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Gan H, Xing Y, Tong J, Lu M, Yan S, Huang K, Wu X, Tao S, Gao H, Pan Y, Dai J, Tao F. Impact of Gestational Exposure to Individual and Combined Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances on a Placental Structure and Efficiency: Findings from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6117-6127. [PMID: 38525964 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09611] [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: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is inevitable among pregnant women. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research investigating the connections between prenatal PFAS exposure and the placental structure and efficiency. Based on 712 maternal-fetal dyads in the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort, we analyzed associations between individual and mixed PFAS exposure and placental measures. We repeatedly measured 12 PFAS in the maternal serum during pregnancy. Placental weight, scaling exponent, chorionic disc area, and disc eccentricity were used as the outcome variables. Upon adjusting for confounders and implementing corrections for multiple comparisons, we identified positive associations between branched perfluorohexane sulfonate (br-PFHxS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) with placental weight. Additionally, a positive association was observed between br-PFHxS and the scaling exponent, where a higher scaling exponent signified reduced placental efficiency. Based on neonatal sex stratification, female infants were found to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of PFAS exposure. Mixed exposure modeling revealed that mixed PFAS exposure was positively associated with placental weight and scaling exponent, particularly during the second and third trimesters. Furthermore, br-PFHxS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA played major roles in the placental measures. This study provides the first epidemiological evidence of the relationship between prenatal PFAS exposure and placental measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Gan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
| | - Yanan Xing
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Juan Tong
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
| | - Mengjuan Lu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
| | - Shuangqin Yan
- Ma'anshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Ma'anshan 243011 Anhui, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
| | - Shuman Tao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022 Anhui, China
| | - Yitao Pan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032 Anhui, China
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Griffith JA, King RD, Dunn AC, Lewis SE, Maxwell BA, Nurkiewicz TR, Goldsmith WT, Kelley EE, Bowdridge EC. Maternal nano-titanium dioxide inhalation exposure alters placental cyclooxygenase and oxidant balance in a sexually dimorphic manner. ADVANCES IN REDOX RESEARCH 2024; 10:10.1016/j.arres.2023.100090. [PMID: 38562524 PMCID: PMC10979698 DOI: 10.1016/j.arres.2023.100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The placenta plays a critical role in nutrient-waste exchange between the maternal and fetal circulation, and thus impacts fetal growth and development. We have previously shown that nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) inhalation exposure during gestation decreased fetal female pup and placenta mass [1], which persists in the following generation [2]. In utero exposed females, once mated, their offspring's placentas had increased capacity for H2O2 production. Generation of oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), have been shown to impact cyclooxygenase activity, specifically metabolites such as prostacyclin (PGI2) or thromboxane (TXA2). Therefore, we hypothesized that maternal nano-TiO2 inhalation exposure during gestation results in alterations in placental production of prostacyclin and thromboxane mediated by enhanced H2O2 production in a sexually dimorphic manner. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nano-TiO2 aerosols or filtered air (sham--control) from gestational day (GD) 10-19. Dams were euthanized on GD 20, and fetal serum and placental tissue were collected based on fetal sex. Fetal placental zones (junctional zone (JZ) and labyrinth zone (LZ)) were assessed for xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activity, H2O2, and catalase activity, as well as 6-keto-PGF1α and TXB2 levels. Nano-TiO2 exposed fetal female LZ demonstrated significantly greater XOR activity compared to exposed males. Exposed fetal female LZ also demonstrated significantly diminished catalase activity compared to sham-control females. Exposed fetal female LZ had significantly increased abundance of 6-keto-PGF1α compared to sham-control females and increased TXB2 compared to exposed males. In the aggregate these data indicate that maternal nano-TiO2 inhalation exposure has a greater impact on redox homeostasis and PGI2/TXA2 balance in the fetal female LZ. Future studies need to address if treatment with an XO inhibitor during gestation can prevent diminished fetal female growth during maternal nano-TiO2 inhalation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A. Griffith
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Rachel D. King
- Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Allison C. Dunn
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Sara E. Lewis
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Brooke A. Maxwell
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Timothy R. Nurkiewicz
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - William T. Goldsmith
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Eric E. Kelley
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Elizabeth C. Bowdridge
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
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Candia AA, Lean SC, Zhang CXW, McKeating DR, Cochrane A, Gulacsi E, Herrera EA, Krause BJ, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Obesogenic Diet in Mice Leads to Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in the Mother in Association with Sex-Specific Changes in Fetal Development, Inflammatory Markers and Placental Transcriptome. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:411. [PMID: 38671859 PMCID: PMC11047652 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13040411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity during pregnancy is related to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Factors involved in these outcomes may include increased maternal insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and nutrient mishandling. The placenta is the primary determinant of fetal outcomes, and its function can be impacted by maternal obesity. The aim of this study on mice was to determine the effect of obesity on maternal lipid handling, inflammatory and redox state, and placental oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, and gene expression relative to female and male fetal growth. METHODS Female mice were fed control or obesogenic high-fat/high-sugar diet (HFHS) from 9 weeks prior to, and during, pregnancy. On day 18.5 of pregnancy, maternal plasma, and liver, placenta, and fetal serum were collected to examine the immune and redox states. The placental labyrinth zone (Lz) was dissected for RNA-sequencing analysis of gene expression changes. RESULTS the HFHS diet induced, in the dams, hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress (reduced catalase, elevated protein oxidation) and the activation of pro-inflammatory pathways (p38-MAPK), along with imbalanced circulating cytokine concentrations (increased IL-6 and decreased IL-5 and IL-17A). HFHS fetuses were asymmetrically growth-restricted, showing sex-specific changes in circulating cytokines (GM-CSF, TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ). The morphology of the placenta Lz was modified by an HFHS diet, in association with sex-specific alterations in the expression of genes and proteins implicated in oxidative stress, inflammation, and stress signaling. Placental gene expression changes were comparable to that seen in models of intrauterine inflammation and were related to a transcriptional network involving transcription factors, LYL1 and PLAG1. CONCLUSION This study shows that fetal growth restriction with maternal obesity is related to elevated oxidative stress, inflammatory pathways, and sex-specific placental changes. Our data are important, given the marked consequences and the rising rates of obesity worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro A. Candia
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.A.C.); (C.X.W.Z.); (D.R.M.); (A.C.); (E.G.)
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of O’Higgins, Rancagua 2841959, Chile;
- Pathophysiology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7500922, Chile;
- Department for the Woman and Newborn Health Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Samantha C. Lean
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.A.C.); (C.X.W.Z.); (D.R.M.); (A.C.); (E.G.)
| | - Cindy X. W. Zhang
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.A.C.); (C.X.W.Z.); (D.R.M.); (A.C.); (E.G.)
| | - Daniel R. McKeating
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.A.C.); (C.X.W.Z.); (D.R.M.); (A.C.); (E.G.)
| | - Anna Cochrane
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.A.C.); (C.X.W.Z.); (D.R.M.); (A.C.); (E.G.)
| | - Edina Gulacsi
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.A.C.); (C.X.W.Z.); (D.R.M.); (A.C.); (E.G.)
| | - Emilio A. Herrera
- Pathophysiology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7500922, Chile;
| | - Bernardo J. Krause
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of O’Higgins, Rancagua 2841959, Chile;
| | - Amanda N. Sferruzzi-Perri
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; (A.A.C.); (C.X.W.Z.); (D.R.M.); (A.C.); (E.G.)
