdo DS. Long-term Environmental Enrichment Normalizes Schizophrenia-like Abnormalities and Promotes Hippocampal Slc6a4 Promoter Demethylation in Mice Submitted to a Two-hit Model. Neuroscience 2024; 551:205-216. [PMID: 38843988 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.05.023] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Here, we explored the impact of prolonged environmental enrichment (EE) on behavioral, neurochemical, and epigenetic changes in the serotonin transporter gene in mice subjected to a two-hit schizophrenia model. The methodology involved administering the viral mimetic PolyI:C to neonatal Swiss mice as a first hit during postnatal days (PND) 5-7, or a sterile saline solution as a control. At PND21, mice were randomly assigned either to standard environment (SE) or EE housing conditions. Between PND35-44, the PolyI:C-treated group was submitted to various unpredictable stressors, constituting the second hit. Behavioral assessments were conducted on PND70, immediately after the final EE exposure. Following the completion of behavioral assessments, we evaluated the expression of proteins in the hippocampus that are indicative of microglial activation, such as Iba-1, as well as related to neurogenesis, including doublecortin (Dcx). We also performed methylation analysis on the serotonin transporter gene (Slc6a4) to investigate alterations in serotonin signaling. The findings revealed that EE for 50 days mitigated sensorimotor gating deficits and working memory impairments in two-hit mice and enhanced their locomotor and exploratory behaviors. EE also normalized the overexpression of hippocampal Iba-1 and increased the expression of hippocampal Dcx. Additionally, we observed hippocampal demethylation of the Slc6a4 gene in the EE-exposed two-hit group, indicating epigenetic reprogramming. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the protective effects of long-term EE in counteracting behavioral disruptions caused by the two-hit schizophrenia model, pointing to enhanced neurogenesis, diminished microglial activation, and epigenetic modifications of serotonergic pathways as underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greicy Coelho Arraes
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Christus University Center (Unichristus-CE), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Francisco Stefânio Barreto
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Drug Research and Development Center, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Germana Silva Vasconcelos
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Camila Nayane de Carvalho Lima
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Translational Psychiatry Program, Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health), Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Francisco Eliclécio Rodrigues da Silva
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Francisca Cléa Florenço de Sousa
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
| | - Cristiana Libardi Miranda Furtado
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Drug Research and Development Center, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Experimental Biology Center - NUBEX, University of Fortaleza, UNIFOR, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Danielle S Macêdo
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM. CNPq), Brazil.
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6
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Warrington JP, Collins HE, Davidge ST, do Carmo JM, Goulopoulou S, Intapad S, Loria AS, Sones JL, Wold LE, Zinkhan EK, Alexander BT. Guidelines for in vivo models of developmental programming of cardiovascular disease risk. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 327:H221-H241. [PMID: 38819382 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00060.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Research using animals depends on the generation of offspring for use in experiments or for the maintenance of animal colonies. Although not considered by all, several different factors preceding and during pregnancy, as well as during lactation, can program various characteristics in the offspring. Here, we present the most common models of developmental programming of cardiovascular outcomes, important considerations for study design, and provide guidelines for producing and reporting rigorous and reproducible cardiovascular studies in offspring exposed to normal conditions or developmental insult. These guidelines provide considerations for the selection of the appropriate animal model and factors that should be reported to increase rigor and reproducibility while ensuring transparent reporting of methods and results.
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Grants
- 20YVNR35490079 American Heart Association (AHA)
- R01HL139348 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL135158 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- U54GM115428 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- R01AG057046 HHS | NIH | National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- P20 GM104357 NIGMS NIH HHS
- HL146562-04S1 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- P30 GM149404 NIGMS NIH HHS
- P20GM104357 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- P01HL51971 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL143459 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL146562 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL163003 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL163818 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01DK121411 HHS | NIH | National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- R01HL147844 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Excellence Faculty Support Grant Jewish Heritage Fund
- P30GM149404 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- P30GM14940 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- P20GM121334 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- 23SFRNPCS1067044 American Heart Association (AHA)
- R01 HL146562 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R56HL159447 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- P20GM135002 HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- FS154313 CIHR
- U54 GM115428 NIGMS NIH HHS
- 1R01HL163076 HHS | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
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Affiliation(s)
- Junie P Warrington
- Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
| | - Helen E Collins
- Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiometabolic Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jussara M do Carmo
- Department of Physiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
| | - Styliani Goulopoulou
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, United States
- Department of Gynecology, and Obstetrics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, United States
| | - Suttira Intapad
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Analia S Loria
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
| | - Jenny L Sones
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | - Loren E Wold
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, United States
| | - Erin K Zinkhan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah and Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Barbara T Alexander
- Department of Physiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
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7
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Liao H, Lu D, Reisinger SN, Kleeman EA, van de Garde N, Gubert C, Hannan AJ. Mimicking bacterial infection in male mice changes sperm small RNA profiles and multigenerationally alters offspring behavior and physiology. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:520-538. [PMID: 38636562 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.04.017] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Paternal pre-conceptual exposures, including stress, diet, substance abuse, parasite infection, and viral immune activation via Poly I:C, have been reported to influence the brains and behavior of offspring through sperm epigenetic changes. However, the effects of paternal (F0) pre-conceptual exposure to bacterial-induced immune activation on the behavior and physiology of F1 and F2 generations remain unexplored. We examined this using C57BL/6J mice. Eight-week-old males (F0) received a single intraperitoneal injection of the bacterial mimetic lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 5 mg/kg) or 0.9 % saline (vehicle control) before mating with naïve females at four weeks post-injection. Comprehensive behavioral assessments were conducted to investigate anxiety, social behaviors, depressive-like behaviors and cognition in both the F1 and F2 generations within the age range of 8 to 14 weeks. Results demonstrated that only female offspring of LPS-exposed fathers exhibited reduced anxiety levels in the light/dark box, large open field, and novelty-suppressed feeding test. These F1 female offspring also exhibited heightened sociability in the 3-chambered social interaction test and a reduced preference for saccharin in the saccharin preference test. Additionally, the F1 male offspring of LPS-challenged males demonstrated an increased total distance traveled in the light/dark box and a longer distance covered in the light zone. They also exhibited diminished preference for social novelty in the 3-chambered social interaction test and an elevated novel arm preference index in the Y-maze. In the F2 generation, male descendants of LPS-treated fathers showed reduced latency to feed in the novelty-suppressed feeding test. Additionally, the F2 generation of LPS-challenged fathers, but not the F1 generation, displayed enhanced immune response in both sexes after an acute LPS immune challenge (5 mg/kg). Analysis of sperm small noncoding RNA profiles from LPS-treated F0 mice revealed significant changes at 4 weeks after administration of LPS. These changes included three microRNAs, eight PIWI-interacting RNAs, and two transfer RNAs, exhibiting significant upregulation (mmu-miR-146a-5p, mmu-piR-27082 and mmu-piR-29102) or downregulation (mmu-miR-5110, mmu-miR-467e-3p, mmu-piR-22583, mmu-piR-23548, mmu-piR-36341, mmu-piR-50293, mmu-piR-16583, mmu-piR-36507, Mus_musculus_tRNA-Ile-AAT-2-1 and Mus_musculus_tRNA-Tyr-GTA-1-1). Additionally, we detected 52 upregulated small noncoding RNAs (including 9 miRNAs, 41 piRNAs, and 2 tRNAs) and 7 downregulated small noncoding RNAs (3 miRNAs, 3 piRNAs, and 1 tRNA) in the sperm of F1 offspring from LPS-treated males. These findings provide compelling evidence for the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the modulation of brain function and immunity, and associated behavioral and immunological traits, across generations, in response to bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liao
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Da Lu
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sonali N Reisinger
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Kleeman
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas van de Garde
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Carolina Gubert
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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8
