Structure of interphase chromatin in patients with Down's syndrome and their mothers]

A method of fluorescent microscopy with the aid of acridine orange was applied in these studies; some features of the changes in the structure of interphasic chromatin characteristic of their sick children were revealed on the short-term cultures of lymphoyctes obtained from the mothers with children suffering from Down's syndrome. Sibling girls also displayed deviations similar to the changes revealed in their mothers. The data obtained permit to suppose the existence of a definite population of women, peculiarities of whose genotype promoted the appearance on the structural chromatin organization was revealed only in the mothers and sibling girls it is suggested that the mentioned genotype peculiarities were hereditary and connected with genes (or certain chromatin areas) limited by sex.     

Chromatin structure and the state of human organism

The state of chromatin in human buccal epithelium cell nuclei upon the influence of sport trainings was investigated. Chromatin state was evaluated in interphase buccal cell nuclei after orcein staining. The heterochromatin granule quantity (HGQ) was estimated in 30 nuclei per sample, and for every donor the mean HGQ value per 30 cells was determined. Donors of masculine sex, aged from 18 to 48 years performed training walks and samples of buccal epithelium were collected. Sportive charges induced the process of chromatin condensation in cell nuclei. After the period of repose (24-48 h) the HGQ decreased to control level therefore the process of chromatin decondensation was observed. The state of chromatin changes in connection with circadian rhythm. Chromatin became more condensed at nighttime and less condensed in the morning. Hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and hydrocortisone in vitro induced the increase of HGQ.     

Superoxide dismutase activity in the erythrocyte of the term newborn and premature

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was determined in the erythrocytes of 16 full-term and 12 preterm neonates and the mothers of these babies. Blood samples were obtained from the umbilical cord (or within the first 12 h and samples were again obtained 48 h after delivery. The results of the study show that SOD activity in the erythrocytes of the full-term newborn is identical to the SOD activity in the erythrocytes of their mothers. Exposing the newborn to atmospheric oxygen for 48 h caused no change in the activity of SOD. The activity of SOD in the erythrocytes of the preterm was not different from that of the full-term neonate.     

Sex difference in digit and palate formation of mouse embryos at midgestation

We investigated whether there is a difference in timing between the sexes of mouse embryos with regard to digit and palatal formation at midgestation by using a simple method of sex chromatin analysis for rodent embryos. At day 14.4 of gestation, although the mean body weight of male embryos was greater than that of female embryos, digit and palatal formation of female embryos was found to be more advanced than in males when compared according to their body weight. This was contrary to our previous finding of digit formation at the earlier stage (day 12.0 of gestation): namely, that digit development was more advanced in male embryos than in female embryos even when two sexes were compared according to their body weight. Thus, the development of female embryos catches up with that of male embryos at the later stages of midgestation. The period for digit development must be longer in male embryos than in female embryos. If mothers are exposed to some teratogens, a sex difference in incidence of digital defects might be produced.     

Maternal fever at parturition and its effects on the newborn rabbit.

The febrile response to administration of endotoxin has been reported to be suppressed in both pregnant animals at term and in their newborn. In a previous study we found that newborn rabbits under appropriate conditions to develop a febrile reaction to injected endotoxin. In this investigation we sought to discover whether pregnant rabbits at term had a febrile response to endotoxin, and if so, its effect on thermoregulation in their newborn. Endotoxin (E. Coli LPS) was injected into 19 pregnant rabbits at term. Six delivered spontaneously within an hour. At one hour, 13 were given oxytocin, and a further 8 delivered within five minutes. The colonic temperature (Tc) of the mothers before endotoxin administration and at delivery, and of their young, was measured. The results were compared with those of 10 pregnant rabbits not given endotoxin, and their young. Within 15 min of delivery newborn rabbits from each litter were placed on a thermal gradient to assess their thermoregulatory responses. Pregnant rabbits at term developed an impressive febrile response to injected endotoxin and their young were born with high colonic temperatures. Newborn rabbits from febrile mothers selected higher thermal environments and maintained a higher colonic temperature than the newborn of non-febrile mothers. We conclude that fever is sustained in the first hours of life in the newborn of mothers injected with endotoxin. The possible mechanisms are of considerable interest. None of the pregnant rabbits died after endotoxin administration, but the stillbirth rate was 50% compared with 10% in non-febrile does.     