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Salilew-Wondim D, Hoelker M, Held-Hoelker E, Rings F, Tholen E, Große-Brinkhaus C, Shellander K, Blaschka C, Besenfelder U, Havlicek V, Tesfaye D. Sexual dimorphic miRNA-mediated response of bovine elongated embryos to the maternal microenvironment. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298835. [PMID: 38422042 PMCID: PMC10903816 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298835] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
A skewed male-to-female ratio in cattle is believed to be due to the biased embryo losses during pregnancy. The changes in biochemical secretion such as miRNAs by the embryo due to altered maternal environment could cause a sex biased selective implantation resulting in a skewed male to female ratio at birth. Nevertheless, it is still not clear whether the male and female embryos could modify their miRNA expression patterns differently in response to altered physiological developmental conditions. Therefore, this study was focused on identifying sex specific miRNA expression patterns induced in the embryo during the elongation period in response to the maternal environment. For this, in vitro produced day female and male embryos were transferred to Holsteins Frisian cows and heifers. The elongated female and male embryos were then recovered at day 13 of the gestation period. Total RNA including the miRNAs was isolated from each group of elongated embryo samples were subjected to the next generation miRNA sequencing. Sequence alignment, identification and quantification of miRNAs were done using the miRDeep2 software package and differential miRNA expression analyses were performed using the edgeR bioconductor package. The recovery rate of viable elongating embryos at day 13 of the gestation period was 26.6%. In cows, 2.8 more viable elongating male embryos were recovered than female embryos, while in heifers the sex ratio of the recovered elongating embryos was close to one (1.05). The miRNA analysis showed that 254 miRNAs were detected in both male and female elongated embryos developed either in cows or heifers, of which 14 miRNAs including bta-miR-10b, bta-miR-148a, bta-miR-26a, and bta-miR-30d were highly expressed. Moreover, the expression level of 32 miRNAs including bta-let-7c, bta-let-7b, bta-let-7g, bta-let-7d and bta-let-7e was significantly different between the male and female embryos developed in cows, but the expression level of only 4 miRNAs (bta-miR-10, bta-mR-100, bta-miR-155 and bta-miR-6119-5p) was different between the male and female embryos that were developed in heifers. Furthermore, 19 miRNAs including those involved in cellular energy homeostasis pathways were differentially expressed between the male embryos developed in cows and heifers, but no significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were detected between the female embryos of cows and heifers. Thus, this study revealed that the sex ratio skewed towards males in embryos developed in cows was accompanied by increased embryonic sexual dimorphic miRNA expression divergence in embryos developed in cows compared to those developed in heifers. Moreover, male embryos are more sensitive to respond to the maternal reproductive microenvironment by modulating their miRNA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dessie Salilew-Wondim
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnology and Reproduction of Farm Animals, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Hoelker
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnology and Reproduction of Farm Animals, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva Held-Hoelker
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Franca Rings
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ernst Tholen
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Karl Shellander
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Carina Blaschka
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnology and Reproduction of Farm Animals, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Urban Besenfelder
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vita Havlicek
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dawit Tesfaye
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
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Dibbon KC, Mercer GV, Maekawa AS, Hanrahan J, Steeves KL, Ringer LCM, Simpson AJ, Simpson MJ, Baschat AA, Kingdom JC, Macgowan CK, Sled JG, Jobst KJ, Cahill LS. Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics cause placental dysfunction in mice†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:211-218. [PMID: 37724921 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics has been shown to result in fetal growth restriction in mice. In this study, we investigated the placental and fetal hemodynamic responses to plastics exposure in mice using high-frequency ultrasound. Healthy, pregnant CD-1 dams were given either 106 ng/L of 5 μm polystyrene microplastics or 106 ng/L of 50 nm polystyrene nanoplastics in drinking water throughout gestation and were compared with controls. Maternal exposure to both microplastics and nanoplastics resulted in evidence of placental dysfunction that was highly dependent on the particle size. The umbilical artery blood flow increased by 48% in the microplastic-exposed group and decreased by 25% in the nanoplastic-exposed group compared to controls (p < 0.05). The microplastic- and nanoplastic-exposed fetuses showed a significant decrease in the middle cerebral artery pulsatility index of 10% and 13%, respectively, compared to controls (p < 0.05), indicating vasodilation of the cerebral circulation, a fetal adaptation that is part of the brain sparing response to preserve oxygen delivery. Hemodynamic markers of placental dysfunction and fetal hypoxia were more pronounced in the group exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, suggesting nanoplastic exposure during human pregnancy has the potential to disrupt fetal brain development, which in turn may cause suboptimal neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C Dibbon
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Grace V Mercer
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Alexandre S Maekawa
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jenna Hanrahan
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Katherine L Steeves
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Lauren C M Ringer
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - André J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Myrna J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmet A Baschat
- Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John C Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karl J Jobst
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Discipline of Radiology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Boschen KE, Dragicevich CJ, Fish EW, Hepperla AJ, Simon JM, Parnell SE. Gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure induces similar rates of craniofacial malformations in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2292. [PMID: 38116840 PMCID: PMC10872400 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2292] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure during gastrulation (embryonic day [E] 7 in mice, ~3rd week of human pregnancy) impairs eye, facial, and cortical development, recapitulating birth defects characteristic of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). However, it is not known whether the prevalence or severity of craniofacial features associated with FAS is affected by biological sex. METHODS The current study administered either alcohol (2.9 g/kg, two i.p. doses, 4 hr apart) or vehicle to pregnant C57BL/6J females on E7, prior to gonadal sex differentiation, and assessed fetal morphology at E17. RESULTS Whereas sex did not affect fetal size in controls, alcohol-exposed females were smaller than both control females and alcohol-treated males. Alcohol exposure increased the incidence of eye defects to a similar degree in males and females. Together, these data suggest that females might be more sensitive to the general developmental effects of alcohol, but not effects specific to the craniofacies. Whole transcriptomic analysis of untreated E7 embryos found 214 differentially expressed genes in females vs. males, including those in pathways related to cilia and mitochondria, histone demethylase activity, and pluripotency. CONCLUSION Gastrulation-stage alcohol induces craniofacial malformations in male and female mouse fetuses at similar rates and severity, though growth deficits are more prevalent females. These findings support the investigation of biological sex as a contributing factor in prenatal alcohol studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E. Boschen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Constance J. Dragicevich
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eric W. Fish
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Austin J. Hepperla
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeremy M. Simon
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Scott E. Parnell
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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7
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Li X, Luo Y, Ji D, Zhang Z, Luo S, Ma Y, Cao W, Cao C, Saw PE, Chen H, Wei Y. Maternal exposure to nano-titanium dioxide impedes fetal development via endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the placental labyrinth in mice. Part Fibre Toxicol 2023; 20:48. [PMID: 38072983 PMCID: PMC10712190 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-023-00549-3] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extensive production and usage of commercially available products containing TiO2 NPs have led to accumulation in the human body. The deposition of TiO2 NPs has even been detected in the human placenta, which raises concerns regarding fetal health. Previous studies regarding developmental toxicity have frequently focused on TiO2 NPs < 50 nm, whereas the potential adverse effects of large-sized TiO2 NPs received less attention. Placental vasculature is essential for maternal-fetal circulatory exchange and ensuring fetal growth. This study explores the impacts of TiO2 NPs (100 nm in size) on the placenta and fetal development and elucidates the underlying mechanism from the perspective of placental vasculature. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were exposed to TiO2 NPs by gavage at daily dosages of 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg from gestational day 0.5-16.5. RESULTS TiO2 NPs penetrated the placenta and accumulated in the fetal mice. The fetuses in the TiO2 NP-exposed groups exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in body weight and length, as well as in placental weight and diameter. In vivo imaging showed an impaired placental barrier, and pathological examinations revealed a disrupted vascular network of the labyrinth upon TiO2 NP exposure. We also found an increase in gene expression related to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) -SNAIL pathway and the upregulation of mesenchymal markers, accompanied by a reduction in endothelial markers. In addition, TiO2 NPs enhanced the gene expression responsible for the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, whereas SNAIL knockdown attenuated the induction of EndMT phenotypes. CONCLUSION Our study revealed that maternal exposure to 100 nm TiO2 NPs disrupts placental vascular development and fetal mice growth through aberrant activation of EndMT in the placental labyrinth. These data provide novel insight into the mechanisms of developmental toxicity posed by NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjie Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yinger Luo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Di Ji
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zhuyi Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Shili Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ya Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wulan Cao
- Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528400, China
| | - Chunwei Cao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Phei Er Saw
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Yanhong Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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8
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Bake S, Rouzer SK, Mavuri S, Miranda RC, Mahnke AH. The interaction of genetic sex and prenatal alcohol exposure on health across the lifespan. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 71:101103. [PMID: 37802472 PMCID: PMC10922031 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can reprogram the development of cells and tissues, resulting in a spectrum of physical and neurobehavioral teratology. PAE immediately impacts fetal growth, but its effects carry forward post-parturition, into adolescence and adulthood, and can result in a cluster of disabilities, collectively termed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Emerging preclinical and clinical research investigating neurological and behavioral outcomes in exposed offspring point to genetic sex as an important modifier of the effects of PAE. In this review, we discuss the literature on sex differences following PAE, with studies spanning the fetal period through adulthood, and highlight gaps in research where sex differences are likely, but currently under-investigated. Understanding how sex and PAE interact to affect offspring health outcomes across the lifespan is critical for identifying the full complement of PAE-associated secondary conditions, and for refining targeted interventions to improve the quality of life for individuals with PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shameena Bake
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States
| | - Siara K Rouzer
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States
| | - Shruti Mavuri
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States
| | - Rajesh C Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States
| | - Amanda H Mahnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Education Building I, 8447 Riverside Parkway, Bryan, TX 77807-3620, United States.
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9
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Stenhouse C, Bazer FW, Ashworth CJ. Sexual dimorphism in placental development and function: Comparative physiology with an emphasis on the pig. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:684-696. [PMID: 35466463 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23573] [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: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Across mammalian species, it has been demonstrated that sex influences birth weight, with males being heavier than females; a characteristic that can be observed from early gestation. Male piglets are more likely to be stillborn and have greater preweaning mortality than their female littermates, despite the additional maternal investment into male fetal growth. Given the conserved nature of the genome between the sexes, it is hypothesized that these developmental differences between males and females are most likely orchestrated by differential placental adaptation. This review summarizes the current understanding of fetal sex-specific differences in placental and endometrial structure and function, with an emphasis on pathways found to be differentially regulated in the pig including angiogenesis, apoptosis, and proliferation. Given the importance of piglet sex in agricultural enterprises, and the potential for skewed litter sex ratios, it is imperative to improve understanding of the relationship between fetal sex and molecular signaling in both the placenta and endometria across gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Stenhouse
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Functional Genetics and Development Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Fuller W Bazer
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Cheryl J Ashworth
- Functional Genetics and Development Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
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10
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Chen Y, Qu H, Li X, Wang H. Effects of amoxicillin exposure at different stages, doses and courses of pregnancy on adrenal development in fetal mice. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 175:113754. [PMID: 37001632 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant women are usually treated with amoxicillin before cesarean section to prevent infection. This study aimed to investigate the effects of amoxicillin exposure on fetal adrenal development at different stages, doses and courses of pregnancy. We found prenatal amoxicillin exposure (PAmE) could cause adrenal developmental toxicity in both male and female fetal mice in a stage, dose and course-dependent manner, among which the third trimester, high dose and multiple courses of PAmE could significantly reduce the maximum cross-sectional area and diameter. Besides, the proliferation was inhibited, the apoptosis was enhanced, and the serum corticosterone level and expression of steroidogenic enzymes were decreased in the PAmE group. Further, the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling pathway were inhibited in the male and female fetal mice at the third trimester, high dose and multiple courses of treatment, and adrenal IGF1 expression was positively correlated with the indicators of adrenal development. In conclusion, PAmE could induce adrenal dysplasia in fetal mice in the stage, dose and course-dependent manner, which was related to the inhibition of IGF1 signaling pathway. This study provides guidance for evaluating the toxicity and risk of fetal adrenal development and the rational use of amoxicillin during pregnancy.