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González-Madrid E, Rangel-Ramírez MA, Opazo MC, Méndez L, Bohmwald K, Bueno SM, González PA, Kalergis AM, Riedel CA. Gestational hypothyroxinemia induces ASD-like phenotypes in behavior, proinflammatory markers, and glutamatergic protein expression in mouse offspring of both sexes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1381180. [PMID: 38752179 PMCID: PMC11094302 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1381180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has significantly risen in the past three decades, prompting researchers to explore the potential contributions of environmental factors during pregnancy to ASD development. One such factor of interest is gestational hypothyroxinemia (HTX), a frequent condition in pregnancy associated with cognitive impairments in the offspring. While retrospective human studies have linked gestational HTX to autistic traits, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of ASD-like phenotypes remain poorly understood. This study used a mouse model of gestational HTX to evaluate ASD-like phenotypes in the offspring. Methods To induce gestational HTX, pregnant mice were treated with 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole (MMI), a thyroid hormones synthesis inhibitor, in the tap-drinking water from embryonic days (E) 10 to E14. A separate group received MMI along with a daily subcutaneous injection of T4, while the control group received regular tap water during the entire pregnancy. Female and male offspring underwent assessments for repetitive, anxious, and social behaviors from postnatal day (P) 55 to P64. On P65, mice were euthanized for the evaluation of ASD-related inflammatory markers in blood, spleen, and specific brain regions. Additionally, the expression of glutamatergic proteins (NLGN3 and HOMER1) was analyzed in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Results The HTX-offspring exhibited anxious-like behavior, a subordinate state, and impaired social interactions. Subsequently, both female and male HTX-offspring displayed elevated proinflammatory cytokines in blood, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-α, while only males showed reduced levels of IL-10. The spleen of HTX-offspring of both sexes showed increased Th17/Treg ratio and M1-like macrophages. In the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of male HTX-offspring, elevated levels of IL-17A and reduced IL-10 were observed, accompanied by increased expression of hippocampal NLGN3 and HOMER1. All these observations were compared to those observed in the Control-offspring. Notably, the supplementation with T4 during the MMI treatment prevents the development of the observed phenotypes. Correlation analysis revealed an association between maternal T4 levels and specific ASD-like outcomes. Discussion This study validates human observations, demonstrating for the first time that gestational HTX induces ASD-like phenotypes in the offspring, highlighting the need of monitoring thyroid function during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique González-Madrid
- Laboratorio de Endocrino-inmunología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ma. Andreina Rangel-Ramírez
- Laboratorio de Endocrino-inmunología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María C. Opazo
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Méndez
- Laboratorio de Endocrino-inmunología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karen Bohmwald
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Susan M. Bueno
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo A. González
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia A. Riedel
- Laboratorio de Endocrino-inmunología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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9
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Ntoulas G, Brakatselos C, Nakas G, Asprogerakas MZ, Delis F, Leontiadis LJ, Trompoukis G, Papatheodoropoulos C, Gkikas D, Valakos D, Vatsellas G, Politis PK, Polissidis A, Antoniou K. Multi-level profiling of the Fmr1 KO rat unveils altered behavioral traits along with aberrant glutamatergic function. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:104. [PMID: 38378836 PMCID: PMC10879511 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02815-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disabilities and the most prevalent monogenic cause of autism. Although the knockout (KO) of the Fmr1 gene homolog in mice is primarily used for elucidating the neurobiological substrate of FXS, there is limited association of the experimental data with the pathophysiological condition in humans. The use of Fmr1 KO rats offers additional translational validity in this regard. Therefore, we employed a multi-level approach to study the behavioral profile and the glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission status in pathophysiology-associated brain structures of Fmr1 KO rats, including the recordings of evoked and spontaneous field potentials from hippocampal slices, paralleled with next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We found that these rats exhibit hyperactivity and cognitive deficits, along with characteristic bidirectional glutamatergic and GABAergic alterations in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. These results are coupled to affected excitability and local inhibitory processes in the hippocampus, along with a specific transcriptional profile, highlighting dysregulated hippocampal network activity in KO rats. Overall, our data provide novel insights concerning the biobehavioral profile of FmR1 KO rats and translationally upscales our understanding on pathophysiology and symptomatology of FXS syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Ntoulas
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Charalampos Brakatselos
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Nakas
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Michail-Zois Asprogerakas
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Foteini Delis
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Leonidas J Leontiadis
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, University of Patras, Rion, Greece
| | - George Trompoukis
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, University of Patras, Rion, Greece
| | | | - Dimitrios Gkikas
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Valakos
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Giannis Vatsellas
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis K Politis
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexia Polissidis
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Antoniou
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
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10
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Goikolea-Vives A, Fernandes C, Thomas MSC, Thornton C, Stolp HB. Sex-specific behavioural deficits in adulthood following acute activation of the GABAA receptor in the neonatal mouse. Dev Neurosci 2024:000536641. [PMID: 38325353 DOI: 10.1159/000536641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sex differences exist in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Part of the aetiology of NDDs has been proposed to be alterations in the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, leading to the question of whether males and females respond differently to altered neurotransmitter balance. We investigated whether pharmacological alteration of GABAA signalling in early development results in sex-dependent changes in adult behaviours associated with NDDs. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6J mice received intraperitoneal injections of 0.5mg/kg muscimol or saline on postnatal days (P) 3-5 and were subjected to behavioural testing, specifically open field, light dark box, marble burying, sucralose preference, social interaction and olfactory habituation/dishabituation tests between P60-90. RESULTS Early postnatal administration of muscimol resulted in reduced anxiety in the light dark box test in both male and female adult mice. Muscimol reduced sucralose preference in males, but not females, whereas female mice showed reduced social behaviours. Regional alterations in cortical thickness were observed in the weeks following GABAA receptor activation, pointing to an evolving structural difference in the brain underlying adult behaviour. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that activation of the GABAA receptor in the first week of life resulted in long-lasting changes in a range of behaviours in adulthood following altered neurodevelopment. Sex of the individual affected the nature and severity of these abnormalities, explaining part of the varied pathophysiology and neurodevelopmental diagnosis that derive from excitatory/inhibitory imbalance.
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11
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Zaccarelli-Magalhães J, Manes M, Féba LS, Abreu GR, Flório JC, Ricci EL, Felício LF, Spinosa HS. Do Autistic and Depressed Rats Express the Same Type of Maternal Care? Neuroscience 2024; 536:72-78. [PMID: 38000546 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.11.024] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is more frequently diagnosed in men. Nevertheless, through current diagnostic tools, women have also been found to be affected by this disorder, but in different ways. Few studies have been conducted regarding unique periods of life, such as motherhood. Yet, extant literature has already described the existence of a comorbidity between autism and postpartum depression. Thus, this study aimed to compare the maternal care sphere between two animal models of these diseases. Lactating rats were subdivided into three groups (n = 8 animals/group): 1) control dams; 2) maternal separation (MS) dams, separated from their litter for 3 h daily from lactating day (LD) 2-12 for postpartum depression induction; and 3) valproic acid (VPA) dams, which were the pups of dams treated with 400 mg/kg of VPA (i.p.) on gestational day 12.5 for autism induction. Maternal care tests were performed during lactation and, after weaning, dams were euthanized for the analysis of dopaminergic system on the prefrontal cortex. The results showed an impairment of maternal care of MS dams and an improvement of VPA dams, as well as alterations on dopaminergic system that corroborates the behavior data. These findings indicate that VPA dams express better maternal care, even with cognitive and socialization difficulties. This is probably due to a hyper-focus, as opposed to MS dams, which mimic the maternal care dysfunction expressed by women with postpartum depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Zaccarelli-Magalhães
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - M Manes
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - L S Féba
- Health Science Institute, Presbyterian Mackenzie University, Rua da Consolação, 930, 01302-907 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - G R Abreu
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - J C Flório
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - E L Ricci
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, Brazil; Health Science Institute, Presbyterian Mackenzie University, Rua da Consolação, 930, 01302-907 São Paulo, Brazil; School of Health Sciences IGESP, Rua da Consolação, 1025, 01301-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - L F Felício
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - H S Spinosa
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, Brazil
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Reyes-Ábalos AL, Álvarez-Zabaleta M, Olivera-Bravo S, Di Tomaso MV. Astrocyte DNA damage and response upon acute exposure to ethanol and corticosterone. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 5:1277047. [PMID: 38259729 PMCID: PMC10800529 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1277047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Astrocytes are the glial cells responsible for brain homeostasis, but if injured, they could damage neural cells even deadly. Genetic damage, DNA damage response (DDR), and its downstream cascades are dramatic events poorly studied in astrocytes. Hypothesis and methods: We propose that 1 h of 400 mmol/L ethanol and/or 1 μmol/L corticosterone exposure of cultured hippocampal astrocytes damages DNA, activating the DDR and eliciting functional changes. Immunolabeling against γH2AX (chromatin DNA damage sites), cyclin D1 (cell cycle control), nuclear (base excision repair, BER), and cytoplasmic (anti-inflammatory functions) APE1, ribosomal nucleolus proteins together with GFAP and S100β plus scanning electron microscopy studies of the astrocyte surface were carried out. Results: Data obtained indicate significant DNA damage, immediate cell cycle arrest, and BER activation. Changes in the cytoplasmic signals of cyclin D1 and APE1, nucleolus number, and membrane-attached vesicles strongly suggest a reactivity like astrocyte response without significant morphological changes. Discussion: Obtained results uncover astrocyte genome immediate vulnerability and DDR activation, plus a functional response that might in part, be signaled through extracellular vesicles, evidencing the complex influence that astrocytes may have on the CNS even upon short-term aggressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Reyes-Ábalos
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Magdalena Álvarez-Zabaleta
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - María Vittoria Di Tomaso
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
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13
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Scialli AR. Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane developmental neurotoxicity testing. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 123:108521. [PMID: 38061665 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Scialli
- Reproductive Toxicology Center, Member, Scialli Consulting LLC, Washington, D.C., USA.