Colostrum feeding behaviour and initiation of breast-feeding in rural Bangladesh

Human breast milk is primarily colostrum immediately following birth. Colostrum gradually changes to mature milk over the next several days. The role of colostrum in fighting infections and promoting growth and development of the newborn is widely acknowledged. This role is mediated by differences across cultures in the acceptability of colostrum and the prevalence of colostrum feeding. This study examined the prevalence of colostrum feeding and time to initiation of breast-feeding in 143 rural Bangladeshi women in Matlab thana. Structured interviews were collected during a 9-month prospective study conducted in 1993. Women were usually interviewed within 4 days of giving birth and were asked about whether or not they fed their child colostrum and the number of hours until they began breast-feeding the baby. Ninety per cent of the mothers reported feeding their newborn colostrum. A logistic regression found no effect on the prevalence of colostrum feeding from the following covariates: mother's age, parity, history of pregnancy loss, child's sex, mother's self-report of delivery complications, and the time from birth to interview. Fifty-nine per cent of mothers initiated breast-feeding within 4 h, and 88% within 12 h of parturition. Survival analysis was used to estimate the effects of covariates on the time from delivery to initial breast-feeding. Time to initial breast-feeding was delayed slightly, but significantly, for older mothers, for male infants, and by mothers who did not report delivery complications. The percentage of mothers who fed their child colostrum was higher, and times to initial breast-feeding were shorter, than almost all previous reports from South Asia. These findings might be explained, in part, by methodological differences among studies, but it is suggested that recent changes towards earlier initiation of breast-feeding have taken place in rural Bangladesh.     

Influence of morphine treatment in pregnant rats on the mineralocorticoid activity of the adrenals in their neonates

Exposure of pregnant rats to morphine, from day 11 to day 18 of gestation, was previously reported to induce both an adrenal atrophy and hypoactivity of the glucocorticoid function in newborns at term, but did not affect, in vitro, the responsiveness of those glands to adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH) concerning corticosterone release. Moreover, these effects were mediated by maternal hormones from the adrenal glands. In the present work, we investigated the effects of a prenatal morphine exposure on the mineralocorticoid activity of the adrenals in neonates. The first aim of the present study was to determine in these newborns 1) the adrenal and plasma aldosterone concentrations at birth time and during the early postnatal period 2) the plasma levels of Na+ and K+ at birth time, 3) the in vitro responsiveness of the newborn adrenals to angiotensin II (A(II)) and ACTH. The second aim of our study was to investigate the mineralocorticoid activity of the adrenals in newborns from adrenalectomized mothers treated with morphine during gestation. According to present data morphine given to intact mothers induced in newborns a severe adrenal atrophy but increased adrenal aldosterone content and plasma aldosterone level. However, prenatal morphine was unable to affect significantly Na+/K+ ratio in both mothers and newborns. In vitro, the adrenals of neonates from morphine-treated mothers were unresponsive to An and ACTH for promoting aldosterone release; in contrast, aldosterone secretion was significantly stimulated by high potassium levels (55 mEq). Maternal adrenalectomy performed one day before the beginning of morphine treatment prevented morphine-induced adrenal atrophy but was unable to affect significantly the adrenal mineralocorticoid function of the offspring. Such data suggest that a prenatal morphine exposure stimulated both aldosterone synthesis and release in neonates. However, this basal hyperfunction did not appear to be coupled with an enhanced adrenal responsivity to AII or ACTH. Prenatal morphine-induced hyperactivity of the mineralocorticoid function of the newborn adrenals, which drastically contrast with hypoactivity of the glucocorticoid one, was independent of adrenal factors from maternal origin.     

Negative relationships between erythrocyte Ca-pump activity and lead levels in mothers and newborns

Lead poisoning induces hematological, gastrointestinal and neurological dysfunctions. One of the potential mechanisms is the inhibition of calcium-pump (Ca-pump), a transport protein. We investigated the effects of an environmental low lead exposure on Ca-pump activity in 247 mothers and their newborns. Maternal and cord blood, and newborn and mother hair, were sampled at delivery. Geometric means for mother and cord blood lead (Pb-B), and for mother and newborn hair lead (Pb-H), were 6.3 and 4.8 microg/dl, and 1.7 and 1.1 microg/g. Means for mother and cord basal Ca-pump activities were 2,442 and 2,675 nM/mg/hr. Mother enzymatic activity was negatively related to her Pb-B and Pb-H and to the cord Pb-B and newborn Pb-H levels. Newborn enzymatic activity was negatively related to his Pb-H level only. Adjustment for gestational age, child's sex, mother's age at delivery, alcohol, coffee and tea consumption, and smoking habits during pregnancy did not modify these relationships. Our findings support the hypothesis that lead toxicity could be in part mediated by a reduction of Ca-pump activity. This effect could be observed at low environmental exposure, in mothers and newborns.     