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11
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Tang J, Bu W, Hu W, Zhao Z, Liu L, Luo C, Wang R, Fan S, Yu S, Wu Q, Wang X, Zhao X. Ferroptosis Is Involved in Sex-Specific Small Intestinal Toxicity in the Offspring of Adult Mice Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics during Pregnancy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:2440-2449. [PMID: 36728677 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c09729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics are common contaminants in the living environment. Thus far, no investigations have focused on small intestinal injury in the offspring of adult mice that were exposed to nanoplastics through the respiratory system during pregnancy. Here, we evaluated potential intestinal injury in the offspring of adult mice that were subjected to maternal 80 nm polystyrene nanoparticle (PS-NP) exposure during gestation. PS-NP exposure significantly reduced the birth weight of female mice compared with male mice. However, the adult body weights of the female and male offspring were substantially greater in the PS-NP-exposed groups. Additionally, we found that exposure to PS-NPs during pregnancy caused histological changes in the small intestines of both female and male offspring. Mechanistic analysis revealed upregulation of reactive oxygen species in the small intestines, as indicated by changes in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, exposure to PS-NPs led to downregulation of GPx4, FTH1, and FTL protein levels, indicating initiation of ferroptosis. Notably, the changes in mRNA expression levels of GPx4, FTH1, and FTL differed between female and male offspring. Although all phenotypes failed to demonstrate classic dose-dependent effects, the data imply that small intestinal toxicity is greater in female offspring than in male offspring. Our results suggest that PS-NP exposure during pregnancy causes sex-specific small intestinal toxicity, which might contribute to reactive oxygen species activation and subsequent ferroptosis. Overall, this study showed toxic effects in offspring after PS-NP exposure during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Tang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Wenxia Bu
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Wenxuan Hu
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Zixuan Zhao
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Chao Luo
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Susu Fan
- Nantong University Analysis & Testing Center, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Shali Yu
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Qiyun Wu
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Xiaoke Wang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
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12
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Lu Z, Guo Y, Xu D, Xiao H, Dai Y, Liu K, Chen L, Wang H. Developmental toxicity and programming alterations of multiple organs in offspring induced by medication during pregnancy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:460-477. [PMID: 36873163 PMCID: PMC9978644 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Medication during pregnancy is widespread, but there are few reports on its fetal safety. Recent studies suggest that medication during pregnancy can affect fetal morphological and functional development through multiple pathways, multiple organs, and multiple targets. Its mechanisms involve direct ways such as oxidative stress, epigenetic modification, and metabolic activation, and it may also be indirectly caused by placental dysfunction. Further studies have found that medication during pregnancy may also indirectly lead to multi-organ developmental programming, functional homeostasis changes, and susceptibility to related diseases in offspring by inducing fetal intrauterine exposure to too high or too low levels of maternal-derived glucocorticoids. The organ developmental toxicity and programming alterations caused by medication during pregnancy may also have gender differences and multi-generational genetic effects mediated by abnormal epigenetic modification. Combined with the latest research results of our laboratory, this paper reviews the latest research progress on the developmental toxicity and functional programming alterations of multiple organs in offspring induced by medication during pregnancy, which can provide a theoretical and experimental basis for rational medication during pregnancy and effective prevention and treatment of drug-related multiple fetal-originated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjie Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan 430071, China.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yu Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hao Xiao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yongguo Dai
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Kexin Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Liaobin Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan 430071, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disorder, Wuhan 430071, China
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13
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Lodefalk M, Chelslín F, Patriksson Karlsson J, Hansson SR. Placental Changes and Neuropsychological Development in Children-A Systematic Review. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030435. [PMID: 36766778 PMCID: PMC9913696 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Placental dysfunction may increase the offspring's later-life disease risk. The objective of this systematic review was to describe associations between pathological placental changes and neuropsychological outcomes in children after the neonatal period. The inclusion criteria were human studies; original research; direct placental variables; neuropsychological outcomes; and analysis between their associations. The exclusion criterion was the offspring's age-0-28 days or >19 years. The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were last searched in May 2022. We utilized the ROBINS-I for the risk of bias assessment and performed a narrative synthesis. In total, 3252 studies were identified, out of which 16 were included (i.e., a total of 15,862 participants). Half of the studies were performed on children with neonatal complications, and 75% of the studies reported an association between a placental change and an outcome; however, following the completion of the funnel plots, a risk of publication bias was indicated. The largest study described a small association between placental size and a risk of psychiatric symptoms in boys only. Inconsistency between the studies limited the evidence in this review. In general, no strong evidence was found for an association between pathological placental changes and childhood neuropsychological outcomes after the neonatal period. However, the association between placental size and mental health in boys indicates a placental sexual dimorphism, thereby suggesting an increased vulnerability for male fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lodefalk
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden
- University Health Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| | - Felix Chelslín
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Johanna Patriksson Karlsson
- University Health Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Stefan R. Hansson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Skåne University Hospital, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
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14
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Maternal immune activation in rats induces dysfunction of placental leucine transport and alters fetal brain growth. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:1117-1137. [PMID: 35852150 PMCID: PMC9366863 DOI: 10.1042/cs20220245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy increases the offspring risk of developing a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including schizophrenia. While the mechanisms remain unclear, dysregulation of placental function is implicated. We hypothesised that maternal infection, leading to maternal immune activation and stimulated cytokine production, alters placental and yolk sac amino acid transport, affecting fetal brain development and thus NDD risk. Using a rat model of maternal immune activation induced by the viral mimetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), we investigated placental and yolk sac expression of system L amino acid transporter subtypes which transport several essential amino acids including branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), maternal and fetal BCAA concentration, placental 14C-leucine transport activity and associated impacts on fetal growth and development. Poly(I:C) treatment increased acutely maternal IL-6 and TNFα concentration, contrasting with IL-1β. Transcriptional responses for these pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in placenta and yolk sac following poly(I:C) treatment. Placental and yolk sac weights were reduced by poly(I:C) treatment, yet fetal body weight was unaffected, while fetal brain weight was increased. Maternal plasma BCAA concentration was reduced 24 h post-poly(I:C) treatment, yet placental, but not yolk sac, BCAA concentration was increased. Placental and yolk sac gene expression of Slc7a5, Slc7a8 and Slc43a2 encoding LAT1, LAT2 and LAT4 transporter subtypes respectively, was altered by poly(I:C) treatment. Placental 14C-leucine transport was significantly reduced 24 h post-treatment, contrasting with a significant increase six days following poly(I:C) treatment. Maternal immune activation induces dysregulated placental transport of amino acids affecting fetal brain development, and NDD risk potential in offspring.
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15
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Chen Y, Duan F, Liu L, Chen G, He Z, Huang H, Wang H. Sex differences and heritability of adrenal steroidogenesis in offspring rats induced by prenatal nicotine exposure. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2022; 221:106102. [PMID: 35367371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2022.106102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The epidemiological investigation has suggested prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) induces multiorgan developmental toxicity and increases the risk of metabolic diseases in offspring. Our previous study found that the occurrence of fetal-originated diseases was associated with abnormal adrenal development in offspring. However, the long-term harmful effects on adrenal development in offspring induced by PNE remain unclear. Pregnant Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously with nicotine (2 mg/kg·d) from gestation day (GD) 9 to GD20 to obtain the adrenal gland from fetal and adult offspring rats of F1 and F2 generations. We found that the adrenal insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling pathway and steroidogenic function were increased in male while decreased in female of PNE fetal rats, which could extend into adulthood. Furthermore, the primary adrenal cells of fetal rats were treated with nicotine to observe the phenomena and clarify the possible mechanism of the sex difference. The results suggested that there are sex differences in IGF1 signaling pathway and steroidogenic function induced by PNE, which may be associated with sex differences in nAChRβ1 expression. In addition, the adrenal steroidogenic function was reduced in F2 offspring of F1 PNE female rats (regardless of mating with control or Male PNE rats). Therefore, the decrease of adrenal steroidogenic function in female offspring rats induced by PNE has maternal heritability. In conclusion, PNE could lead to sex differences and heritability of adrenal steroidogenic function in offspring rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical College of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Fangfang Duan
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lian Liu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Guanghui Chen
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zheng He
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hegui Huang
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical College of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China.
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16
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Yu P, Zhou J, Ge C, Fang M, Zhang Y, Wang H. Differential expression of placental 11β-HSD2 induced by high maternal glucocorticoid exposure mediates sex differences in placental and fetal development. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:154396. [PMID: 35259391 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A variety of adverse environmental factors during pregnancy cause maternal chronic stress. Caffeine is a common stressor, and its consumption during pregnancy is widespread. Our previous study showed that prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) increased maternal blood glucocorticoid levels and caused abnormal development of offspring. However, the placental mechanism for fetal development inhibition caused by PCE-induced high maternal glucocorticoid has not been reported. This study investigated the effects of PCE-induced high maternal glucocorticoid level on placental and fetal development by regulating placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2) expression and its underlying mechanism. First, human placenta and umbilical cord blood samples were collected from women without prenatal use of synthetic glucocorticoids. We found that placental 11β-HSD2 expression was significantly correlated with umbilical cord blood cortisol level and birth weight in male newborns but not in females. Furthermore, we established a rat model of high maternal glucocorticoids induced by PCE (caffeine, 60 mg/kg·d, ig), and found that the expression of 11β-HSD2 in male PCE placenta was decreased and negatively correlated with the maternal/fetal/placental corticosterone levels. Meanwhile, we found abnormal placental structure and nutrient transporter expression. In vitro, BeWo cells were used and confirm that 11β-HSD2 mediated inhibition of placental nutrient transporter expression induced by high levels of glucocorticoid. Finally, combined with the animal and cell experiments, we further confirmed that high maternal glucocorticoid could activate the GR-C/EBPα-Egr1 signaling pathway, leading to decreased expression of 11β-HSD2 in males. However, there was no significant inhibition of placental 11β-HSD2 expression, placental and fetal development in females. In summary, we confirmed that high maternal glucocorticoids could regulate placental 11β-HSD2 expression in a sex-specific manner, leading to differences in placental and fetal development. This study provides the theoretical and experimental basis for analyzing the inhibition of fetoplacental development and its sex difference caused by maternal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxia Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Caiyun Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Man Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yuanzhen Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China.
