-
Redox Biology Nov 2023Maternal diets during pregnancy and lactation are key determinants that regulate the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in offspring. l-malic acid (MA) was...
Maternal diets during pregnancy and lactation are key determinants that regulate the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in offspring. l-malic acid (MA) was previously reported to improve antioxidant capacity and aerobic metabolism. However, the effects of maternal MA consumption on the metabolic features of offspring remain largely unexplored. Herein, through pig models consuming MA-enriched diets during late pregnancy and lactation, we found that maternal MA consumption potentiated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of sows, thereby improving their reproductive performance and the growth performance of piglets. Maternal MA consumption also induced a transition of slow-twitch to fast-twitch fibers in the early life of offspring. Along with muscle growth and fiber-type transition, insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, including aerobic metabolism and glycolysis, were improved in the skeletal muscle of offspring. An untargeted metabolomic analysis further revealed the contribution of modified amino acid metabolism to the improved aerobic metabolism. Mechanistically, maternal MA consumption remodeled colonic microbiota of their offspring. Briefly, the abundance of Colidextribacter, Romboutsia, and Family_XIII_AD3011_group increased, which were positively associated with the antioxidant capacity and glucose metabolism of skeletal muscles. A decreased abundance of Prevotella, Blautia, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, and Collinsella was also detected, which were involved in less insulin sensitivity. Notably, milk metabolites, such as ascorbic acid (AA) and granisetron (GS), were found as key effectors regulating the gut microbiota composition of piglets. The properties of AA and GS in alleviating insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress were further verified through mice treated with high-fat diets. Overall, this study revealed that maternal MA consumption could modulate the inflammatory response, antioxidant capacity, and glucose metabolism by regulating the gut microbiota of offspring through the vertical transmission of milk metabolites. These findings suggest the potential of MA in the prevention and treatment of MetS in early life.
Topics: Animals; Pregnancy; Swine; Female; Mice; Antioxidants; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Insulin Resistance; Diet, High-Fat; Ascorbic Acid; Metabolic Syndrome; Glucose
PubMed: 37741046
DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102889 -
Ecology and Evolution Oct 2023Contemporary fisheries research and management have highlighted the need to protect size and age structures of fish populations. Many studies particularly emphasize a...
Contemporary fisheries research and management have highlighted the need to protect size and age structures of fish populations. Many studies particularly emphasize a disproportionate contribution of populations' largest, oldest female fish to population-level recruitment through maternal effects: non-genetic effects of females on performance of their offspring including through energetic provisioning of eggs. Our study synthesized the effects of increasing female size on offspring performance using a meta-analysis approach. In a stepwise fashion, we conducted three separate meta-analyses to estimate the broad-scale patterns of maternal effects in fish. We synthesized relationships between female size and egg size, egg size and offspring size, and egg size and offspring survival. We tested maternal effects across numerous taxonomic orders and system types including freshwater, diadromous, and saltwater species. We also compared the effects of increasing egg size on offspring performance at different experimental durations. These three meta-analyses all supported the paradigm that larger females render individual benefits to offspring performance. However, females have finite gonadal energy and space for egg provisioning and must trade off between egg size and fecundity. For the largest females to contribute disproportionately to population recruitment (relative to their gonadal investment), they must utilize their gonadal investment more efficiently than their smaller conspecifics. Using example studies in published literature, we demonstrated how established maternal effects on egg provisioning do not necessarily support greater reproductive efficiency in larger females. Therefore, while larger females do produce larger eggs, which promote offspring growth and survival, we concluded these benefits may not always outweigh relative fecundity costs of larger eggs.