Investigations on erythropoiesis in newborn rats. Dependence of erythropoiesis in newborn rats on the intensity of the haemopoietic processes in the lactating mothers.

The intensity of haemopoietic processes was investigated in 7, 9, 11, 14 and 19-day-old suckling rats in relation to the intensity of these processes in their mothers. The rate of the haemopoietic processes in newborn rats was determined on the basis of 59Fe incorporation into the blood and haemopoietic organs. The activity of the erythropoietic system in lactating rat females was stimulated by haemorrhage and inhibited by erythrocyte transfusion. Anaemization of lactating rats by haemorrhage did not stimulate erythropoiesis in the suckling rats. Posttransfusion polycythaemia in the lactating mothers inhibited erythropoiesis in the suckling rats beginning with the 9th day of life. This phenomenon became more pronounced with the age of the rats.     

The buccal smear: Reassessment of its usefulness.

Over a 7-year period 43 patients who underwent sex-chromatin and cytogenetic studies in the investigation of a disorder related to reproductive function were found to have abnormalities of the sex or autosomal chromosomes that could not have been detected by routine buccal smear. Therefore, testing for sex chromatin is of no value to the clinician, because full chromosome analysis must be performed irrespective of the findings from the buccal smear. However, the sex-chromatin test is an aid to the cytogeneticist in interpreting the chromosome analysis. In addition to those with amenorrhea and oligospermia or aspermia, persons with hypospadius and those to be treated with fertility drugs should undergo cytogenetic studies.     

Diaplacental passage of Sarcocystis antibodies in man and rats (author's transl)]

Sera of babies up to the age of 3 months were tested for Sarcocystis antibodies using the indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT). In addition titre of the Sarcocystis antibody level of litters born to serologic Sarcocystis positive mother rats was compared to those of their mothers. The results are as follows: 1. 45 (= 14.6%) out of 308 sera from babies up to the age of 3 months reacted positively in the Sarcocystis antibody test. 2. 28 (= 62.2%) out of the 45 positive sera were from babies up to 2 weeks old, 13 (= 28.9%) were from babies older than 2 weeks but not more than 4 weeks old, and 2 (=4.4%) each were from babies whose ages ranged from 4 to 8, and 8 to 12 weeks respectively. 3. These babies acquired their Sarcocystis antibodies which decreased in the first 3 months of life from their mothers. 4. Litters born to serologic Sarcocystis positive mother rats also demonstrated Sarcocystis antibodies. The titres of these antibodies were at the same level as their mothers' at birth but reduced gradually so that most of these young rats were negative at the age of 3 months. 5. Suckling rats born to Sarcocystis negative mothers but positive fathers remained negative. 6. Serologic positive mother and father rats still demonstrated Sarcocystis antibodies in the sera at a time when their litters have become negative. 7. Sarcocystis antibodies could be passed onto the newborn from their positive mothers in both man and rats. 8. These antibodies were probably passed onto the newborn through the placenta but their passage through the colostrum and the mother's milk cannot be ruled out.     

Sex differences in infant integration in a semifree-ranging group of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus,L. 1758) at Salem,Germany

Sixteen multiparous Barbary macaque females with newborns were studied over a 16 month period within the context of their naturally formed group. Analysis of their social behavior revealed 1) triadic interactions involving focal females, their newborns, and other group members occurred mainly with other females; and 2) mothers with female newborns interacted mainly with females of their own matriline, while mothers with male newborns interacted mainly with nonmatriline females. Observed in two successive birth seasons, this pattern indicates that partners of maternal interactions chose each other according to the sex of the newborn. Measures of distance from the mother also reflected differences between infants of different sex. At about five months of age, female infants were observed close to their mothers significantly more often than males. This finding follows the pattern of a sex-specific infant socialization process which integrates female infants into the network of their matrilines and male infants into the broader group. This sex-specific integration pattern is interpreted as supporting female philopatry and male dispersal. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Body temperature of newborn cynomolgus monkeys