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14
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Rullo L, Losapio LM, Morosini C, Mottarlini F, Schiavi S, Buzzelli V, Ascone F, Ciccocioppo R, Fattore L, Caffino L, Fumagalli F, Romualdi P, Trezza V, Candeletti S. Outcomes of early social experiences on glucocorticoid and endocannabinoid systems in the prefrontal cortex of male and female adolescent rats. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1270195. [PMID: 38174157 PMCID: PMC10762649 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1270195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Social and emotional experiences differently shape individual's neurodevelopment inducing substantial changes in neurobiological substrates and behavior, particularly when they occur early in life. In this scenario, the present study was aimed at (i) investigating the impact of early social environments on emotional reactivity of adolescent male and female rats and (ii) uncovering the underlying molecular features, focusing on the cortical endocannabinoid (eCB) and glucocorticoid systems. To this aim, we applied a protocol of environmental manipulation based on early postnatal socially enriched or impoverished conditions. Social enrichment was realized through communal nesting (CN). Conversely, an early social isolation (ESI) protocol was applied (post-natal days 14-21) to mimic an adverse early social environment. The two forms of social manipulation resulted in specific behavioral and molecular outcomes in both male and female rat offspring. Despite the combination of CN and ESI did not affect emotional reactivity in both sexes, the molecular results reveal that the preventive exposure to CN differently altered mRNA and protein expression of the main components of the glucocorticoid and eCB systems in male and female rats. In particular, adolescent females exposed to the combination of CN and ESI showed increased corticosterone levels, unaltered genomic glucocorticoid receptor, reduced cannabinoid receptor type-1 and fatty acid amide hydrolase protein levels, suggesting that the CN condition evokes different reorganization of these systems in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rullo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Loredana Maria Losapio
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Camilla Morosini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Mottarlini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti,” Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Schiavi
- Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Buzzelli
- Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ascone
- Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Neuroscience, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Liana Fattore
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience-Cagliari, National Research Council, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti,” Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti,” Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Sanzio Candeletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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15
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Nakagami Y, Nishi M. MA-5 ameliorates autism-like behavior in mice prenatally exposed to valproic acid. Behav Pharmacol 2023; 34:488-493. [PMID: 37917568 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Indole-3-acetic acid is a common naturally occurring auxin in plants. A synthesized derivative of this compound, 4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-4-oxobutanoic acid also called mitochonic acid 5 (MA-5), has shown to increase the survival ratio of fibroblasts from patients with mitochondrial disease under stress-induced conditions. Further studies verified its efficacy in pathological models, such as an ischemia-reperfusion model, possibly by increasing ATP production. However, the efficacy of MA-5 in mental disorders, such as anxiety, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), has not been investigated. Our study focused on examining the effect of MA-5 in a mouse model of ASD induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA). VPA exposure significantly deteriorated the level of anxiety and exploratory behavior in an open field test. We fed mice an MA-5-containing diet for 5 weeks and observed an improvement in the above behavior in the MA-5-fed groups. The efficacy of MA-5 was also observed in the elevated plus maze and three-chambered tests. These findings suggest that MA-5 could potentially be used to treat ASD, especially in patients with mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Nakagami
- Specialty Medicine Research Laboratories II, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
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16
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Ayala-Rodríguez JD, García-Colunga J. Maternal separation modifies spontaneous synaptic activity in the infralimbic cortex of stress-resilient male rats. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294151. [PMID: 37943747 PMCID: PMC10635473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate and GABA signaling systems are necessary to maintain proper function of the central nervous system through excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance. Alteration of this balance in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), as an effect of early-life stress, may lead to the development of anxiety and depressive disorders. Few studies exist in the infralimbic division of the mPFC to understand the effect of early-life stress at different ages, which is the purpose of the present work. Newborn Sprague Dawley male rats were subjected to maternal separation (MS) for two weeks. First, tests measuring anxiety- and depression-like behaviors were performed on adolescent and adult rats subjected to MS (MS-rats). Then, to establish a relationship with behavioral results, electrophysiological recordings were performed in neurons of the infralimbic cortex in acute brain slices of infant, adolescent, and adult rats. In the behavioral tests, there were no significant differences in MS-rats compared to control rats at any age. Moreover, MS had no effect on the passive membrane properties nor neuronal excitability in the infralimbic cortex, whereas spontaneous synaptic activity in infralimbic neurons was altered. The frequency of spontaneous glutamatergic synaptic events increased in infant MS-rats, whereas in adolescent MS-rats both the frequency and the amplitude of spontaneous GABAergic events increased without any effect on glutamatergic synaptic responses. In adult MS-rats, these two parameters decreased in spontaneous GABAergic synaptic events, whereas only the frequency of glutamatergic events decreased. These data suggest that rats subjected to MS did not exhibit behavioral changes and presented an age-dependent E/I imbalance in the infralimbic cortex, possibly due to differential changes in neurotransmitter release and/or receptor expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús David Ayala-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Jesús García-Colunga
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
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17
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Paine TA, Pierotti C, Swanson ES, Martin Del Campo Z, Kulkarni S, Zhang J. Sex, but not juvenile stress, affects reversal learning and DRL performance following cocaine administration. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 231:173634. [PMID: 37717823 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173634] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early adversity, impulsivity and sex all contribute to the risk of developing substance use disorder. Using rats, we examined how juvenile stress interacts with sex and cocaine to affect performance on a serial reversal task and a differential reinforcement of low rates 10 s (DRL10) task. The expression of dopamine-related proteins in several brain areas was also assessed. METHODS From postnatal days (PND) 25-29, rats were exposed to a variable stress protocol. In adulthood, rats were trained on the reversal task and the effects of cocaine (0, 10, or 20 mg/kg, IP) on performance were assessed. Next, rats were trained on the DRL10 task and the effects of cocaine on performance were assessed. Finally, brains were extracted, and Western blot analyses conducted. RESULTS Juvenile stress did not affect behavior. Sex did not affect baseline performance in either task. In the reversal task, cocaine decreased % high probability responses and the number of rewards earned in both sexes. Cocaine had sex-dependent effects on omissions, low probability responses and response latencies. In the DRL10 task, cocaine decreased the peak latency to respond and the number of rewards earned in both sexes. Cocaine had sex-dependent effects on peak rate of responding, response efficiency, burst responses and long responses. Female rats exhibited increased expression of DRD1 receptors in the striatum. DISCUSSION These data contribute to the growing literature demonstrating sex differences in the behavioral effects of cocaine and suggest that DRD1 receptors could contribute to the observed behavioral sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracie A Paine
- Department of Neuroscience, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, United States of America.
| | - Caroline Pierotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, United States of America
| | - Evan S Swanson
- Department of Neuroscience, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, United States of America
| | - Zoë Martin Del Campo
- Department of Neuroscience, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, United States of America
| | - Sydney Kulkarni
- Department of Neuroscience, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, United States of America
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Harper KM, Harp SJ, Moy SS. Prenatal stress unmasks behavioral phenotypes in genetic mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1271225. [PMID: 37809038 PMCID: PMC10556231 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1271225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are complex conditions characterized by heterogeneous clinical profiles and symptoms that arise in infancy and childhood. NDDs are often attributed to a complicated interaction between genetic risk and environmental factors, suggesting a need for preclinical models reflecting the combined impact of heritable susceptibility and environmental effects. A notable advantage of "two-hit" models is the power to reveal underlying vulnerability that may not be detected in studies employing only genetic or environmental alterations. In this review, we summarize existing literature that investigates detrimental interactions between prenatal stress (PNS) and genes associated with NDDs, with a focus on behavioral phenotyping approaches in mouse models. A challenge in determining the overall role of PNS exposure in genetic models is the diversity of approaches for inducing stress, variability in developmental timepoints for exposure, and differences in phenotyping regimens across laboratories. Identification of optimal stress protocols and critical windows for developmental effects would greatly improve the use of PNS in gene × environment mouse models of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Harper
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Samuel J. Harp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Sheryl S. Moy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Klein RM, Motomura VN, Debiasi JD, Moreira EG. Gestational paracetamol exposure induces core behaviors of neurodevelopmental disorders in infant rats and modifies response to a cannabinoid agonist in females. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2023; 99:107279. [PMID: 37391024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2023.107279] [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: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Paracetamol (PAR) is an over-the-counter analgesic/antipyretic used during pregnancy worldwide. Epidemiological studies have been associating gestational PAR exposure with neurobehavioral alterations in the progeny resembling autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. The endocannabinoid (eCB) dysfunction was previously hypothesized as one of the modes of action by which PAR may harm the developing nervous system. We aimed to evaluate possible effects of gestational exposure to PAR on male and female rat's offspring behavior and if an acute injection of WIN 55,212-2 (WIN, 0.3 mg/kg), a non-specific cannabinoid agonist, prior to behavioral tests, would induce different effects in PAR exposed and non-exposed animals. Pregnant Wistar rats were gavaged with PAR (350 mg/kg/day) or water from gestational day 6 until delivery. Nest-seeking, open field, apomorphine-induced stereotypy, marble burying and three-chamber tests were conducted in 10-, 24-, 25- or 30-days-old rats, respectively. PAR exposure resulted in increased apomorphine-induced stereotyped behavior and time spent in the central area of the open field in exposed female pups. Additionally, it induced hyperactivity in the open field and increased marble burying behavior in both male and female pups. WIN injection modified the behavioral response only in the nest seeking test, and opposite effects were observed in control and PAR-exposed neonate females. Reported alterations are relevant for the neurodevelopmental disorders that have been associated with maternal PAR exposure and suggest that eCB dysfunction may play a role in the action by which PAR may harm the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Moreno Klein
- Graduation Program in Health Sciences, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR 86047-610, Brazil
| | | | - Juliana Diosti Debiasi
- Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR 86047-610, Brazil
| | - Estefânia Gastaldello Moreira
- Graduation Program in Health Sciences, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR 86047-610, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR 86047-610, Brazil.
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20
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Chen CP, Chen PC, Pan YL, Hsu YC. Prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure induces anxiety-like behaviour in male mouse offspring and aberrant glial differentiation of embryonic neural stem cells. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2023; 28:67. [PMID: 37592237 PMCID: PMC10436442 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-023-00480-7] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal infection has been implicated in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in children. We hypothesised that exposure to lipopolysaccharide during prenatal development could induce anxiety-like behaviour and sensorineural hearing loss in offspring, as well as disrupt neural differentiation during embryonic neural development. METHODS We simulated prenatal infection in FVB mice and mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines, specifically 46C and E14Tg2a, through lipopolysaccharide treatment. Gene expression profiling analyses and behavioural tests were utilized to study the effects of lipopolysaccharide on the offspring and alterations in toll-like receptor (TLR) 2-positive and TLR4-positive cells during neural differentiation in the ESCs. RESULTS Exposure to lipopolysaccharide (25 µg/kg) on gestation day 9 resulted in anxiety-like behaviour specifically in male offspring, while no effects were detected in female offspring. We also found significant increases in the expression of GFAP and CNPase, as well as higher numbers of GFAP + astrocytes and O4+ oligodendrocytes in the prefrontal cortex of male offspring. Furthermore, increased scores for genes related to oligodendrocyte and lipid metabolism, particularly ApoE, were observed in the prefrontal cortex regions. Upon exposure to lipopolysaccharide during the ESC-to-neural stem cell (NSC) transition, Tuj1, Map2, Gfap, O4, and Oligo2 mRNA levels increased in the differentiated neural cells on day 14. In vitro experiments demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide exposure induced inflammatory responses, as evidenced by increased expression of IL1b and ApoB mRNA. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that prenatal infection at different stages of neural differentiation may result in distinct disturbances in neural differentiation during ESC-NSC transitions. Furthermore, early prenatal challenges with lipopolysaccharide selectively induce anxiety-like behaviour in male offspring. This behaviour may be attributed to the abnormal differentiation of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the brain, potentially mediated by ApoB/E signalling pathways in response to inflammatory stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie-Pein Chen
- Division of High Risk Pregnancy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chun Chen
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ling Pan
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chao Hsu
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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21
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Dawson MS, Gordon-Fleet K, Yan L, Tardos V, He H, Mui K, Nawani S, Asgarian Z, Catani M, Fernandes C, Drescher U. Sexual dimorphism in the social behaviour of Cntnap2-null mice correlates with disrupted synaptic connectivity and increased microglial activity in the anterior cingulate cortex. Commun Biol 2023; 6:846. [PMID: 37582968 PMCID: PMC10427688 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05215-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A biological understanding of the apparent sex bias in autism is lacking. Here we have identified Cntnap2 KO mice as a model system to help better understand this dimorphism. Using this model, we observed social deficits in juvenile male KO mice only. These male-specific social deficits correlated with reduced spine densities of Layer 2/3 and Layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex, a forebrain region prominently associated with the control of social behaviour. Furthermore, in male KO mice, microglia showed an increased activated morphology and phagocytosis of synaptic structures compared to WT mice, whereas no differences were seen in female KO and WT mice. Our data suggest that sexually dimorphic microglial activity may be involved in the aetiology of ASD, disrupting the development of neural circuits that control social behaviour by overpruning synapses at a developmentally critical period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt S Dawson