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17
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Sandovici I, Fernandez-Twinn DS, Hufnagel A, Constância M, Ozanne SE. Sex differences in the intergenerational inheritance of metabolic traits. Nat Metab 2022; 4:507-523. [PMID: 35637347 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00570-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Strong evidence suggests that early-life exposures to suboptimal environmental factors, including those in utero, influence our long-term metabolic health. This has been termed developmental programming. Mounting evidence suggests that the growth and metabolism of male and female fetuses differ. Therefore, sexual dimorphism in response to pre-conception or early-life exposures could contribute to known sex differences in susceptibility to poor metabolic health in adulthood. However, until recently, many studies, especially those in animal models, focused on a single sex, or, often in the case of studies performed during intrauterine development, did not report the sex of the animal at all. In this review, we (a) summarize the evidence that male and females respond differently to a suboptimal pre-conceptional or in utero environment, (b) explore the potential biological mechanisms that underlie these differences and (c) review the consequences of these differences for long-term metabolic health, including that of subsequent generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ionel Sandovici
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Denise S Fernandez-Twinn
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Antonia Hufnagel
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Miguel Constância
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Susan E Ozanne
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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18
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Aykroyd BRL, Tunster SJ, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Loss of imprinting of the Igf2-H19 ICR1 enhances placental endocrine capacity via sex-specific alterations in signalling pathways in the mouse. Development 2022; 149:dev199811. [PMID: 34982814 PMCID: PMC8783045 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Imprinting control region (ICR1) controls the expression of the Igf2 and H19 genes in a parent-of-origin specific manner. Appropriate expression of the Igf2-H19 locus is fundamental for normal fetal development, yet the importance of ICR1 in the placental production of hormones that promote maternal nutrient allocation to the fetus is unknown. To address this, we used a novel mouse model to selectively delete ICR1 in the endocrine junctional zone (Jz) of the mouse placenta (Jz-ΔICR1). The Jz-ΔICR1 mice exhibit increased Igf2 and decreased H19 expression specifically in the Jz. This was accompanied by an expansion of Jz endocrine cell types due to enhanced rates of proliferation and increased expression of pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 23 in the placenta of both fetal sexes. However, changes in the endocrine phenotype of the placenta were related to sexually-dimorphic alterations to the abundance of Igf2 receptors and downstream signalling pathways (Pi3k-Akt and Mapk). There was no effect of Jz-ΔICR1 on the expression of targets of the H19-embedded miR-675 or on fetal weight. Our results demonstrate that ICR1 controls placental endocrine capacity via sex-dependent changes in signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amanda N. Sferruzzi-Perri
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
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19
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Early Pregnancy Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution among Late-Onset Preeclamptic Cases Is Associated with Placental DNA Hypomethylation of Specific Genes and Slower Placental Maturation. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9120338. [PMID: 34941772 PMCID: PMC8708250 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9120338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ambient air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia (PE). Some suggested mechanisms behind this association are changes in placental DNA methylation and gene expression. The objective of this study was to identify how early pregnancy exposure to ambient nitrogen oxides (NOx) among PE cases and normotensive controls influence DNA methylation (EPIC array) and gene expression (RNA-seq). The study included placentas from 111 women (29 PE cases/82 controls) in Scania, Sweden. First-trimester NOx exposure was assessed at the participants’ residence using a dispersion model and categorized via median split into high or low NOx. Placental gestational epigenetic age was derived from the DNA methylation data. We identified six differentially methylated positions (DMPs, q < 0.05) comparing controls with low NOx vs. cases with high NOx and 14 DMPs comparing cases and controls with high NOx. Placentas with female fetuses showed more DMPs (N = 309) than male-derived placentas (N = 1). Placentas from PE cases with high NOx demonstrated gestational age deceleration compared to controls with low NOx (p = 0.034). No differentially expressed genes (DEGs, q < 0.05) were found. In conclusion, early pregnancy exposure to NOx affected placental DNA methylation in PE, resulting in placental immaturity and showing sexual dimorphism.
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20
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Christians JK. The Placenta's Role in Sexually Dimorphic Fetal Growth Strategies. Reprod Sci 2021; 29:1895-1907. [PMID: 34699045 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00780-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fetal sex affects the risk of pregnancy complications and the long-term effects of prenatal environment on health. Some have hypothesized that growth strategies differ between the sexes, whereby males prioritize growth whereas females are more responsive to their environment. This review evaluates the role of the placenta in such strategies, focusing on (1) mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in gene expression, (2) the nature and extent of sexual dimorphism in placental gene expression, (3) sexually dimorphic responses to nutrient supply, and (4) sexual dimorphism in morphology and histopathology. The sex chromosomes contribute to sex differences in placental gene expression, and fetal hormones may play a role later in development. Sexually dimorphic placental gene expression may contribute to differences in the prevalence of complications such as preeclampsia, although this link is not clear. Placental responses to nutrient supply frequently show sexual dimorphism, but there is no consistent pattern where one sex is more responsive. There are sex differences in the prevalence of placental histopathologies, and placental changes in pregnancy complications, but also many similarities. Overall, no clear patterns support the hypothesis that females are more responsive to the maternal environment, or that males prioritize growth. While male fetuses are at greater risk of a variety of complications, total prenatal mortality is higher in females, such that males exposed to early insults may be more likely to survive and be observed in studies of adverse outcomes. Going forward, robust statistical approaches to test for sex-dependent effects must be more widely adopted to reduce the incidence of spurious results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian K Christians
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. .,Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada. .,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Women's Health Research Institute, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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21
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Yu P, Chen Y, Ge C, Wang H. Sexual dimorphism in placental development and its contribution to health and diseases. Crit Rev Toxicol 2021; 51:555-570. [PMID: 34666604 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.1977237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
According to the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD), intrauterine exposure to adverse environments can affect fetus and birth outcomes and lead to long-term disease susceptibility. Evidence has shown that neonatal outcomes and the timing and severity of adult diseases are sexually dimorphic. As the link between mother and fetus, the placenta is an essential regulator of fetal development programming. It is found that the physiological development trajectory of the placenta has sexual dimorphism. Furthermore, under pathological conditions, the placental function undergoes sex-specific adaptation to ensure fetal survival. Therefore, the placenta may be an important mediator of sexual dimorphism in neonatal outcomes and adult disease susceptibility. Few systematic reviews have been conducted on sexual dimorphism in placental development and its underlying mechanisms. In this review, sex chromosomes and sex hormones, as the main reasons for sexual differentiation of the placenta, will be discussed. Besides, in the etiology of fetal-originated adult diseases, overexposure to glucocorticoids is closely related to adverse neonatal outcomes and long-term disease susceptibility. Studies have found that prenatal glucocorticoid overexposure leads to sexually dimorphic expression of placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms, resulting in different sensitivity of the placenta to glucocorticoids, and may further affect fetal development. The present review examines what is currently known about sex differences in placental development and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of this sex bias. This review highlights the importance of placental contributions to the origins of sexual dimorphism in health and diseases. It may help develop personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies for fetal development in pathological pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxia Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yawen Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Caiyun Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China
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22
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Goszczynski DE, Tinetti PS, Choi YH, Ross PJ, Hinrichs K. Allele-specific expression analysis reveals conserved and unique features of preimplantation development in equine ICSI embryos. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:1416-1426. [PMID: 34515759 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic genome activation and dosage compensation are major genetic events in early development. Combined analysis of single embryo RNA-seq data and parental genome sequencing was used to evaluate parental contributions to early development and investigate X-chromosome dynamics. In addition, we evaluated dimorphism in gene expression between male and female embryos. Evaluation of parent-specific gene expression revealed a minor increase in paternal expression at the 4-cell stage that increased at the 8-cell stage. We also detected eight genes with allelic expression bias that may have an important role in early development, notably NANOGNB. The main actor in X-chromosome inactivation, XIST, was significantly upregulated at the 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages in female embryos, with high expression at the latter. Sexual dimorphism in gene expression was identified at all stages, with strong representation of the X-chromosome in females from the 16-cell to the blastocyst stage. Female embryos showed biparental X-chromosome expression at all stages after the 4-cell stage, demonstrating the absence of imprinted X-inactivation at the embryo level. The analysis of gene dosage showed incomplete dosage compensation (0.5 < X:A < 1) in MII oocytes and embryos up to the 4-cell stage, an increase of the X:A ratio at the 16-cell and morula stages after genome activation, and a decrease of the X:A ratio at the blastocyst stage, which might be associated with the beginning of X-chromosome inactivation. This study represents the first critical analysis of parent- and sex-specific gene expression in early equine embryos produced in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E Goszczynski