This report dealt with the change of body temperature (rectal temperature) in the newborn cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) with a view to take it as an index for their health conditions. The body temperatures of 183 newborn babies which were well cared for by their mothers was 33.0 to 37.7 degrees C about 10 hr after birth. On the other hand, the body temperatures of 21 newborn babies which were not well cared for by their mothers was very low, ranging from 24.1 to 34.8 degrees C. In five newborn monkeys which were well cared for, the body temperature averaged about 36 degrees C just after birth and then declined rapidly by 32 to 33 degrees C at 40 to 50 minutes after birth. Then it gradually began to rise, reaching 36 to 37 degrees C at 180 to 240 min after birth. In the other four newborn monkeys which were delivered by Caesarean section, the temperature was 37 to 38 degrees C just after birth. Then it decreased to 29 to 32 degrees C at 120 minutes after birth when the newborns remained singly in a cage without warming.     

Presence of maternal anti-HBs antibodies does not influence hepatitis B vaccine response in Brazilian neonates

Recently, it was suggested that maternal hepatitis B surface antigen antibodies (anti-HBs) acquired transplacentally could play a negative role in newborn infants' immune response to the hepatitis B vaccine. We compared the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine response in infants born to mothers previously vaccinated against HBV (n = 91) to infants born to mothers who were not previously vaccinated (n = 221). All newborn infants received three intramuscular doses (10 μg) of HBV vaccine (Butang?) at 0,1 and six months. The first dose was administered at the maternity hospital within 12 h of birth. The geometric mean titres of anti-HBs were not different among newborn infants born to mothers who were anti-HBs-negative (492.7 mIU/mL) and anti-HBs-positive (578.7 mIU/mL) (p = 0.38). Eight infants did not respond to the HBV vaccine. Of them, six were born to anti-HBs-negative mothers and two were born to mothers with anti-HBs titres less than 50 mlU/mL. Despite the mother's anti-HBs-positive status, our data show a good immunogenicity of the Brazilian HBV recombinant vaccine in neonates.     

Reciprocal Allogrooming in Wild Impala Lambs

Adult impala engage in a form of reciprocal allogrooming distinguished by a high degree of reciprocity and ***lack of influence of dominance or relatedness on partner preference or distribution of grooming between partners. A previous study on reciprocal allogrooming of captive newborn impala lambs in a zoological park found that the allogrooming emerged as early as the first week after birth and was identical in structure and reciprocity to allogrooming in adults. Because these findings of apparently unique allogrooming behavior of newborn impala could have been a reflection of the effects of being born and raised in a small, stable captive herd, it was necessary to investigate reciprocal allogrooming in newborn impala in the wild. The emergence, reciprocity, rate, and partner distribution of reciprocal allogrooming in wild newborn impala were observed at two study sites: a national park in Zimbabwe and a game farm in South Africa. Maternal one-way grooming between mother and newborn emerged as distinct from reciprocal allogrooming and rapidly declined after week 1 postpartum. Reciprocal allogrooming by lambs was first seen between 5 and 8 d postpartum, and as soon as the behavior occurred it was the same basic pattern as seen in adult impala. The reciprocity index for lambs was near 0.5, indicating that lambs delivered as much grooming during an encounter as the partner. Lambs were grooming frequently with non-mother adults and other lambs by week 1 or 2; by week 3 and onward the allogrooming rate of lambs was more than twice that of their mothers, as predicted by the body size principle of the programmed grooming model. The strong predisposition of neonatal impala lambs to deliver reciprocal allogrooming as early as the first or second week postpartum would appear to reflect a genetically acquired adaptation to the threat of tick infestation in their natural habitat.     

Relationship between blood groups and sex ratio of the newborn.

The examinations prove that due to the foetomaternal blood group incompatibility the sex ratio of the newborn will be higher. The most probable explanation for this fact is that the foetomaternal blood group incompatibility exerts a negative effect on the X chromosome, in consequence of which the elimination rate of the zygotes fertilized by Y chromosome-carrying spermia decrease and thus the sex ratio will be higher. The highest sex ratio was found among the D-negative newborns of D-positive mothers (172.7), whereas the lowest one among the D-positive children of D-positive mothers (113.5). The incompatibility existing in the other antigens of Rh-system and in the ABO-system also elevated the sex ratio to a minor degree.     