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kevin Gordon-Fleet
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Lingxin Yan
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Vera Tardos
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Huanying He
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kwong Mui
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Smriti Nawani
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Zeinab Asgarian
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- Molecular Therapeutics Lab, University College London, Research Department of Targeted Intervention, London, W1W 7TY, UK
| | - Marco Catani
- NatBrainLab, Departments of Neuroimaging Sciences and Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Uwe Drescher
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
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22
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Xing L, Simon JM, Ptacek TS, Yi JJ, Loo L, Mao H, Wolter JM, McCoy ES, Paranjape SR, Taylor-Blake B, Zylka MJ. Autism-linked UBE3A gain-of-function mutation causes interneuron and behavioral phenotypes when inherited maternally or paternally in mice. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112706. [PMID: 37389991 PMCID: PMC10530456 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112706] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The E3 ubiquitin ligase Ube3a is biallelically expressed in neural progenitors and glial cells, suggesting that UBE3A gain-of-function mutations might cause neurodevelopmental disorders irrespective of parent of origin. Here, we engineered a mouse line that harbors an autism-linked UBE3AT485A (T503A in mouse) gain-of-function mutation and evaluated phenotypes in animals that inherited the mutant allele paternally, maternally, or from both parents. We find that paternally and maternally expressed UBE3AT503A results in elevated UBE3A activity in neural progenitors and glial cells. Expression of UBE3AT503A from the maternal allele, but not the paternal one, leads to a persistent elevation of UBE3A activity in neurons. Mutant mice display behavioral phenotypes that differ by parent of origin. Expression of UBE3AT503A, irrespective of its parent of origin, promotes transient embryonic expansion of Zcchc12 lineage interneurons. Phenotypes of Ube3aT503A mice are distinct from Angelman syndrome model mice. Our study has clinical implications for a growing number of disease-linked UBE3A gain-of-function mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xing
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7264, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Travis S Ptacek
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jason J Yi
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lipin Loo
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hanqian Mao
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Justin M Wolter
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7264, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Eric S McCoy
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Smita R Paranjape
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bonnie Taylor-Blake
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mark J Zylka
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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23
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Prado Spalm FH, Cuervo Sánchez ML, Furland NE, Vallés AS. Lipid peroxidation and neuroinflammation: A possible link between maternal fructose intake and delay of acquisition of neonatal reflexes in Wistar female rats. Dev Neurobiol 2023; 83:167-183. [PMID: 37435772 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22921] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Fructose is a common sweetener found in the daily diet supplemented to many processed and ultra-processed foods and beverages. Consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages has drastically increased in the last decades and is widely associated with metabolic disease, systemic pro-inflammatory status, and adverse transgenerational effects. To date, the impact of maternal fructose intake in brain function of the offspring is less explored. Therefore, the aim of this study was first, to investigate adverse effects in developmental milestones of the progeny of mothers with metabolic syndrome (MetS), induced by ad libitum consumption of a 20% fructose solution, and second to identify possible molecular changes in the nervous system of the newborns associated with maternal fructose intake. Wistar rats were randomly separated into two groups with access to water or fructose (20% w/v in water) for 10 weeks. After MetS was confirmed, dams were mated with control males and continued drinking water or fructose solution during gestation. At postnatal day (PN) 1, a subgroup of offspring of each sex was sacrificed and brains were dissected for oxidative stress and inflammatory status analysis. Changes in the developmental milestones due to maternal fructose consumption were studied (PN3-PN21) in another subgroup of offspring. Sexually dimorphic effects were found on the progeny's acquisition of neurodevelopmental milestones, in brain lipid peroxidation, neuroinflammation, and antioxidative defensive response. Our results suggest that dams' MetS, induced by fructose intake, disrupts brain redox homeostasis in female offspring and affects sensorimotor brain circuitry which may have a translational value for studying neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Facundo H Prado Spalm
- Nutrition and Neurodevelopmental Laboratory, INIBIBB-CONICET-UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Marié L Cuervo Sánchez
- Nutrition and Neurodevelopmental Laboratory, INIBIBB-CONICET-UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Natalia E Furland
- Nutrition and Neurodevelopmental Laboratory, INIBIBB-CONICET-UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ana S Vallés
- Nutrition and Neurodevelopmental Laboratory, INIBIBB-CONICET-UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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24
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Muszyński S, Hułas-Stasiak M, Dobrowolski P, Arciszewski MB, Hiżewska L, Donaldson J, Mozel S, Rycerz K, Kapica M, Puzio I, Tomaszewska E. Maternal acrylamide exposure changes intestinal epithelium, immunolocalization of leptin and ghrelin and their receptors, and gut barrier in weaned offspring. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10286. [PMID: 37355724 PMCID: PMC10290718 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37590-3] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Acrylamide (ACR) is an amide formed as a byproduct in many heat-processed starchy-rich foods. In utero ACR exposure has been associated with restricted fetal growth, but its effects of postnatal functional development of small intestine is completely unknown. The current study investigated the time- and segment-dependent effects of prenatal ACR exposure on morphological and functional development of small intestine in weaned rat offspring. Four groups of pregnant female Wistar rats were exposed to ACR (3 mg/kg b.w./day) for 0, 5, 10 and 15 days during pregnancy. Basal intestinal morphology, immunolocalization of gut hormones responsible for food intake and proteins of intestinal barrier, activity of the intestinal brush border disaccharidases, apoptosis and proliferation in intestinal mucosa were analyzed in offspring at weaning (postnatal day 21). The results showed that in utero ACR exposure disturbs offspring gut structural and functional postnatal development in a time- and segment-depended manner and even a short prenatal exposure to ACR resulted in changes in intestinal morphology, immunolocalization of leptin and ghrelin and their receptors, barrier function, activity of gut enzymes and upregulation of apoptosis and proliferation. In conclusion, prenatal ACR exposure disturbed the proper postnatal development of small intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siemowit Muszyński
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Monika Hułas-Stasiak
- Department of Functional Anatomy and Cytobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka St. 19, 20-033, Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Dobrowolski
- Department of Functional Anatomy and Cytobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka St. 19, 20-033, Lublin, Poland
| | - Marcin B Arciszewski
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Ligia Hiżewska
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Janine Donaldson
- School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa
| | - Sylwia Mozel
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Karol Rycerz
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Kapica
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Iwona Puzio
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Ewa Tomaszewska
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
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25
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Vörös D, Kiss O, Ollmann T, Mintál K, Péczely L, Zagoracz O, Kertes E, Kállai V, László BR, Berta B, Toth A, Lénárd L, László K. Intraamygdaloid Oxytocin Increases Time Spent on Social Interaction in Valproate-Induced Autism Animal Model. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1802. [PMID: 37509444 PMCID: PMC10376246 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071802] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that affects about 1.5% of children worldwide. One of the core symptoms is impaired social interaction. Since proper treatment has not been found yet, an investigation of the exact pathophysiology of autism is essential. The valproate (VPA)-induced rat model can be an appropriate way to study autism. Oxytocin (OT) may amend some symptoms of ASD since it plays a key role in developing social relationships. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the intraamygdaloid OT on sham and intrauterine VPA-treated rats' social interaction using Crawley's social interaction test. Bilateral guide cannulae were implanted above the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), and intraamygdaloid microinjections were carried out before the test. Our results show that male Wistar rats prenatally exposed to VPA spent significantly less time on social interaction. Bilateral OT microinjection increased the time spent in the social zone; it also reached the level of sham-control animals. OT receptor antagonist blocked this effect of the OT but in itself did not significantly influence the behavior of the rats. Based on our results, we can establish that intraamygdaloid OT has significantly increased time spent on social interaction in the VPA-induced autism model, and its effect is receptor-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dávid Vörös
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Kiss
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Ollmann
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kitti Mintál
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Cellular Bioimpedance Research Group, Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Péczely
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Olga Zagoracz
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Erika Kertes
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Veronika Kállai
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Bettina Réka László
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Beáta Berta
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Attila Toth
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Cellular Bioimpedance Research Group, Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Lénárd
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Molecular Endocrinology and Neurophysiology Research Group, Szentágothai Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kristóf László
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Szigeti Str. 12, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuropeptides, Cognition, Animal Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Group, Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7602 Pécs, Hungary
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26
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Lummertz Magenis M, Souza de Marcos P, Paganini Damiani A, Ricardo Cantareli da Silva A, Martins Longaretti L, Bahia Franca I, Da Silva J, Rodrigues Boeck C, Moraes de Andrade V. Genotoxic effects of caffeine in female mice exposed during pregnancy and lactation period and their offspring. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART C, TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS 2023; 41:36-60. [PMID: 37243358 DOI: 10.1080/26896583.2023.2213613] [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: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Caffeine is a widely consumed substance, and there is a discussion about its effects when ingested by women during pregnancy and lactation. We aimed to identify the genotoxic effects of caffeine in female mice that consumed it during pregnancy and lactation periods and its consequences in their offspring. Thirty-six couples of Swiss mice received water or caffeine (0.3 and 1.0 mg/mL) treatment during pregnancy and lactation. The male and female offspring were divided into 12 groups according to the treatment administered to the female mice. Genotoxicity was assessed using the comet assay and the micronucleus test. Both doses of caffeine showed genotoxic effects in pregnant and lactating mice groups compared to groups not administered caffeine. In relation to offspring, it can be observed that females and males of the offspring had low weight in early life. In both female and male offspring, genotoxicity was detected in the blood, liver, and kidney tissues. Thus, from the present study, we can suggest that the caffeine consumed by female mice during the periods of pregnancy and lactation led to genotoxic effects in their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Lummertz Magenis
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Graduate Program of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Pamela Souza de Marcos
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Graduate Program of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Adriani Paganini Damiani
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Graduate Program of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Anderson Ricardo Cantareli da Silva
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Graduate Program of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Luiza Martins Longaretti
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Graduate Program of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Ive Bahia Franca
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Graduate Program of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Juliana Da Silva
- Laboratory of Genetic Toxicology, Lutheran University of Brazil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- La Salle University, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Carina Rodrigues Boeck
- Graduate Program in Nanosciences, Master Degree in Health and Life Science, Franciscan University, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Moraes de Andrade
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Graduate Program of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
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Witek K, Wydra K, Suder A, Filip M. Maternal monosaccharide diets evoke cognitive, locomotor, and emotional disturbances in adolescent and young adult offspring rats. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1176213. [PMID: 37229474 PMCID: PMC10203434 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1176213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are the most common mental disorders affecting people worldwide. Recent studies have highlighted that a maternal high-sugar diet (HSD) could be a risk factor for neurobehavioural dysregulations, including mood disorders. Increased consumption of added sugar in food such as refined fructose/glucose can increase the risk of metabolic disorders and impact susceptibility to mental disorders. Furthermore, a few papers have reported disabilities in learning and memory among offspring after maternal HSD, thus suggesting a relationship between maternal nutrition and offspring neurogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the impact of maternal monosaccharide consumption based on a glucose (GLU) or fructose (FRU) diet during pregnancy and lactation in adolescent and young adult offspring rats of both sexes on cognitive, locomotor, and emotional disturbances. Locomotor activity, short-term memory, anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior were evaluated in the offspring. We report for the first time that the maternal GLU or FRU diet is sufficient to evoke anxiety-like behavior among adolescent and young adult offspring. Moreover, we found that maternal monosaccharide diets lead to hyperactivity and depressive-like behavior in male adolescent rats. We also noticed that a maternal FRU diet significantly enhanced novelty-seeking behavior only in young adult male rats. Our novel findings indicated that the maternal monosaccharide diet, especially a diet enriched in FRU, resulted in strong behavioral alterations in offspring rats at early life stages. This study also revealed that male rats were more susceptible to hyperactivity and anxiety- and depressive-like phenotypes than female rats. These results suggest that maternal monosaccharide consumption during pregnancy and lactation is an important factor affecting the emotional status of offspring.