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - P S Tinetti
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Y H Choi
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - P J Ross
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - K Hinrichs
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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23
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Dhakal P, Strawn M, Samal A, Behura SK. Fetal Brain Elicits Sexually Conflicting Transcriptional Response to the Ablation of Uterine Forkhead Box A2 ( Foxa2) in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189693. [PMID: 34575858 PMCID: PMC8468108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of ablation of uterine Forkhead Box A2 (Foxa2) on gene expression of fetal brain relative to placenta. Using a conditional knockout mouse model for uterine Foxa2, here we show that the lack of uterine Foxa2 elicits a sexually-conflicting transcriptional response in the fetal brain relative to placenta. The ablation of Foxa2 in the uterus altered expression of genes related to growth, nutrient sensing, aging, longevity and angiogenesis among others. In the wildtype mice, these genes were expressed higher in the fetal brain and placenta of males compared to females. However, in mice lacking uterine Foxa2, the same genes showed the opposite pattern i.e., higher expression in the fetal brain and placenta of females compared to males. Based on the known marker genes of mice placenta and fetal brain cells, we further predicted that the genes exhibiting the sexually conflicting expression were associated with vascular endothelial cells. Overall, our study suggests that uterine Foxa2 plays a role in the regulation of the brain-placental axis by influencing the fetoplacental vascular changes during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Dhakal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Monica Strawn
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Ananya Samal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Susanta K. Behura
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
- MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-573-882-1722
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24
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Qi L, Jiang J, Zhang J, Zhang L, Wang T. Maternal curcumin supplementation ameliorates placental function and fetal growth in mice with intrauterine growth retardation†. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:1090-1101. [PMID: 31930336 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is a serious reproductive problem in humans. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of daily maternal curcumin supplementation during pregnancy on placental function and fetal growth in a mouse model of IUGR fed the low-protein (LP) diet. Pregnant mice were divided into four groups: (1) normal protein (19% protein) diet (NP); (2) LP (8% protein) diet; (3) LP diet + 100 mg/kg curcumin (LPL); (4) LP diet +400 mg/kg curcumin (LPH). The results showed that the LP group decreased fetal weight, placental weight, placental efficiency, serum progesterone level, placental glutathione peroxidase activity activity, blood sinusoids area, and antioxidant gene expression of placenta. In addition, in comparison with the NP group, LP diet increased serum corticosterone level, placental malondialdehyde content, and apoptotic index. Daily curcumin administration decreased the placental apoptosis, while it increased placental efficiency, placental redox balance, blood sinusoids area, and antioxidant-related protein expression in fetal liver. The antioxidant gene expression of placenta and fetal liver was normalized to the NP level after curcumin administration. In conclusion, daily curcumin supplementation could improve maternal placental function and fetal growth in mice with IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Qi
- National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingle Jiang
- National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingfei Zhang
- National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lili Zhang
- National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Wang
- National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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25
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Meakin AS, Cuffe JSM, Darby JRT, Morrison JL, Clifton VL. Let's Talk about Placental Sex, Baby: Understanding Mechanisms That Drive Female- and Male-Specific Fetal Growth and Developmental Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126386. [PMID: 34203717 PMCID: PMC8232290 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well understood that sex differences exist between females and males even before they are born. These sex-dependent differences may contribute to altered growth and developmental outcomes for the fetus. Based on our initial observations in the human placenta, we hypothesised that the male prioritises growth pathways in order to maximise growth through to adulthood, thereby ensuring the greatest chance of reproductive success. However, this male-specific “evolutionary advantage” likely contributes to males being less adaptable to shifts in the in-utero environment, which then places them at a greater risk for intrauterine morbidities or mortality. Comparatively, females are more adaptable to changes in the in-utero environment at the cost of growth, which may reduce their risk of poor perinatal outcomes. The mechanisms that drive these sex-specific adaptations to a change in the in-utero environment remain unclear, but an increasing body of evidence within the field of developmental biology would suggest that alterations to placental function, as well as the feto-placental hormonal milieu, is an important contributing factor. Herein, we have addressed the current knowledge regarding sex-specific intrauterine growth differences and have examined how certain pregnancy complications may alter these female- and male-specific adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S. Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - James S. M. Cuffe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Vicki L. Clifton
- Mater Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Correspondence:
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26
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Insulin-regulated aminopeptidase deficiency impairs cardiovascular adaptations and placental development during pregnancy. Clin Sci (Lond) 2021; 134:3213-3228. [PMID: 33252660 PMCID: PMC7733041 DOI: 10.1042/cs20201233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), an enzyme that cleaves vasoactive peptides including oxytocin and vasopressin, is suggested to play a role in pregnancy and the onset of preeclampsia. Our aim was to examine the contribution of IRAP to arterial pressure regulation and placental development during pregnancy in mice. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured via radiotelemetry in 12-week-old female wild-type and IRAP knockout mice. Females were time-mated with males of the same genotype. Placentae were collected at embryonic day 18.5 for histological analysis. Basal heart rate was ∼40 bpm lower in IRAP knockout females compared with wild-type females. The increase in heart rate across gestation was greater in IRAP knockout females than wild-type females. Neither basal nor gestational mean arterial pressure was different between wildtype and IRAP knockout females. Urine output and water intake of IRAP knockout mice were ∼45% less than wild-type mice at late gestation. IRAP deficiency had no effect on fetal weight. Morphological assessment of placentae revealed that IRAP deficiency was associated with reduced labyrinth surface area and accumulation of glycogen in the junctional zone. Our data demonstrate that IRAP deficiency alters maternal fluid handling and impairs placental labyrinth expansion at late gestation, indicating that IRAP contributes to the normal adaptions to pregnancy.
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27
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Jiménez JA, Zylka MJ. Controlling litter effects to enhance rigor and reproducibility with rodent models of neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neurodev Disord 2021; 13:2. [PMID: 33397279 PMCID: PMC7780384 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-09353-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Research with rodents is crucial for expanding our understanding of genetic and environmental risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). However, there is growing concern about the number of animal studies that are difficult to replicate, potentially undermining the validity of results. These concerns have prompted funding agencies and academic journals to implement more rigorous standards in an effort to increase reproducibility in research. However, these standards fail to address a major source of variability in rodent research brought on by the “litter effect,” the fact that rodents from the same litter are phenotypically more similar to one other than rodents from different litters of the same strain. We show that the litter effect accounts for 30–60% of the variability associated with commonly studied phenotypes, including brain, placenta, and body weight. Moreover, we show how failure to control for litter-to-litter variation can mask a phenotype in Chd8V986*/+ mice that model haploinsufficiency of CHD8, a high-confidence autism gene. Thus, if not properly controlled, the litter effect has the potential to negatively influence rigor and reproducibility of NDD research. While efforts have been made to educate scientists on the importance of controlling for litter effects in previous publications, our analysis of the recent literature (2015–2020) shows that the vast majority of NDD studies focused on genetic risks, including mutant mouse studies, and environmental risks, such as air pollution and valproic acid exposure, do not correct for litter effects or report information on the number of litters used. We outline best practices to help scientists minimize the impact of litter-to-litter variability and to enhance rigor and reproducibility in future NDD studies using rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Jiménez
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, 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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28
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Examining Sex Differences in the Human Placental Transcriptome During the First Fetal Androgen Peak. Reprod Sci 2020; 28:801-818. [PMID: 33150487 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in human placenta exist from early pregnancy to term, however, it is unclear whether these differences are driven solely by sex chromosome complement or are subject to differential sex hormonal regulation. Here, we survey the human chorionic villus (CV) transcriptome for sex-linked signatures from 11 to 16 gestational weeks, corresponding to the first window of increasing testis-derived androgen production in male fetuses. Illumina HiSeq RNA sequencing was performed on Lexogen Quantseq 3' libraries derived from CV biopsies (n = 11 females, n = 12 males). Differential expression (DE) was performed to identify sex-linked transcriptional signatures, followed by chromosome mapping, pathway analysis, predicted protein interaction, and post-hoc linear regressions to identify transcripts that trend over time. We observe 322 transcripts DE between male and female CV from 11 to 16 weeks, with 22 transcripts logFC > 1. Contrary to our predictions, the difference between male and female expression of DE autosomal genes was more pronounced at the earlier gestational ages. In females, we found selective upregulation of extracellular matrix components, along with a number of X-linked genes. In males, DE transcripts centered on chromosome 19, with mitochondrial, immune, and pregnancy maintenance-related transcripts upregulated. Among the highest differentially expressed autosomal genes were CCRL2, LGALS13, and LGALS14, which are known to regulate immune cell interactions. Our results provide insight into sex-linked gene expression in late first and early second trimester developing human placenta and lay the groundwork to understand the mechanistic origins of sex differences in prenatal development.