PubMed: 37794875
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10555 -
Clinical Epigenetics Sep 2023Undernutrition in pregnant women is an unfavorable environmental condition that can affect the intrauterine development via epigenetic mechanisms and thus have... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Undernutrition in pregnant women is an unfavorable environmental condition that can affect the intrauterine development via epigenetic mechanisms and thus have long-lasting detrimental consequences for the mental health of the offspring later in life. One epigenetic mechanism that has been associated with mental disorders and undernutrition is alterations in DNA methylation. The effect of prenatal undernutrition on the mental health of adult offspring can be analyzed through quasi-experimental studies such as famine studies. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to analyze the association between prenatal famine exposure, DNA methylation, and mental disorders in adult offspring. We further investigate whether altered DNA methylation as a result of prenatal famine exposure is prospectively linked to mental disorders.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic search of the databases PubMed and PsycINFO to identify relevant records up to September 2022 on offspring whose mothers experienced famine directly before and/or during pregnancy, examining the impact of prenatal famine exposure on the offspring's DNA methylation and/or mental disorders or symptoms.
RESULTS
The systematic review showed that adults who were prenatally exposed to famine had an increased risk of schizophrenia and depression. Several studies reported an association between prenatal famine exposure and hyper- or hypomethylation of specific genes. The largest number of studies reported differences in DNA methylation of the IGF2 gene. Altered DNA methylation of the DUSP22 gene mediated the association between prenatal famine exposure and schizophrenia in adult offspring. Meta-analysis confirmed the increased risk of schizophrenia following prenatal famine exposure. For DNA methylation, meta-analysis was not suitable due to different microarrays/data processing approaches and/or unavailable data.
CONCLUSION
Prenatal famine exposure is associated with an increased risk of mental disorders and DNA methylation changes. The findings suggest that changes in DNA methylation of genes involved in neuronal, neuroendocrine, and immune processes may be a mechanism that promotes the development of mental disorders such as schizophrenia and depression in adult offspring. Such findings are crucial given that undernutrition has risen worldwide, increasing the risk of famine and thus also of negative effects on mental health.
Topics: Pregnancy; Adult; Female; Humans; DNA Methylation; Famine; Mental Disorders; Vitamins; Malnutrition
PubMed: 37716973
DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01557-y -
Emerging Microbes & Infections Dec 2023Congenital virus infections, for example cytomegalovirus and rubella virus infections, commonly affect the central nervous and hematological systems in fetuses and...
Congenital virus infections, for example cytomegalovirus and rubella virus infections, commonly affect the central nervous and hematological systems in fetuses and offspring. However, interactions between emerging congenital Zika virus and hematological system-bone marrow and blood-in fetuses and offspring are mainly unknown. Our overall goal was to determine whether silent Zika virus infection can cause functional and molecular footprints in the bone marrow and blood of fetuses and offspring. We specifically focused on silent fetal infection because delayed health complications in initially asymptomatic offspring were previously demonstrated in animal and human studies. Using a well-established porcine model for Zika virus infection and a set of cellular and molecular experimental tools, we showed that silent infection causes multi-organ inflammation in fetuses and local inflammation in the fetal bone marrow. infection also caused footprints in the offspring bone marrow and PBMCs. These findings should be considered in a broader clinical context because of growing concerns about health sequelae in cohorts of children affected with congenital Zika virus infection in the Americas. Understanding virus-induced molecular mechanisms of immune activation and inflammation in fetuses may provide targets for early interventions. Also, identifying early biomarkers of -acquired immunopathology in offspring may help to alleviate long-term sequelae.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Animals; Swine; Zika Virus Infection; Zika Virus; Bone Marrow; Blood Cells; Inflammation
PubMed: 36369716
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2147021 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Sep 2023The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens has prompted the reduction in antibiotic and antimicrobial use in commercial pig production. This has led... (Review)
Review
The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens has prompted the reduction in antibiotic and antimicrobial use in commercial pig production. This has led to increased research efforts to identify alternative dietary interventions to support the health and development of the pig. The crucial role of the GIT microbiota in animal health and performance is becoming increasingly evident. Hence, promoting an improved GIT microbiota, particularly the pioneer microbiota in the young pig, is a fundamental focus. Recent research has indicated that the sow's GIT microbiota is a significant contributor to the development of the offspring's microbiota. Thus, dietary manipulation of the sow's microbiota with probiotics or synbiotics, before farrowing and during lactation, is a compelling area of exploration. This review aims to identify the potential health benefits of maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation to both the sow and her offspring and to explore their possible modes of action. Finally, the results of maternal sow probiotic and synbiotic supplementation studies are collated and summarized. Maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation offers an effective strategy to modulate the sow's microbiota and thereby enhance the formation of a health-promoting pioneer microbiota in the offspring. In addition, this strategy can potentially reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the sow and her offspring, enhance the immune potential of the milk, the immune system development in the offspring, and the sow's feed intake during lactation. Although many studies have used probiotics in the maternal sow diet, the most effective probiotic or probiotic blends remain unclear. To this extent, further direct comparative investigations using different probiotics are warranted to advance the current understanding in this area. Moreover, the number of investigations supplementing synbiotics in the maternal sow diet is limited and is an area where further exploration is warranted.