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Examining litter specific variability in mice and its impact on neurodevelopmental studies. Neuroimage 2023; 269:119888. [PMID: 36681136 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Our current understanding of litter variability in neurodevelopmental studies using mice may limit translation of neuroscientific findings. Higher variance of measures across litters than within, often termed intra-litter likeness, may be attributable to both pre- and postnatal environment. This study aimed to assess the litter-effect within behavioral assessments (2 timepoints) and anatomy using T1-weighted magnetic resonance images across 72 brain region volumes (4 timepoints) (36 C57bl/6J inbred mice; 7 litters: 19F/17M). Between-litter comparisons of brain and behavioral measures and their associations were evaluated using univariate and multivariate techniques. A power analysis using simulation methods was then performed on modeled neurodevelopment and to evaluate trade-offs between number-of-litters, number-of-mice-per-litter, and sample size. Our results show litter-specific developmental effects, from the adolescent period to adulthood for brain structure volumes and behaviors, and for their associations in adulthood. Our power simulation analysis suggests increasing the number-of-litters in experimental designs to achieve the smallest total sample size necessary for detecting different rates of change in specific brain regions. Our results demonstrate how litter-specific effects may influence development and that increasing the litters to the total sample size ratio should be strongly considered when designing neurodevelopmental studies.
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29
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Lamontagne-Kam DM, Davari S, Aristizabal-Henao JJ, Cho S, Chalil D, Mielke JG, Stark KD. Sex differences in hippocampal-dependent memory and the hippocampal lipidome in adolescent rats raised on diets with or without DHA. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2023; 192:102569. [PMID: 36966673 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2023.102569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest the effects of DHA supplementation on human memory may differ between females and males during infancy, adolescence, and early adulthood, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. As a result, this study sought to examine the spatial memory and brain lipidomic profiles in female and male adolescent rats with or without a DHA-enriched diet that began perinatally with the supplementation of dams. Spatial learning and memory were examined in adolescent rats using the Morris Water Maze beginning at 6 weeks of age and animals were sacrificed at 7 weeks of age to permit isolation of brain tissue and blood samples. Behavioral testing showed that there was a significant diet x sex interaction for two key measures of spatial memory (distance to zone and time spent in the correct quadrant during the probe test), with female rats benefiting the most from DHA supplementation. Lipidomic analyses suggest levels of arachidonic acid (ARA) and n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) containing phospholipid species were lower in the hippocampus of DHA supplemented compared with control animals, and principal component analyses revealed a potential dietary treatment effect for hippocampal PUFA. Females fed DHA had slightly more PE P-18:0_22:6 and maintained levels of PE 18:0_20:4 in the hippocampus in contrast with males fed DHA. Understanding how DHA supplementation during the perinatal and adolescent periods changes cognitive function in a sex-specific manner has important implications for determining the dietary requirements of DHA. This study adds to previous work highlighting the importance of DHA for spatial memory and provides evidence that further research needs to consider how DHA supplementation can cause sex-specific changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Lamontagne-Kam
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Saeideh Davari
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Juan J Aristizabal-Henao
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada; BPGbio Inc., 500 Old Connecticut Path Building B, Framingham, MA, 01701, USA
| | - Seungjae Cho
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Dan Chalil
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - John G Mielke
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ken D Stark
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Harper KM, Nikolova VD, Conrad ME, Moy SS. Neonatal Behavioral Screen for Mouse Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2583:159-173. [PMID: 36418733 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2752-5_14] [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] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral phenotyping approaches for neonatal mice are important for investigating early alterations in brain development and function, relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. This chapter describes a behavioral screen that can provide an overall profile of function across the neonatal and preweaning period while also minimizing pup stress and disturbance of the maternal environment. Testing begins when mice are between 6 and 8 days in age, with additional evaluations at discrete time points until postnatal day (PD) 20-21, using tests for negative geotaxis, surface righting reflex, activity in an open field, acoustic startle responses and sensorimotor gating, and limb clasp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Harper
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Viktoriya D Nikolova
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Monika E Conrad
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sheryl S Moy
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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31
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Kean CM, Tracy CJ, Mitra A, Rahat B, Van Winkle MT, Gebert CM, Noeker JA, Calof AL, Lander AD, Kassis JA, Pfeifer K. Decreasing Wapl dosage partially corrects embryonic growth and brain transcriptome phenotypes in Nipbl+/- embryos. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd4136. [PMID: 36449618 DOI: 10.1101/2022.05.31.493745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cohesin rings interact with DNA and modulate the expression of thousands of genes. NIPBL loads cohesin onto chromosomes, and WAPL takes it off. Haploinsufficiency for NIPBL causes a developmental disorder, Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), that is modeled by Nipbl+/- mice. Mutations in WAPL have not been shown to cause disease or gene expression changes in mammals. Here, we show dysregulation of >1000 genes in WaplΔ/+ embryonic mouse brain. The patterns of dysregulation are highly similar in Wapl and Nipbl heterozygotes, suggesting that Wapl mutations may also cause human disease. Since WAPL and NIPBL have opposite effects on cohesin's association with DNA, we asked whether decreasing Wapl dosage could correct phenotypes seen in Nipbl+/- mice. Gene expression and embryonic growth are partially corrected, but perinatal lethality is not. Our data are consistent with the view that cohesin dynamics play a key role in regulating gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor M Kean
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher J Tracy
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Apratim Mitra
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Beenish Rahat
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew T Van Winkle
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia M Gebert
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jacob A Noeker
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anne L Calof
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Arthur D Lander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Judith A Kassis
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Karl Pfeifer
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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32
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Kean CM, Tracy CJ, Mitra A, Rahat B, Van Winkle MT, Gebert CM, Noeker JA, Calof AL, Lander AD, Kassis JA, Pfeifer K. Decreasing Wapl dosage partially corrects embryonic growth and brain transcriptome phenotypes in Nipbl+/- embryos. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd4136. [PMID: 36449618 PMCID: PMC9710879 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add4136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cohesin rings interact with DNA and modulate the expression of thousands of genes. NIPBL loads cohesin onto chromosomes, and WAPL takes it off. Haploinsufficiency for NIPBL causes a developmental disorder, Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), that is modeled by Nipbl+/- mice. Mutations in WAPL have not been shown to cause disease or gene expression changes in mammals. Here, we show dysregulation of >1000 genes in WaplΔ/+ embryonic mouse brain. The patterns of dysregulation are highly similar in Wapl and Nipbl heterozygotes, suggesting that Wapl mutations may also cause human disease. Since WAPL and NIPBL have opposite effects on cohesin's association with DNA, we asked whether decreasing Wapl dosage could correct phenotypes seen in Nipbl+/- mice. Gene expression and embryonic growth are partially corrected, but perinatal lethality is not. Our data are consistent with the view that cohesin dynamics play a key role in regulating gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor M. Kean
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher J. Tracy
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Apratim Mitra
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Beenish Rahat
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew T. Van Winkle
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia M. Gebert
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jacob A. Noeker
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anne L. Calof
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Arthur D. Lander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Judith A. Kassis
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Karl Pfeifer
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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33
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Genetic ablation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in rats results in an autism-like behavioral phenotype. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275937. [PMCID: PMC9668160 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in communication, and social skills, as well as repetitive and/or restrictive interests and behaviors. The severity of ASD varies from mild to severe, drastically interfering with the quality of life of affected individuals. The current occurrence of ASD in the United States is about 1 in 44 children. The precise pathophysiology of ASD is still unknown, but it is believed that ASD is heterogeneous and can arise due to genetic etiology. Although various genes have been implicated in predisposition to ASD, metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is one of the most common downstream targets, which may be involved in autism. mGluR5 signaling has been shown to play a crucial role in neurodevelopment and neural transmission making it a very attractive target for understanding the pathogenesis of ASD. In the present study, we determined the effect of genetic ablation of mGluR5 (Grm5) on an ASD-like phenotype using a rat model to better understand the role of mGluR5 signaling in behavior patterns and clinical manifestations of ASD. We observed that mGluR5 Ko rats exhibited exaggerated self-grooming and increased marble burying, as well as deficits in social novelty. Our results suggest that mGluR5 Ko rats demonstrate an ASD-like phenotype, specifically impaired social interaction as well as repetitive and anxiety-like behavior, which are correlates of behavior symptoms observed in individuals with ASD. The mGluR5 Ko rat model characterized in this study may be explored to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying ASD and for developing effective therapeutic modalities.