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29
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Cahill LS, Shinar S, Whitehead CL, Hobson SR, Stortz G, Ayyathurai V, Ravi Chandran A, Rahman A, Kingdom JC, Baschat A, Murphy KE, Serghides L, Macgowan CK, Sled JG. Sex differences in modulation of fetoplacental vascular resistance in growth-restricted mouse fetuses following betamethasone administration: comparisons with human fetuses. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2020; 3:100251. [PMID: 33451599 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2020.100251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternally administered corticosteroids are routinely used to accelerate fetal lung maturation in pregnancies at risk of early preterm delivery. Although, among the subgroup with growth restriction, a majority show a temporary improvement in umbilical artery Doppler waveforms that may be sustained up to 7 days, a minority will acutely decompensate in response to corticosteroids in association with deteriorating umbilical and fetal Doppler waveforms. The basis for such acute Doppler changes is presently unknown. Our group has developed a noninvasive ultrasound methodology to measure wave reflections in the umbilical artery and have established that wave reflection metrics are sensitive to structural changes in the placental vasculature and to acute changes in vascular tone. Using this approach, we demonstrated in healthy pregnant mice that fetoplacental vascular resistance decreased in betamethasone-treated mice compared with saline-treated controls. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effects of betamethasone administration on the wave reflection metrics in a mouse model of fetal growth restriction and to compare these findings with equivalent measurements in human fetuses. STUDY DESIGN Pregnant CD-1 mice were housed from embryonic day 14.5 to embryonic day 17.5 in either a normoxic (21% O2, n=24) or hypoxic environment (11% O2, n=22), the latter being an established mouse model of fetal growth restriction. To investigate the effect of maternally administered betamethasone on the fetoplacental vasculature, ultrasound imaging was performed at baseline and 4 hours after treatment (either betamethasone or sterile saline). Umbilical artery wave reflection metrics were compared between the groups and for the effect of fetal sex. In addition, a cohort of 10 pregnant women with elevated umbilical artery pulsatility index and evidence of fetal growth restriction and 6 controls were imaged before and after corticosteroid administration. RESULTS In the mouse model, after betamethasone administration, the female fetuses from the hypoxia group showed a 15% increase in umbilical artery diameter, a 98% increase in umbilical artery blood flow, and a 27% decrease in umbilical artery reflection coefficient, whereas the males from the hypoxia group showed no substantial changes. In agreement with our mouse findings, umbilical artery reflections were found to be larger in human growth-restricted fetuses than controls in women at risk of preterm birth. CONCLUSION Our studies provide insight into the mechanism whereby the human growth-restricted fetus may exhibit a temporary favorable fetoplacental vascular response to maternally administered corticosteroids. Further investigations are needed to understand why the male growth-restricted fetus seems unable to mount this favorable vascular response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay S Cahill
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
| | - Shiri Shinar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Clare L Whitehead
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Pregnancy Research Centre, Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria Australia
| | - Sebastian R Hobson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Greg Stortz
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Viji Ayyathurai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anjana Ravi Chandran
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anum Rahman
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John C Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmet Baschat
- The Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
| | - Kellie E Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lena Serghides
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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30
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Stenhouse C, Hogg CO, Ashworth CJ. Novel relationships between porcine fetal size, sex, and endometrial angiogenesis†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:112-125. [PMID: 31093645 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is hypothesized that growth restriction occurs due to inadequate vascularization of the feto-maternal interface. Evidence exists for sexual dimorphism in placental function although associations between fetal sex and the endometrium remain poorly investigated. This study investigated the relationship between porcine fetal size, sex and endometrial angiogenesis at multiple gestational days (GD). Endometrial samples supplying the lightest and closest to mean litter weight (CTMLW), male and female Large White X Landrace conceptuses or fetuses were obtained at GD18, 30, 45, 60, and 90 (n = 5-9 litters/GD). Immunohistochemistry for CD31 revealed a greater number of blood vessels in endometrium supplying females compared to those supplying males at GD45. Endometrial samples supplying the lightest fetuses had fewer blood vessels (GD60) and uterine glands (GD90) compared to those supplying the CTMLW fetuses. Quantitative PCR revealed decreased CD31 (GD60), HPSE and VEGFA (GD90) expression, alongside increased HIF1A (GD45) expression in endometrial samples supplying the lightest compared to the CTMLW fetuses. At GD30, PTGFR, CD31, and VEGFA mRNA expression was increased in samples supplying female fetuses compared to those supplying male fetuses. Intriguingly, decreased expression of ACP5, CD31, HIF1A, and VEGFA mRNAs was observed at GD60 in endometrial samples supplying female fetuses compared to those supplying their male littermates. Endothelial cell branching assays demonstrated impaired endothelial cell branching in response to conditioned media from endometrial samples supplying the lightest and female fetuses compared with the CTMLW and male fetuses, respectively. This study has highlighted that endometrial tissues supplying the lightest and female fetuses have impaired angiogenesis when compared with the CTMLW and female fetuses respectively. Importantly, the relationship between fetal size, sex and endometrial vascularity is dynamic and dependent upon the GD investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Stenhouse
- Developmental Biology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Charis O Hogg
- Developmental Biology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Cheryl J Ashworth
- Developmental Biology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
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An interaction between fetal sex and placental weight and efficiency predicts intrauterine growth in response to maternal protein insufficiency and gestational exposure window in a mouse model of FASD. Biol Sex Differ 2020; 11:40. [PMID: 32690098 PMCID: PMC7372829 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00320-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals exposed to gestational stressors such as alcohol exhibit a spectrum of growth patterns, suggesting individualized responses to the stressors. We hypothesized that intrauterine growth responses to gestational alcohol are modified not only by the stressor's severity but by fetal sex and the placenta's adaptive capacity. METHODS Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 consumed a normal protein diet (18% protein by weight) and received 4.5 g alcohol/kg body weight (NP-Alc-8) or isocaloric maltodextrin (NP-MD-8) daily from embryonic day (E) 8.5-E17.5. Group 2 consumed the same diet but received alcohol (NP-Alc-13) or maltodextrin (NP-MD-13) daily from E13.5-E17.5. Group 3 consumed the same diet but containing a lower protein content (12% protein by weight) from E0.5 and also received alcohol (LP-Alc-8) or maltodextrin (LP-MD-8) daily from E8.5-E17.5. Maternal, placental, and fetal outcomes were assessed on E17.5 using 2-way ANOVA or mixed linear model. RESULTS We found that intrauterine growth differed in the alcohol-exposed fetuses depending on sex and insult severity. Both NP-Alc-8 (vs. NP-MD-8) males and females had lower body weight and asymmetrical growth, but only NP-Alc-8 females had lower placental weight (P < 0.05). NP-Alc-13 (vs. NP-MD-13) females, but not their male littermates, had lower body weight (P = 0.019). Alcohol exposure beginning from E8.5 (vs. E13.5) decreased the ratio of fetal liver-to-body weight and increased the ratio of fetal brain-to-liver weight in both sexes (P < 0.05). LP-Alc-8 (vs. NP-MD-8) group had smaller litter size (P = 0.048), but the survivors had normal placental and body weight at E17.5. Nevertheless, LP-Alc-8 fetuses still showed asymmetrical growth. Correlation analyses reveal a relationship between litter size and placental outcomes, which were related to fetal outcomes in a sex-dependent manner, suggesting that the placenta may mediate the consequence of LP-Alc-altered litter size on fetal development. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that the placenta is strongly involved in the fetal stress response and adapts in a sex-dependent fashion to support fetal development under the alcohol stressor. These variables may further influence the spectrum of intrauterine growth outcomes observed in those diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
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32
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Jahandideh F, Bourque SL, Armstrong EA, Cherak SJ, Panahi S, Macala KF, Davidge ST, Yager JY. Late-pregnancy uterine artery ligation increases susceptibility to postnatal Western diet-induced fat accumulation in adult female offspring. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6926. [PMID: 32332768 PMCID: PMC7181802 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63392-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressors during the fetal and postnatal period affect the growth and developmental trajectories of offspring, causing lasting effects on physiologic regulatory systems. Here, we tested whether reduced uterine artery blood flow in late pregnancy would alter body composition in the offspring, and whether feeding offspring a western diet (WD) would aggravate these programming effects. Pregnant rats underwent bilateral uterine artery ligation (BUAL) or sham surgery on gestational day (GD)18 (term = GD22). At weaning, offspring from each group received either a normal diet (ND) or a WD. BUAL surgery increased fetal loss and caused offspring growth restriction, albeit body weights were no longer different at weaning, suggesting postnatal catch-up growth. BUAL did not affect body weight gain, fat accumulation, or plasma lipid profile in adult male offspring. In contrast, while ND-fed females from BUAL group were smaller and leaner than their sham-littermates, WD consumption resulted in excess weight gain, fat accumulation, and visceral adiposity. Moreover, WD increased plasma triglycerides and cholesterol in the BUAL-treated female offspring without any effect on sham littermates. These results demonstrate that reduced uterine artery blood flow during late pregnancy in rodents can impact body composition in the offspring in a sex-dependent manner, and these effects may be exacerbated by postnatal chronic WD consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forough Jahandideh
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stephane L Bourque
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Edward A Armstrong
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stephana J Cherak
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sareh Panahi
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kimberly F Macala
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jerome Y Yager
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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33
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Jaggar M, Rea K, Spichak S, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. You've got male: Sex and the microbiota-gut-brain axis across the lifespan. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 56:100815. [PMID: 31805290 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sex is a critical factor in the diagnosis and development of a number of mental health disorders including autism, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, anorexia nervosa and others; likely due to differences in sex steroid hormones and genetics. Recent evidence suggests that sex can also influence the complexity and diversity of microbes that we harbour in our gut; and reciprocally that our gut microbes can directly and indirectly influence sex steroid hormones and central gene activation. There is a growing emphasis on the role of gastrointestinal microbiota in the maintenance of mental health and their role in the pathogenesis of disease. In this review, we introduce mechanisms by which gastrointestinal microbiota are thought to mediate positive health benefits along the gut-brain axis, we report how they may be modulated by sex, the role they play in sex steroid hormone regulation, and their sex-specific effects in various disorders relating to mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minal Jaggar
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Kieran Rea
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Simon Spichak
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Timothy G Dinan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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34
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Jensen VFH, Mølck AM, Lykkesfeldt J, Fels JJ, Andersen L, Renaut R, McGuigan F, Åkesson KE, Bøgh IB. Importance of gestational hypoglycaemia for foetal malformations and skeletal development in rats. Reprod Toxicol 2019; 91:14-26. [PMID: 31644949 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The aim was to investigate embryo-foetal effects of continuous maternal insulin-induced hypoglycaemia extending throughout gestation or until gestation day (GD)17 (typical last day of dosing during pre-clinical evaluation) providing comparator data for safety assessment of longer-acting insulin analogues in non-diabetic rats. Pregnant rats received human insulin (HI)-infusion during gestation until either GD20 or GD17 (HI-GD20; HI-GD17). On GD20, foetal abnormalities and skeletal ossification/mineralisation were evaluated. HI-infusion induced continuous hypoglycaemia. Foetal skeletal and eye malformations (e.g. bent ribs, microphthalmia) were common in both groups. Foetal size and skeletal ossification/mineralisation decreased, particularly with infusion throughout gestation. Concluding, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia during gestation in non-diabetic rats is damaging to embryo-foetal growth and skeletal development, particularly after GD17. Three days without HI-infusion after GD17 allows for some developmental catch-up. Eye development is sensitive to HI-infusion before GD17. These results should serve as a benchmark during pre-clinical safety assessment of longer-acting insulin analogues tested in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivi Flou Hjorth Jensen
- Department of Toxicology Development Projects, Novo Nordisk A/S Maaloev, Denmark; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Section for Experimental Animal Models, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Orthopedics, Skåne University, Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Anne-Marie Mølck
- Department of Toxicology Development Projects, Novo Nordisk A/S Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Jens Lykkesfeldt
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Section for Experimental Animal Models, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Lene Andersen
- Department of Clinical Bioanalysis, Novo Nordisk A/S, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Ruth Renaut
- Division of Toxicology, Envigo, Eye, Suffolk, UK
| | - Fiona McGuigan
- Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Orthopedics, Skåne University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Kristina E Åkesson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Orthopedics, Skåne University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Brück Bøgh
- Department of Toxicology Development Projects, Novo Nordisk A/S Maaloev, Denmark
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35
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Placental structure in gestational diabetes mellitus. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165535. [PMID: 31442531 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The placenta is a transitory organ, located between the mother and the foetus, which supports intrauterine life. This organ has nutritional, endocrine and immunologic functions to support foetal development. Several factors are related to the correct functioning of the placenta including foetal and maternal blood flow, appropriate nutrients, expression and function of receptors and transporters, and the morphology of the placenta itself. Placental morphology is crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of the organ as represents the physical structure where nutrient exchange occurs. In pathologies of pregnancy such as diabetes mellitus in humans and animal models, several changes in the placental morphology occur, related mainly with placental size, hypervascularization, higher branching capillaries of the villi and increased glycogen deposits among others. Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with modifications in the structure of the human placenta including changes in the surface area and volume, as well as histological changes including an increased volume of intervillous space and terminal villi, syncytiotrophoblast number, fibrinoid areas, and glycogen deposits. These modifications may result in functional changes in this organ thus limiting the wellbeing of the developing foetus. This review gives an overview of recurrent morphological changes at macroscopic and histological levels seen in the placenta from gestational diabetes in humans and animal models. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Transporters and Receptors in Pregnancy Metabolic Complications edited by Luis Sobrevia.