PubMed: 37835602
DOI: 10.3390/ani13192996 -
Animal Reproduction Science Aug 2023The environment encountered by the fetus during its development exerts a profound influence on its physiological function and disease risk in adulthood. Women's intake... (Review)
Review
The environment encountered by the fetus during its development exerts a profound influence on its physiological function and disease risk in adulthood. Women's intake of high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation has gradually become an issue of widespread concern. Maternal high-fat diet will not only cause abnormal neurological development and metabolic syndrome symptoms in the offspring, but also affect the fertility of female offspring. Maternal high-fat diet affects the expression of genes related to follicle growth in offspring, such as AAT, AFP and GDF-9, which reduces the number of follicles and impairs follicle development. Additionally, maternal high-fat diet also affects ovarian health by inducing ovarian oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, which collectively can impair the reproductive potential of female offspring. Reproductive potential carries significant importance for both humans and animals. Therefore, this review aims to describe the effect of maternal exposure to high-fat diet on the ovarian development of offspring and to discuss possible mechanisms by which maternal diet affects the growth and metabolism of offspring.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Animals; Humans; Diet, High-Fat; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Reproduction; Ovary; Ovarian Follicle; Lactation; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 37421833
DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107294 -
Biomolecules Nov 2023Pregnancy and lactation are critical periods for human well-being and are sensitive windows for pollutant exposure. Bisphenol A (BPA) is well demonstrated as a toxicant... (Review)
Review
Pregnancy and lactation are critical periods for human well-being and are sensitive windows for pollutant exposure. Bisphenol A (BPA) is well demonstrated as a toxicant and has been replaced in the plastic industry with other bisphenol analogs that share similarities in structure and characteristics, most commonly Bisphenol S (BPS) and Bisphenol F (BPF). Maternal exposure to BPS or BPF can result in their accumulation in the fetal compartment, leading to chronic exposure and potentially limiting normal fetal growth and development. This review summarizes considerable findings of epidemiological or experimental studies reporting associations between BPS or BPF and impaired fetal growth and development. Briefly, the available findings indicate that exposure to the two bisphenol analogs during pregnancy and lactation can result in multiple disturbances in the offspring, including fetal growth restrictions, neurological dysfunctions, and metabolic disorders with the potential to persist throughout childhood. The occurrence of premature births may also be attributed to exposure to the two bisphenols. The possible mechanisms of actions by which the two bisphenols can induce such effects can be attributed to a complex of interactions between the physiological mechanisms, including impaired placental functioning and development, dysregulation of gene expression, altered hormonal balance, and disturbances in immune responses as well as induced inflammations and oxidative stress. In conclusion, the available evidence suggests that BPS and BPF have a toxic potential in a compartment level to BPA. Future research is needed to provide more intensive information; long-term studies and epidemiological research, including a wide scale of populations with different settings, are recommended. Public awareness regarding the safety of BPA-free products should also be enhanced, with particular emphasis on educating individuals responsible for the well-being of children.