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34
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Kubová H, Mikulecká A, Mareš P. The outcome of early life status epilepticus—lessons from laboratory animals. Epilepsia Open 2022; 8 Suppl 1:S90-S109. [PMID: 36352789 PMCID: PMC10173850 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Status epilepticus (SE) is the most common neurologic emergency in children. Both clinical and laboratory studies have demonstrated that SE in early life can cause brain damage and permanent behavioral abnormalities, trigger epileptogenesis, and interfere with normal brain development. In experimental rodent models, the consequences of seizures are dependent upon age, the model used, and seizure duration. In studies involving neonatal and infantile animals, the model used, experimental design, conditions during the experiment, and manipulation of animals can significantly affect the course of the experiments as well as the results obtained. Standardization of laboratory approaches, harmonization of scientific methodology, and improvement in data collection can improve the comparability of data among laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Kubová
- Developmental Epileptology Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Science Prague Czech Republic
| | - Anna Mikulecká
- Developmental Epileptology Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Science Prague Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Mareš
- Developmental Epileptology Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Science Prague Czech Republic
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35
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Short-Term Omega-3 Supplementation Modulates Novel Neurovascular and Fatty Acid Metabolic Proteome Changes in the Retina and Ophthalmic Artery of Mice with Targeted Cyp2c44 Gene Deletion. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213494. [PMID: 36359890 PMCID: PMC9658563 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene mutations are a common predisposition associated with glaucoma. Although the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) and their CYP-derived bioactive mediators play crucial roles in the ocular system. Here, we elucidated the proteome and cell-signalling alterations attributed to the main human CYP2C gene deficiency using a homologous murine model (Cyp2c44−/−), and unravelled the effects of acute ω-3 PUFA supplementation in two ocular vascular beds comprising the retrobulbar ophthalmic artery (OA) and retina (R). Male Cyp2c44−/− mice (KO) and their floxed littermates (WT) were gavaged daily for 7 days with 0.01 mL/g of ω-3 PUFA composed of menhaden fish oil. Another group in respective strains served as vehicle-treated controls. OA and R were isolated at day 8 post-treatment (n = 9/group) and subjected to mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and in silico bioinformatics analyses. Cyp2c44−/− resulted in significant detrimental proteome changes associated with compromised vascular integrity and degeneration in the OA and R, respectively. However, notable changes in the OA after ω-3 PUFA intake were associated with the maintenance of intercellular junctional and endothelial cell functions, as well as activation of the fatty acid metabolic pathway in the KO mice. Conversely, ω-3 PUFA supplementation profoundly influenced the regulation of a large majority of retinal proteins involved in the preservation of neuronal and phototransduction activities in WT mice, namely synaptophysin, phosducin and guanylate cyclase-1, while significantly abrogating degenerative processes in the KO mice via the regulation of, namely, synaptotagmin-1 and beta-crystallin B2. In gist, this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with ω-3 PUFA for a short period of seven days regulated specific neuro-vasculoprotective mechanisms to preserve the functionality of the OA and R in the absence of Cyp2c44. The potential adjunct use of ω-3 PUFA for glaucoma therapy needs further investigation.
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36
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Zheng J, Reynolds JE, Long M, Ostertag C, Pollock T, Hamilton M, Dunn JF, Liu J, Martin J, Grohs M, Landman B, Huo Y, Dewey D, Kurrasch D, Lebel C. The effects of prenatal bisphenol A exposure on brain volume of children and young mice. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:114040. [PMID: 35952745 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical used for the manufacturing of plastics, epoxy resin, and many personal care products. This ubiquitous endocrine disruptor is detectable in the urine of over 80% of North Americans. Although adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes have been observed in children with high gestational exposure to BPA, the effects of prenatal BPA on brain structure remain unclear. Here, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we studied the associations of maternal BPA exposure with children's brain structure, as well as the impact of comparable BPA levels in a mouse model. Our human data showed that most maternal BPA exposure effects on brain volumes were small, with the largest effects observed in the opercular region of the inferior frontal gyrus (ρ = -0.2754), superior occipital gyrus (ρ = -0.2556), and postcentral gyrus (ρ = 0.2384). In mice, gestational exposure to an equivalent level of BPA (2.25 μg BPA/kg bw/day) induced structural alterations in brain regions including the superior olivary complex (SOC) and bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) with larger effect sizes (1.07≤ Cohens d ≤ 1.53). Human (n = 87) and rodent (n = 8 each group) sample sizes, while small, are considered adequate to perform the primary endpoint analysis. Combined, these human and mouse data suggest that gestational exposure to low levels of BPA may have some impacts on the developing brain at the resolution of MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jess E Reynolds
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Madison Long
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Curtis Ostertag
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Tyler Pollock
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Max Hamilton
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jeff F Dunn
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jiaying Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jonathan Martin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SE-106 91, Sweden
| | - Melody Grohs
- Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Bennett Landman
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Yuankai Huo
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Deborah Kurrasch
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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Li M, Shi Q, Jiang X, Liu X, Han W, Fan X, Li P, Qi K. Paternal preconceptional diet enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids affects offspring brain function in mice. Front Nutr 2022; 9:969848. [PMID: 36386900 PMCID: PMC9650249 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.969848] [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: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrate that paternal nutrition prior to conception may determine offspring development and health through epigenetic modification. This study aims to investigate the effects of paternal supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on the brain development and function, and associated gene imprinting in the offspring. Three to four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (founder) were fed with an n-3 PUFA-deficient diet (n-3 D), and two n-3 PUFA supplementation diets – a normal n-3 PUFA content diet (n-3 N) and a high n-3 PUFA content diet (n-3 H) for 12 weeks. Then they were mated to 10-week-old virgin female C57BL/6J mice to generate the offspring. The results showed that paternal n-3 PUFA supplementation in preconception reduced the anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, and improved sociability, learning and memory in the offspring, along with increased synaptic number, upregulated expressions of neuron specific enolase, myelin basic protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, and altered expressions of genes associated with mitochondria biogenesis, fusion, fission and autophagy. Furthermore, with paternal n-3 PUFA supplementation, the expression of imprinted gene Snrpn was downregulated both in testes of the founder mice and their offspring, but upregulated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, with altered DNA methylation in its differentially methylated region. The data suggest that higher paternal intake of n-3 PUFAs in preconception may help to maintain optimal brain development and function in the offspring, and further raise the possibility of paternal nutritional intervention for mental health issues in subsequent generations.
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Di Gesù CM, Matz LM, Bolding IJ, Fultz R, Hoffman KL, Marino Gammazza A, Petrosino JF, Buffington SA. Maternal gut microbiota mediate intergenerational effects of high-fat diet on descendant social behavior. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111461. [PMID: 36223744 PMCID: PMC9597666 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysbiosis of the maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. We previously showed that maternal high-fat diet (MHFD) in mice induces gut dysbiosis, social dysfunction, and underlying synaptic plasticity deficits in male offspring (F1). Here, we reason that, if HFD-mediated changes in maternal gut microbiota drive offspring social deficits, then MHFD-induced dysbiosis in F1 female MHFD offspring would likewise impair F2 social behavior. Metataxonomic sequencing reveals reduced microbial richness among female F1 MHFD offspring. Despite recovery of microbial richness among MHFD-descendant F2 mice, they display social dysfunction. Post-weaning Limosilactobacillus reuteri treatment increases the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing taxa and rescues MHFD-descendant F2 social deficits. L. reuteri exerts a sexually dimorphic impact on gut microbiota configuration, increasing discriminant taxa between female cohorts. Collectively, these results show multigenerational impacts of HFD-induced dysbiosis in the maternal lineage and highlight the potential of maternal microbiome-targeted interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia M. Di Gesù
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA,Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy,Current address: Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,These authors contributed equally
| | - Lisa M. Matz
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Ian J. Bolding
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Robert Fultz
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Kristi L. Hoffman
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Antonella Marino Gammazza
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Joseph F. Petrosino
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shelly A. Buffington
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA,Sealy Center for Microbiome Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence:
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Podgorac J, Sekulić S, Petković B, Stojadinović G, Martać L, Pešić V. The influence of continuous prenatal exposure to valproic acid on physical, nociceptive, emotional and psychomotor responses during adolescence in mice: Dose-related effects within sexes. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:982811. [PMID: 36248030 PMCID: PMC9557044 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.982811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical findings show that the use of valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects and autism spectrum disorder in offspring. Although there is a consensus that monitoring of potential long-term outcomes of VPA exposure is needed, especially in undiagnosed individuals, preclinical studies addressing this issue are rare. The present study examined the effects of continuous intrauterine exposure to a wide dose range of VPA (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day) on the physical and behavioral response in peripubertal mice as a rodent model of adolescence. Body weight and the hot plate test [on postnatal days (PND) 25 and 32], the elevated plus-maze test (on PND35), and the open field test (on PND40) served to examine physical growth, the supraspinal reflex response to a painful thermal stimulus and conditional learning, anxiety-like/risk-assessment behavior, as well as novelty-induced psychomotor activity, respectively. VPA exposure produced the following responses: (i) a negative effect on body weight, except for the dose of 100 mg/kg/day in both sexes; (ii) an increase in the percentage of animals that responded to the thermal stimulus above the defined cut-off time interval and the response latency in both sexes; (iii) dose-specific changes within sexes in behavior provoked by a novel anxiogenic environment, i.e., in females less anxiety-like/risk-assessment behavior in response to the lowest exposure dose, and in males more pronounced anxiety-like/risk-assessment behavior after exposure to the highest dose and 100 mg/kg/day; (iv) dose-specific changes within sexes in novelty-induced psychomotor activity, i.e., in females a decrease in stereotypy-like activity along with an increase in rearing, and in males a decrease in stereotypy-like activity only. These findings show that continuous intrauterine exposure to VPA produces maladaptive functioning in different behavioral domains in adolescence and that the consequences are delicate to assess as they are dose-related within sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Podgorac
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Slobodan Sekulić
- Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Branka Petković
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gordana Stojadinović
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ljiljana Martać
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Pešić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Torres-Reveron A, Dow-Edwards D. Scoping review on environmental enrichment: Are critical periods and sex differences adequately studied? Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 218:173420. [PMID: 35716854 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decades of research have shown the robust behavioral, structural, and molecular effects of environmental enrichment (EE) which predominantly improves neuropathological conditions. However, systematic examination of age and sex influences in response to EE is limited. OBJECTIVE Examine the use of EE and evaluate where sex differences (or similarities) are described and whether critical developmental periods are addressed. A critical examination of review articles about EE will establish a framework for the context of the findings of EE-induced effects, improve the impact of future EE studies and improve translatability. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Narrative, systematic reviews (not original reports) and meta-analyses of any animal species published during 2011 to 2021. Clinical and farming studies were excluded. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE Indexed review articles in Pubmed and Psychinfo. RESULTS Most studies examine EE during adulthood such as following an injury or following repeated addictive drug exposure. However, in various genetic models of disease states, little attention is paid to effects of EE at different ages. Only some reviews acknowledge that sex differences exist even when the disease state under study is known to be sexually dimorphic. Identified issues include lack of systematic reporting; status of the "control group" (i.e., isolation or pair housing); the use and reporting of proper statistical analyses. CONCLUSION Reviews have concluded that EE is most effective when administered early in life but that EE during adulthood is certainly effective. Too few review studies have compared sexes for the effects of EE to make a statement about sex differences. Overall, articles reflect a lack of integration of information on age and sex differences in response to EE. Future studies of EE should examine both sexes and consider critical periods of the lifespan in the experimental models to facilitate the adequate translation of EE as a non-pharmaceutical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelyn Torres-Reveron
- Sur180 Therapeutics, LLC, McAllen, TX, USA; Adjunct Faculty, Ponce Research Institute Ponce, PR, USA.