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36
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De Clercq K, Persoons E, Napso T, Luyten C, Parac-Vogt TN, Sferruzzi-Perri AN, Kerckhofs G, Vriens J. High-resolution contrast-enhanced microCT reveals the true three-dimensional morphology of the murine placenta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:13927-13936. [PMID: 31249139 PMCID: PMC6683600 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1902688116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic engineering of the mouse genome identified many genes that are essential for embryogenesis. Remarkably, the prevalence of concomitant placental defects in embryonic lethal mutants is highly underestimated and indicates the importance of detailed placental analysis when phenotyping new individual gene knockouts. Here we introduce high-resolution contrast-enhanced microfocus computed tomography (CE-CT) as a nondestructive, high-throughput technique to evaluate the 3D placental morphology. Using a contrast agent, zirconium-substituted Keggin polyoxometalate (Zr-POM), the soft tissue of the placenta (i.e., different layers and cell types and its vasculature) was imaged with a resolution of 3.5 µm voxel size. This approach allowed us to visualize and study early and late stages of placental development. Moreover, CE-CT provides a method to precisely quantify placental parameters (i.e., volumes, volume fraction, ratio of different placental layers, and volumes of specific cell populations) that are crucial for statistical comparison studies. The CE-CT assessment of the 3D morphology of the placentas was validated (i) by comparison with standard histological studies; (ii) by evaluating placentas from 2 different mouse strains, 129S6 and C57BL/6J mice; and (iii) by confirming the placental phenotype of mice lacking phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-p110α. Finally, the Zr-POM-based CE-CT allowed for inspection of the vasculature structure in the entire placenta, as well as detecting placental defects in pathologies characterized by embryonic resorption and placental fusion. Taken together, Zr-POM-based CE-CT offers a quantitative 3D methodology to investigate placental development or pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrien De Clercq
- Laboratory of Endometrium, Endometriosis & Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Gynecology-Pediatrics and Urology Research Group (G-PURE), Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Ion Channel Research, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Centre for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eleonora Persoons
- Laboratory of Endometrium, Endometriosis & Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Gynecology-Pediatrics and Urology Research Group (G-PURE), Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Ion Channel Research, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Centre for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tina Napso
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Luyten
- Laboratory of Endometrium, Endometriosis & Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Gynecology-Pediatrics and Urology Research Group (G-PURE), Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tatjana N Parac-Vogt
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Biomechanics Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joris Vriens
- Laboratory of Endometrium, Endometriosis & Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Gynecology-Pediatrics and Urology Research Group (G-PURE), Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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37
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Kalisch-Smith JI, Steane SE, Simmons DG, Pantaleon M, Anderson ST, Akison LK, Wlodek ME, Moritz KM. Periconceptional alcohol exposure causes female-specific perturbations to trophoblast differentiation and placental formation in the rat. Development 2019; 146:146/11/dev172205. [PMID: 31182432 DOI: 10.1242/dev.172205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The development of pathologies during pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, hypertension and fetal growth restriction (FGR), often originates from poor functioning of the placenta. In vivo models of maternal stressors, such as nutrient deficiency, and placental insufficiency often focus on inadequate growth of the fetus and placenta in late gestation. These studies rarely investigate the origins of poor placental formation in early gestation, including those affecting the pre-implantation embryo and/or the uterine environment. The current study characterises the impact on blastocyst, uterine and placental outcomes in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure, in which 12.5% ethanol is administered in a liquid diet from 4 days before until 4 days after conception. We show female-specific effects on trophoblast differentiation, embryo-uterine communication, and formation of the placental vasculature, resulting in markedly reduced placental volume at embryonic day 15. Both sexes exhibited reduced trophectoderm pluripotency and global hypermethylation, suggestive of inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming. Furthermore, evidence of reduced placental nutrient exchange and reduced pre-implantation maternal plasma choline levels offers significant mechanistic insight into the origins of FGR in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta I Kalisch-Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sarah E Steane
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David G Simmons
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Marie Pantaleon
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Stephen T Anderson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Lisa K Akison
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.,Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Mary E Wlodek
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Karen M Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia .,Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
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38
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Walton SL, Tjongue M, Tare M, Kwok E, Probyn M, Parkington HC, Bertram JF, Moritz KM, Denton KM. Chronic low alcohol intake during pregnancy programs sex-specific cardiovascular deficits in rats. Biol Sex Differ 2019; 10:21. [PMID: 31010438 PMCID: PMC6477739 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-019-0235-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to an adverse environment in early life can have lifelong consequences for risk of cardiovascular disease. Maternal alcohol (ethanol) intake is common and associated with a variety of harmful effects to the fetus. However, examining the effects on the cardiovascular system in adult offspring has largely been neglected. The objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of chronic, low ethanol consumption throughout pregnancy on blood pressure, vascular reactivity and wall stiffness, all key determinants of cardiovascular health, in both male and female rat offspring. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an ad libitum liquid diet ± 6% vol/vol ethanol throughout pregnancy. Male and female offspring were studied at 12 months of age. Arterial pressure, heart rate and locomotor activity were measured over 7 days via radiotelemetry. Renal lobar arteries were isolated and studied using wire and pressure myography. Results Basal mean arterial pressure in female ethanol-exposed rats was reduced by ~ 5–6 mmHg compared to control female offspring, whereas arterial pressure was unaffected in male offspring. Ethanol-exposed offspring had an attenuated pressor response to an acute restraint stress, with this effect most evident in females. Renal artery function was not affected by prenatal ethanol exposure. Conclusions We show for the first time that low level chronic maternal alcohol intake during pregnancy influences arterial pressure in adult offspring in the absence of fetal growth restriction. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13293-019-0235-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Walton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa Tjongue
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Marianne Tare
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Monash Rural Health, Churchill, VIC, Australia
| | - Edmund Kwok
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Megan Probyn
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | | | - John F Bertram
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Kidney Developmental Programming and Disease Laboratory, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Karen M Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Kate M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
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39
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Luo J, Yang X, Qiu S, Li X, Xiang E, Fang Y, Wang Y, Zhang L, Wang H, Zheng J, Guo Y. Sex difference in monocrotaline-induced developmental toxicity and fetal hepatotoxicity in rats. Toxicology 2019; 418:32-40. [PMID: 30825512 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2019.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a class of hepatic toxins widely existing in plants. Cytochromes P450 (CYP) mediates PA bioactivation and toxicities in mammals. It has been reported that PAs can induce developmental toxicity, but systematic research is lacking. In this study, we investigated developmental toxicity of monocrotaline (MCT) in rats. Pregnant rats were administered with MCT (20 mg/kg) intragastrically from gestation day 9 to 20, followed by determination of changes in fetal growth, hepatic morphology, serum biochemical indices, and indicators of hepatocytes apoptosis. MCT was found to induce developmental toxicity and fetal hepatotoxicity, particularly in female fetuses. Metabolic activation was also studied by examination of bioactivation efficiency of MCT in fetal liver microsomes, serum MCT, pyrrole-protein adduction derived from MCT, and hepatic CYP3 A expression of fetuses in vivo. Male fetuses showed greater basal MCT bioactivation than that of female fetuses, but continuous exposure to MCT caused a selective CYP3 A induction in female fetuses, which may contribute to the sex difference in MCT-induced developmental toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyuan Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shuaikai Qiu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
| | - E Xiang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yan Fang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yanqing Wang
- Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiang Zheng
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutics of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
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40
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Gumusoglu SB, Stevens HE. Maternal Inflammation and Neurodevelopmental Programming: A Review of Preclinical Outcomes and Implications for Translational Psychiatry. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:107-121. [PMID: 30318336 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Early disruptions to neurodevelopment are highly relevant to understanding both psychiatric risk and underlying pathophysiology that can be targeted by new treatments. Much convergent evidence from the human literature associates inflammation during pregnancy with later neuropsychiatric disorders in offspring. Preclinical models of prenatal inflammation have been developed to examine the causal maternal physiological and offspring neural mechanisms underlying these findings. Here we review the strengths and limitations of preclinical models used for these purposes and describe selected studies that have shown maternal immune impacts on the brain and behavior of offspring. Maternal immune activation in mice, rats, nonhuman primates, and other mammalian model species have demonstrated convergent outcomes across methodologies. These outcomes include shifts and/or disruptions in the normal developmental trajectory of molecular and cellular processes in the offspring brain. Prenatal developmental origins are critical to a mechanistic understanding of maternal immune activation-induced alterations to microglia and immune molecules, brain growth and development, synaptic morphology and physiology, and anxiety- and depression-like, sensorimotor, and social behaviors. These phenotypes are relevant to brain functioning across domains and to anxiety and mood disorders, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder, in which they have been identified. By turning a neurodevelopmental lens on this body of work, we emphasize the importance of acute changes to the prenatal offspring brain in fostering a better understanding of potential mechanisms for intervention. Collectively, overlapping results across maternal immune activation studies also highlight the need to examine preclinical offspring neurodevelopment alterations in terms of a multifactorial immune milieu, or immunome, to determine potential mechanisms of psychiatric risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena B Gumusoglu