Topics: Child; Humans; Pregnancy; Female; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Placenta; Phenols; Benzhydryl Compounds; Vitamins
PubMed: 38002298
DOI: 10.3390/biom13111616 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2024Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a respiratory sleep disorder associated with cardiovascular diseases, is more prevalent in men. However, OSA occurrence in pregnant women... (Review)
Review
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a respiratory sleep disorder associated with cardiovascular diseases, is more prevalent in men. However, OSA occurrence in pregnant women rises to a level comparable to men during late gestation, creating persistent effects on both maternal and offspring health. The exact mechanisms behind OSA-induced cardiovascular diseases remain unclear, but inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role. Animal models using intermittent hypoxia (IH), a hallmark of OSA, reveal several pro-inflammatory signaling pathways at play in males, such as TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/MAPK, miRNA/NLRP3, and COX signaling, along with shifts in immune cell populations and function. Limited evidence suggests similarities in pregnancies and offspring. In addition, suppressing these inflammatory molecules ameliorates IH-induced inflammation and tissue injury, providing new potential targets to treat OSA-associated cardiovascular diseases. This review will focus on the inflammatory mechanisms linking IH to cardiovascular dysfunction in males, pregnancies, and their offspring. The goal is to inspire further investigations into the understudied populations of pregnant females and their offspring, which ultimately uncover underlying mechanisms and therapeutic interventions for OSA-associated diseases.
Topics: Male; Animals; Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Cardiovascular Diseases; Hypoxia; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Immunity; Inflammation
PubMed: 38339130
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031852 -
Veterinary Sciences Aug 2023Sperm sex selection is a longstanding challenge in the field of animal reproduction. The cuniculture industry, in particular producers of males or females for breeding... (Review)
Review
Sperm sex selection is a longstanding challenge in the field of animal reproduction. The cuniculture industry, in particular producers of males or females for breeding purposes, would greatly benefit from the pre-selection of the offspring's sex. This review article overviews the current and future developments in rabbit sperm sexing technologies, as well as the implications of implementing these methodologies in cuniculture. The first attempts of sperm sexing were performed in rabbits; however, a both efficient and cost-effective methodology was not yet developed for this species. Those included sperm sexing according to differences in sperm density, surface electric charge, pH susceptibility, antisera reaction, and flow cytometry. Separation by flow cytometry has proven to be efficient in rabbits, yielding fractions with approximately 81% and 86% purity for X- and Y-sperm, respectively. However, it is not cost-effective for cuniculture and decreases sperm quality. The advantages, limitations, and practical considerations of each method are presented, highlighting their applicability and efficiency. Furthermore, herein we explore the potential of immunological-based techniques that overcome some of the limitations of earlier methods, as well as recent advancements in sperm sexing technologies in other animal models, which could be applied to rabbits. Finally, the challenges associated with the development and widespread implementation of rabbit sperm sexing technologies are addressed. By understanding the advantages and limitations of existing and emerging methods, researchers can direct their efforts towards the most promising directions, ultimately contributing to a more efficient, profitable, and sustainable cuniculture.
PubMed: 37624296
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10080509 -
Molecular Psychiatry Oct 2023Maternal infection has emerged as an important environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Animal...
Maternal infection has emerged as an important environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Animal model systems of maternal immune activation (MIA) suggest that the maternal immune response plays a significant role in the offspring's neurodevelopment and behavioral outcomes. Extracellular free water is a measure of freely diffusing water in the brain that may be associated with neuroinflammation and impacted by MIA. The present study evaluates the brain diffusion characteristics of male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) born to MIA-exposed dams (n = 14) treated with a modified form of the viral mimic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid at the end of the first trimester. Control dams received saline injections at the end of the first trimester (n = 10) or were untreated (n = 4). Offspring underwent diffusion MRI scans at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 45 months. Offspring born to MIA-exposed dams showed significantly increased extracellular free water in cingulate cortex gray matter starting as early as 6 months of age and persisting through 45 months. In addition, offspring gray matter free water in this region was significantly correlated with the magnitude of the maternal IL-6 response in the MIA-exposed dams. Significant correlations between brain volume and extracellular free water in the MIA-exposed offspring also indicate converging, multimodal evidence of the impact of MIA on brain development. These findings provide strong evidence for the construct validity of the nonhuman primate MIA model as a system of relevance for investigating the pathophysiology of human neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. Elevated free water in individuals exposed to immune activation in utero could represent an early marker of a perturbed or vulnerable neurodevelopmental trajectory.
Topics: Female; Animals; Humans; Male; Cytokines; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Brain; Schizophrenia; Disease Models, Animal; Primates; Behavior, Animal
PubMed: 37582858
DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02213-w