| | - Diana Dow-Edwards
- State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
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Gibson JM, Chu T, Zeng W, Wethall AC, Kong M, Mellen N, Devlin Phinney LA, Cai J. Perinatal methadone exposure attenuates myelination and induces oligodendrocyte apoptosis in neonatal rat brain. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2022; 247:1067-1079. [PMID: 35475383 PMCID: PMC9265527 DOI: 10.1177/15353702221090457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Methadone (MTD) is a commonly prescribed treatment for opioid use disorder in pregnancy, despite limited information on the effects of passive exposure on fetal brain development. Animal studies suggest a link between perinatal MTD exposure and impaired white matter development. In this study, we characterized the effect of perinatal MTD exposure through the evaluation of oligodendrocyte development and glial cell activation in the neonatal rat brain. Six pregnant Sprague Dawley rat dams were randomized to MTD (0.2 mL/L) or untreated drinking water from embryonic day 7. Pups were terminated at postnatal day 7 and tissue sections were harvested from six randomly selected pups (one male and one female per litter) of each experimental group for immunohistochemistry in areas of corpus callosum (CC), lateral CC, external capsule (EC), and cerebellar white matter. In the MTD-exposed rat pups, myelination was significantly decreased in the CC, lateral CC, EC, and arbor vitae compared with the controls. The increased density and percentage of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were observed in the CC and cerebellar white matter. The highly active proliferation of OPCs as well as decreased density and percentage of differentiated oligodendrocytes were found in the cerebellum but no differences in the cerebrum. Apoptotic activities of both differentiated oligodendrocytes and myelinating oligodendrocytes were significantly increased in all regions of the cerebrum and cerebellum after MTD exposure. There was no quantitative difference in astrocyte, however, cell density and/or morphologic difference consistent with activation were observed in microglia throughout MTD-exposed CC and cerebellum. Taken together, perinatal MTD exposure reveals global attenuation of myelination, accelerated apoptosis of both differentiated and myelinating oligodendrocytes, and microglia activation, supporting an association between antenatal MTD exposure and impaired myelination in the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Gibson
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Norton Children’s Hospital, Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Tianci Chu
- Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Wenxin Zeng
- Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Ashley C Wethall
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Norton Children’s Hospital, Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Maiying Kong
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Public Health & Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Nicholas Mellen
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Lori A Devlin Phinney
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Norton Children’s Hospital, Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Jun Cai
- Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
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Jiménez JA, Simon JM, Hu W, Moy SS, Harper KM, Liu CW, Lu K, Zylka MJ. Developmental pyrethroid exposure and age influence phenotypes in a Chd8 haploinsufficient autism mouse model. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5555. [PMID: 35365720 PMCID: PMC8975859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hundreds of genes have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including loss-of-function mutations in chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 8 (Chd8). Environmental factors also are implicated in autism risk and have the potential to exacerbate phenotypes in genetically sensitized backgrounds. Here we investigate transcriptional and behavioral phenotypes in a Chd8 haploinsufficient (Chd8V986*/+) mouse line exposed to the pesticide deltamethrin (DM) from conception to postnatal day 22. Vehicle-exposed Chd8V986*/+ mice displayed ASD-associated phenotypes, including anxiety-like behavior and altered sociability, replicating a previous study with this mouse line. A core set of genes was altered in Chd8V986*/+ mice at multiple ages, including Usp11, Wars2, Crlf2, and Eglf6, and proximity ligation data indicated direct binding of CHD8 to the 5' region of these genes. Moreover, oligodendrocyte and neurodegenerative transcriptional phenotypes were apparent in 12 and 18 month old Chd8V986*/+ mice. Following DM exposure, the mutant mice displayed an exacerbated phenotype in the elevated plus maze, and genes associated with vascular endothelial cells were downregulated in the cerebral cortex of older Chd8V986*/+ animals. Our study reveals a gene x environment interaction with a Chd8 haploinsufficient mouse line and points to the importance of investigating phenotypes in ASD animal models across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Jiménez
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Wenxin Hu
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sheryl S Moy
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kathryn M Harper
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Chih-Wei Liu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kun Lu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mark J Zylka
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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43
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Novel probiotic treatment of autism spectrum disorder associated social behavioral symptoms in two rodent models. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5399. [PMID: 35354898 PMCID: PMC8967893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09350-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has rapidly increased in the past decades, and several studies report about the escalating use of antibiotics and the consequent disruption of the gastrointestinal microbiome leading to the development of neurobehavioral symptoms resembling to those of ASD. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether depletion of the gastrointestinal microbiome via antibiotics treatment could induce ASD-like behavioral symptoms in adulthood. To reliably evaluate that, validated valproic acid (VPA) ASD animal model was introduced. At last, we intended to demonstrate the assessed potential benefits of a probiotic mixture (PM) developed by our research team. Male Wistar rats were used to create antibiotics treated; antibiotics and PM treated; PM treated, VPA treated; VPA and PM treated; and control groups. In all investigations we focused on social behavioral disturbances. Antibiotics-induced microbiome alterations during adulthood triggered severe deficits in social behavior similar to those observed in the VPA model. Furthermore, it is highlighted that our PM proved to attenuate both the antibiotics- and the VPA-generated antisocial behavioral symptoms. The present findings underline potential capacity of our PM to improve social behavioral alterations thus, indicate its promising therapeutic power to attenuate the social-affective disturbances of ASD.
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Silverman JL, Thurm A, Ethridge SB, Soller MM, Petkova SP, Abel T, Bauman MD, Brodkin ES, Harony‐Nicolas H, Wöhr M, Halladay A. Reconsidering animal models used to study autism spectrum disorder: Current state and optimizing future. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 21:e12803. [PMID: 35285132 PMCID: PMC9189007 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), are pervasive, often lifelong disorders, lacking evidence-based interventions for core symptoms. With no established biological markers, diagnoses are defined by behavioral criteria. Thus, preclinical in vivo animal models of NDDs must be optimally utilized. For this reason, experts in the field of behavioral neuroscience convened a workshop with the goals of reviewing current behavioral studies, reports, and assessments in rodent models. Goals included: (a) identifying the maximal utility and limitations of behavior in animal models with construct validity; (b) providing recommendations for phenotyping animal models; and (c) guidelines on how in vivo models should be used and reported reliably and rigorously while acknowledging their limitations. We concluded by recommending minimal criteria for reporting in manuscripts going forward. The workshop elucidated a consensus of potential solutions to several problems, including revisiting claims made about animal model links to ASD (and related conditions). Specific conclusions included: mice (or other rodent or preclinical models) are models of the neurodevelopmental insult, not specifically any disorder (e.g., ASD); a model that perfectly recapitulates a disorder such as ASD is untenable; and greater attention needs be given to validation of behavioral testing methods, data analysis, and critical interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill L. Silverman
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of California Davis School of MedicineSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Audrey Thurm
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping ServiceNational Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Sarah B. Ethridge
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping ServiceNational Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Makayla M. Soller
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of California Davis School of MedicineSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Stela P. Petkova
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of California Davis School of MedicineSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and PharmacologyIowa Neuroscience Institute, University of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of California Davis School of MedicineSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Edward S. Brodkin
- Department of PsychiatryPerelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research LaboratoryPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Hala Harony‐Nicolas
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and TreatmentIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Laboratory of Biological PsychologySocial and Affective Neuroscience Research Group, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium,Leuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium,Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral NeurosciencePhilipps‐University of MarburgMarburgGermany,Center for Mind, Brain, and BehaviorPhilipps‐University of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Alycia Halladay
- Autism Science FoundationUSA,Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
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Jiang S, Xiao L, Sun Y, He M, Gao C, Zhu C, Chang H, Ding J, Li W, Wang Y, Sun T, Wang F. The GABAB receptor agonist STX209 reverses the autism‑like behaviour in an animal model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid. Mol Med Rep 2022; 25:154. [PMID: 35244195 PMCID: PMC8941376 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2022.12670] [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: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired social interaction, compromised communication, and restrictive or stereotyped behaviours and interests. Due to the complex pathophysiology of ASD, there are currently no available medical therapies for improving the associated social deficits. Consequently, the present study investigated the effects of STX209, a selective γ‑aminobutyric acid type B receptor (GABABR2) agonist, on an environmental rodent model of autism. The mouse model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) was used to assess the therapeutic potential of STX209 on autism‑like behaviour in the present study. This study investigated the effects of STX209 on VPA model mice via behavioral testing and revealed a significant reversal of core/associated autism‑like behavior, including sociability and preference for social novelty, novelty recognition, locomotion and exploration activity and marble‑burying deficit. This may be associated with STX209 correcting dendritic arborization, spine density and GABABR2 expression in hippocampus of VPA model mice. However, expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65/67 in the hippocampus were not altered by STX209. The present results demonstrated that STX209 administration ameliorated autism‑like symptoms in mice exposed to VPA prenatally, suggesting that autism‑like symptoms in children with a history of prenatal VPA exposure may also benefit from treatment with the GABABR2 agonist STX209.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shucai Jiang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Lifei Xiao
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Yu Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Maotao He
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Caibin Gao
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Changliang Zhu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Haigang Chang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Jiangwei Ding
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Wenchao Li
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, P.R. China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
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46