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Hanna E Stevens
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
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Stenhouse C, Hogg CO, Ashworth CJ. Associations between fetal size, sex and placental angiogenesis in the pig. Biol Reprod 2019; 100:239-252. [PMID: 30137229 PMCID: PMC6335214 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Inadequate fetal growth cannot be remedied postnatally, leading to severe consequences for neonatal and adult development. It is hypothesized that growth restriction occurs due to inadequate placental vascularization. This study investigated the relationship between porcine fetal size, sex, and placental angiogenesis at multiple gestational days (GD). Placental samples supplying the lightest and closest to mean litter weight (CTMLW), male and female Large White X Landrace fetuses were obtained at GD30, 45, 60, and 90. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased chorioallantoic membrane CD31 staining in placentas supplying the lightest compared to those supplying the CTMLW fetuses at GD60. At GD90, placentas supplying the lightest fetuses had decreased CD31 staining in the chorioallantoic membrane compared to those supplying the CTMLW fetuses. The mRNA expression of six candidate genes with central roles at the feto-maternal interface increased with advancing gestation. At GD60, ACP5 expression was increased in placentas supplying the lightest compared to the CTMLW fetuses. At GD45, CD31 expression was decreased in placentas supplying the lightest compared to the CTMLW fetuses. In contrast, CD31 expression was increased in placentas supplying the lightest compared the CTMLW fetuses at GD60. In vitro endothelial cell branching assays demonstrated that placentas supplying the lightest and male fetuses impaired endothelial cell branching compared to placentas from the CTMLW (GD45 and 60) and female fetuses (GD60), respectively. This study has highlighted that placentas supplying the lightest and male fetuses have impaired angiogenesis. Importantly, the relationship between fetal size, sex, and placental vascularity is dynamic and dependent upon the GD investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Stenhouse
- Developmental Biology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Charis O Hogg
- Developmental Biology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Cheryl J Ashworth
- Developmental Biology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
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Loch-Caruso R, Hassan I, Harris SM, Kumar A, Bjork F, Lash LH. Trichloroethylene exposure in mid-pregnancy decreased fetal weight and increased placental markers of oxidative stress in rats. Reprod Toxicol 2018; 83:38-45. [PMID: 30468822 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Although epidemiology studies have associated maternal trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure with decreased birth weight and preterm birth, mechanistic explanations for these associations are currently lacking. We hypothesized that TCE targets the placenta with adverse consequences for pregnancy outcomes. Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed orally to vehicle or 480 mg TCE/kg body weight from gestational days (gd) 6-16, and tissues were collected on gd 16. Exposure to TCE significantly decreased average fetal weight without reducing maternal weight. In placenta, TCE significantly increased 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, and mRNA expression of Tet3, which codes for an enzyme involved in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine formation. Furthermore, glutathione S-transferase activity and immunohistochemical staining were increased in placentas of TCE-exposed rats. The present study provides the first evidence that TCE increases markers of oxidative stress in placenta in a fetal growth restriction rat model, providing new insight into the placenta as a potentially relevant target for TCE-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Loch-Caruso
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
| | - Iman Hassan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
| | - Sean M Harris
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
| | - Anjana Kumar
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
| | - Faith Bjork
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
| | - Lawrence H Lash
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 East Canfield Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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Strakovsky RS, Schantz SL. Impacts of bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate exposures on epigenetic outcomes in the human placenta. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2018; 4:dvy022. [PMID: 30210810 PMCID: PMC6128378 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvy022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The placenta guides fetal growth and development. Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are widespread environmental contaminants and endocrine disruptors, and the placental epigenetic response to these chemicals is an area of growing research interest. Therefore, our objective was to summarize research linking BPA or phthalate exposure to placental outcomes in human pregnancies, with a particular focus on epigenetic endpoints. In PubMed, studies were selected for review (without limiting start date and ending on 1 May 2018) if they reported any direct effects of BPA or phthalates on the placenta in humans. Collectively, available studies suggest that BPA and phthalate exposures are associated with changes to placental micro-RNA expression, DNA methylation, and genomic imprinting. Furthermore, several studies suggest that fetal sex may be an important modifier of placental outcomes in response to these chemicals. Studies in humans demonstrate associations of BPA and phthalate exposure with adverse placental outcomes. Moving forward, more studies should consider sex differences (termed "placental sex") in the measured outcomes, and should utilize appropriate statistical approaches to assess modification by fetal sex. Furthermore, more consistent sample collection and molecular outcome assessment paradigms will be indispensable for making progress in the field. These advances, together with improved non-invasive tools for measuring placental function and outcomes across pregnancy, will be critical for understanding the mechanisms driving placental epigenetic disruption in response to BPA and phthalates, and how these disruptions translate into placental and fetal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita S Strakovsky
- The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 236C Trout Building, 469 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Correspondence address. The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 236C Trout Building, 469 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. Tel: 517-353-3352; Fax: 517-353-8963; E-mail:
| | - Susan L Schantz
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, 2347 Beckman Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL, USA
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Albers RE, Waker CA, Keoni C, Kaufman MR, Bottomley MA, Min S, Natale DR, Brown TL. Gestational differences in murine placenta: Glycolytic metabolism and pregnancy parameters. Theriogenology 2017; 107:115-126. [PMID: 29145065 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The placenta is a complex and essential organ composed largely of fetal-derived cells, including several different trophoblast subtypes that work in unison to support nutrient transport to the fetus during pregnancy. Abnormal placental development can lead to pregnancy-associated disorders that often involve metabolic dysfunction. The scope of dysregulated metabolism during placental development may not be fully representative of the in vivo state in defined culture systems, such as cell lines or isolated primary cells. Thus, assessing metabolic function in intact placental tissue would provide a better assessment of placental metabolism. In this study, we describe a methodology for assaying glycolytic function in structurally-intact mouse placental tissue, ex vivo, without culturing or tissue dissociation, that more closely resembles the in vivo state. Additionally, we present data highlighting sex-dependent differences of two mouse strains (C57BL/6 and ICR) in the pre-hypertrophic (E14.5) and hypertrophic (E18.5) placenta. These data establish a foundation for investigation of metabolism throughout gestation and provides a comprehensive assessment of glycolytic function during placental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee E Albers
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
| | - Christopher A Waker
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
| | - Chanel Keoni
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
| | - Melissa R Kaufman
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
| | - Michael A Bottomley
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
| | - Sarah Min
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - David R Natale
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Thomas L Brown
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45435, United States.
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Pérez-Cerezales S, Ramos-Ibeas P, Rizos D, Lonergan P, Bermejo-Alvarez P, Gutiérrez-Adán A. Early sex-dependent differences in response to environmental stress. Reproduction 2017; 155:R39-R51. [PMID: 29030490 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity enables the appearance of long-term effects in offspring caused by exposure to environmental stressors during embryonic and foetal life. These long-term effects can be traced to pre- and post-implantation development, and in both cases, the effects are usually sex specific. During preimplantation development, male and female embryos exhibit an extensive transcriptional dimorphism mainly driven by incomplete X chromosome inactivation. These early developmental stages are crucial for the establishment of epigenetic marks that will be conserved throughout development, making it a particularly susceptible period for the appearance of long-term epigenetic-based phenotypes. Later in development, gonadal formation generates hormonal differences between the sexes, and male and female placentae exhibit different responses to environmental stressors. The maternal environment, including hormones and environmental insults during pregnancy, contributes to sex-specific placental development that controls genetic and epigenetic programming during foetal development, regulating sex-specific differences, including sex-specific epigenetic responses to environmental hazards, leading to long-term effects. This review summarizes several human and animal studies examining sex-specific responses to environmental stressors during both the periconception period (caused by differences in sex chromosome dosage) and placental development (caused by both sex chromosomes and hormones). The identification of relevant sex-dependent trajectories caused by sex chromosomes and/or sex hormones is essential to define diagnostic markers and prevention/intervention protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pat Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food ScienceUniversity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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