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Harry GJ, McBride S, Witchey SK, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Trembleau A, Bridge M, Bencsik A. Roadbumps at the Crossroads of Integrating Behavioral and In Vitro Approaches for Neurotoxicity Assessment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:812863. [PMID: 35295216 PMCID: PMC8915899 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.812863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With the appreciation that behavior represents the integration and complexity of the nervous system, neurobehavioral phenotyping and assessment has seen a renaissance over the last couple of decades, resulting in a robust database on rodent performance within various testing paradigms, possible associations with human disorders, and therapeutic interventions. The interchange of data across behavior and other test modalities and multiple model systems has advanced our understanding of fundamental biology and mechanisms associated with normal functions and alterations in the nervous system. While there is a demonstrated value and power of neurobehavioral assessments for examining alterations due to genetic manipulations, maternal factors, early development environment, the applied use of behavior to assess environmental neurotoxicity continues to come under question as to whether behavior represents a sensitive endpoint for assessment. Why is rodent behavior a sensitive tool to the neuroscientist and yet, not when used in pre-clinical or chemical neurotoxicity studies? Applying new paradigms and evidence on the biological basis of behavior to neurobehavioral testing requires expertise and refinement of how such experiments are conducted to minimize variability and maximize information. This review presents relevant issues of methods used to conduct such test, sources of variability, experimental design, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting. It presents beneficial and critical limitations as they translate to the in vivo environment and considers the need to integrate across disciplines for the best value. It proposes that a refinement of behavioral assessments and understanding of subtle pronounced differences will facilitate the integration of data obtained across multiple approaches and to address issues of translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Jean Harry
- Neurotoxicology Group, Molecular Toxicology Branch, Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sandra McBride
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shannah K. Witchey
- Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine – Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Alain Trembleau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8246, Inserm U1130, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris, France
| | - Matthew Bridge
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Anna Bencsik
- Anses Laboratoire de Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Université de Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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Hu W, Liu CW, Jiménez JA, McCoy ES, Hsiao YC, Lin W, Engel SM, Lu K, Zylka MJ. Detection of Azoxystrobin Fungicide and Metabolite Azoxystrobin-Acid in Pregnant Women and Children, Estimation of Daily Intake, and Evaluation of Placental and Lactational Transfer in Mice. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:27013. [PMID: 35200037 PMCID: PMC8869102 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Azoxystrobin (AZ) is a broad-spectrum strobilurin fungicide that is used in agriculture and was recently added to mold- and mildew-resistant wallboards. AZ was found to have toxic effects in animals at embryonic stages and was listed as a frontline target for biomonitoring in children. OBJECTIVES This study investigated exposure to AZ in pregnant women and young children, whether AZ could be transferred from an exposed mother to offspring, and whether AZ or one of its primary metabolites, AZ-acid, was neurotoxic in vitro. METHODS We quantified AZ-acid, a sensitive indicator of AZ exposure, in urine samples collected from 8 pregnant women (12 urine samples) and 67 children (40-84 months old; 96 urine samples) with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Gestational and lactational transfer was assessed in C57Bl/6 mice. Neurotoxicity of AZ and AZ-acid was investigated in vitro with mouse cortical neuron cultures. RESULTS AZ-acid was present above the limit of quantification (0.01 ng/mL) in 100% of the urine samples from pregnant women and in 70% of the urine samples from children, with median concentration of 0.10 and 0.07 ng/mL, and maximal concentration of 2.70 and 6.32 ng/mL, respectively. Studies in mice revealed that AZ transferred from the mother to offspring during gestation by crossing the placenta and entered the developing brain. AZ was also transferred to offspring via lactation. High levels of cytotoxicity were observed in embryonic mouse cortical neurons at concentrations that modeled environmentally relevant exposures. DISCUSSION Our study suggested that pregnant women and children were exposed to AZ, and at least 10% of the children (2 out of 20 that were evaluated at two ages) showed evidence of chronic exposure. Future studies are warranted to evaluate whether chronic AZ exposure affects human health and development. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9808.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxin Hu
- Univerity of North Carolina Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chih-Wei Liu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jessica A. Jiménez
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Eric S. McCoy
- Univerity of North Carolina Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yun-Chung Hsiao
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Weili Lin
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center and Department of Radiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kun Lu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mark J. Zylka
- Univerity of North Carolina Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Kozlova EV, Valdez MC, Denys ME, Bishay AE, Krum JM, Rabbani KM, Carrillo V, Gonzalez GM, Lampel G, Tran JD, Vazquez BM, Anchondo LM, Uddin SA, Huffman NM, Monarrez E, Olomi DS, Chinthirla BD, Hartman RE, Kodavanti PRS, Chompre G, Phillips AL, Stapleton HM, Henkelmann B, Schramm KW, Curras-Collazo MC. Persistent autism-relevant behavioral phenotype and social neuropeptide alterations in female mice offspring induced by maternal transfer of PBDE congeners in the commercial mixture DE-71. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:335-365. [PMID: 34687351 PMCID: PMC8536480 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03163-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are known neuroendocrine disrupting chemicals with adverse neurodevelopmental effects. PBDEs may act as risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), characterized by abnormal psychosocial functioning, although direct evidence is currently lacking. Using a translational exposure model, we tested the hypothesis that maternal transfer of a commercial mixture of PBDEs, DE-71, produces ASD-relevant behavioral and neurochemical deficits in female offspring. C57Bl6/N mouse dams (F0) were exposed to DE-71 via oral administration of 0 (VEH/CON), 0.1 (L-DE-71) or 0.4 (H-DE-71) mg/kg bw/d from 3 wk prior to gestation through end of lactation. Mass spectrometry analysis indicated in utero and lactational transfer of PBDEs (in ppb) to F1 female offspring brain tissue at postnatal day (PND) 15 which was reduced by PND 110. Neurobehavioral testing of social novelty preference (SNP) and social recognition memory (SRM) revealed that adult L-DE-71 F1 offspring display deficient short- and long-term SRM, in the absence of reduced sociability, and increased repetitive behavior. These effects were concomitant with reduced olfactory discrimination of social odors. Additionally, L-DE-71 exposure also altered short-term novel object recognition memory but not anxiety or depressive-like behavior. Moreover, F1 L-DE-71 displayed downregulated mRNA transcripts for oxytocin (Oxt) in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and supraoptic nucleus, and vasopressin (Avp) in the BNST and upregulated Avp1ar in BNST, and Oxtr in the paraventricular nucleus. Our work demonstrates that developmental PBDE exposure produces ASD-relevant neurochemical, olfactory processing and behavioral phenotypes that may result from early neurodevelopmental reprogramming within central social and memory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V Kozlova
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Matthew C Valdez
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Neurological and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, CPHEA/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Maximillian E Denys
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Anthony E Bishay
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Julia M Krum
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Kayhon M Rabbani
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Valeria Carrillo
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Gwendolyn M Gonzalez
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Gregory Lampel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Jasmin D Tran
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Brigitte M Vazquez
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Laura M Anchondo
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Syed A Uddin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Nicole M Huffman
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Eduardo Monarrez
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Duraan S Olomi
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Bhuvaneswari D Chinthirla
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Richard E Hartman
- Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Prasada Rao S Kodavanti
- Neurological and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, CPHEA/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Gladys Chompre
- Biotechnology Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00717-9997, USA
| | - Allison L Phillips
- Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | | | - Bernhard Henkelmann
- Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, Molecular EXposomics (MEX), German National Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg, Munich, Germany
| | - Karl-Werner Schramm
- Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, Molecular EXposomics (MEX), German National Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg, Munich, Germany
- Department Für Biowissenschaftliche Grundlagen, TUM, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung Und Umwelt, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350, Freising, Germany
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Jiang S, He M, Xiao L, Sun Y, Ding J, Li W, Guo B, Wang L, Wang Y, Gao C, Sun T, Wang F. Prenatal GABAB Receptor Agonist Administration Corrects the Inheritance of Autism-Like Core Behaviors in Offspring of Mice Prenatally Exposed to Valproic Acid. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:835993. [PMID: 35492716 PMCID: PMC9051083 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.835993] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was performed to evaluate the effects of prenatal baclofen (a GABAB receptor agonist) treatment on the inheritance of autism-like behaviors in valproic acid (VPA)-exposed mice. VPA model mice (first generation, F1) that were prenatally exposed to VPA exhibited robust core autism-like behaviors, and we found that oral administration of baclofen to F1 mice corrected their autism-like behavioral phenotypes at an early age. Based on a previous epigenetics study, we mated the F1 male offspring with litter females to produce the second generation (F2). The F2 male mice showed obvious inheritance of autism-like phenotypes from F1 mice, implying the heritability of autism symptoms in patients with prenatal VPA exposure. Furthermore, we found prenatal baclofen administration was associated with beneficial effects on the autism-like phenotype in F2 male mice. This may have involved corrections in the density of total/mature dendritic spines in the hippocampus (HC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), normalizing synaptic plasticity. In this research, GABAB receptor agonist administration corrected the core autism-like behaviors of F1 mice and protected against the inheritance of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring of F1 mice, suggesting the potential of early intervention with GABAB receptor agonists in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shucai Jiang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Maotao He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Lifei Xiao
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Jiangwei Ding
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Wenchao Li
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Baorui Guo
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Caibin Gao
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Disease, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Ramlall EK, Hall MAL, Forger NG, Castillo-Ruiz A. Cesarean birth elicits long-term effects on vasopressin and oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of mice. Horm Behav 2021; 136:105080. [PMID: 34749276 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Birth is an extraordinary event for placental mammals and occurs at a time when key developmental processes are shaping the brain. Remarkably, little is known about the contributions of birth to brain development and whether birth mode (vaginal vs. Cesarean) alters neurodevelopmental trajectories. We previously reported that Cesarean birth reduces vasopressin (VP) neuron number in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of mice at weaning. In this study, we investigated whether this effect extends to adulthood and whether birth mode affects oxytocin (OT) neurons, which are another prominent population in the PVN. We found that Cesarean-born adults had fewer VP neurons in the PVN, specifically in magnocellular regions. Interestingly, these regions also had more dying cells following a Cesarean birth, suggesting that cell death may be the underlying mechanism. The PVN of Cesarean-born adults also had smaller VP neuron somas and reduced VP efferent projections. Additionally, Cesarean-born mice showed fewer and smaller OT neurons in the PVN, but these effects were less robust than for VP neurons. We also examined VP and OT neuron number in the supraoptic and suprachiasmatic nuclei but found no effect of birth mode in these regions. Thus, Cesarean birth causes long-term effects on the VP and, to a lesser extent, OT systems in the PVN, suggesting that this region is particularly sensitive to the effects of birth mode. Our findings may help explain the social deficits reported for Cesarean-born mice, and are also of clinical significance given the widespread practice of Cesarean births across the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K Ramlall
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
| | - Megan A L Hall
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
| | - Nancy G Forger
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
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