Sex Differences in Captive Olive Baboon Behavior During the First Fourteen Days of Life

I discuss newborn baboon behavioral and proximity sex differences in a population of captive olive baboons (Papio anubis) living in a social group of >500 individuals. The data are based upon 20-min focal observations of 42 mother-newborn pairs (n = 27, n = 15) for infant-days 1–7 and 36 pairs (n = 23, n = 13) for infant-days 8–14 collected late-May through late-November 2001. I examined the first two weeks of infant life via behavioral, proximity, and approach-leave/contact analyses in order to determine whether behavioral sex differences exist during the first few days of life. I examine and analyze these 2 weeks independently due to different sample sizes. I used data from the total available sample population of 57 infants (n = 36, n = 21) to discuss birth, survivorship, and infant weight. Statistically significant age and/or age-sex interactions exist for all of the behavior and proximity measures during either infant-week 1 or 2. Moreover, there is a statistically significant difference in the birth sex ratio in the sample population but no significant difference in infant mortality by sex. There are also relative and significant differences in mothers' treatment of their newborn males and females. There are also some general tendencies for female newborns on average to suckle less and to explore more per focal observation than male infants do as they age. Conversely, male newborns average slightly more time per focal observation 1 m from the mother than do female infants. However, the observed differences may be influenced by maternal behavior in that mothers have higher rates of contact with their female than their male infants.     

Oral contraceptives and trisomy 21. A retrospective study of 730 cases (author's transl)]

A retrospective study of 730 cases of trisomy 21 and of 1 035 cases of abnormal children without a detectable chromosomal aberration, allows the study of the frequency of use of oral contraceptives by their mothers. The statistical analysis shows no notable differences for mothers 30 years old and younger. Among the mothers 30 to 38 years old, these is an excess of pill-taking by mothers of trisomy 21 children. For this second category of mothers (30 to 38 years) this excess is significant (a) when the delay between the cessation of pill-taking and the conception of the child is six months of less; (b) when the duration of pill-taking has been longer than one year; and (c), when those two factors are present simultaneously. Moreover, the frequency of males is significantly reduced in trisomy 21 children when their mothers have taken the pill. As a whole, for the subsample of mothers 30 and older, a correlation is observed between the three factors analysed, pill-taking, sex ratio, and trisomy 21. In view of the fact that decrease of the sex ratio and the increase of the frequency of trisomy 21 both are correlated with maternal aging in the general population, it seems remarkable that a correlation between these two variables and the use of oral contraceptives is observed only when the women had already passed the first of their reproduction period.     

Treatment of Mid‐Pregnant Mice with KRN633, an Inhibitor of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase,Induces Abnormal Retinal Vascular Patterning in Their Newborn Pups

We previously reported that treatment of mid‐pregnant mice with KRN633, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, caused fetal growth restriction resulting from diminished vascularization in the placenta and fetal organs. In this study, we examined how the treatment of mid‐pregnant mice with KRN633 affects the development and morphology of vascular components (endothelial cells, pericytes, and basement membrane) in the retinas of their newborn pups. Pregnant mice were treated with KRN633 (5 mg/kg) once daily from embryonic day 13.5 until the day of delivery. Vascular components were examined using immunohistochemistry with specific markers for each component. Radial vascular growth in the retina was slightly delayed until postnatal day 4 (P4) in the newborn pups of KRN633‐treated mothers. On P8, compared with the pups of control mothers, the pups of KRN633‐treated mothers exhibited decreased numbers of central arteries and veins and abnormal branching of the central arteries. No apparent differences in pericytes or basement membrane were observed between the pups of control and KRN633‐treated mothers. These results suggest that a critical period for determining retinal vascular patterning is present at the earliest stages of retinal vascular development, and that the impaired vascular endothelial growth factor signaling during this period induces abnormal architecture in the retinal vascular network     

Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis in mothers exposed to DNA-damaging agents and their newborn infants

The incidence of SCE in the lymphocytes of mothers and their newborn infants was determined. A detailed antenatal history of parental habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption and possible exposure to DNA-damaging agents was documented. The results showed that the SCE rate in the newborn is significantly less than that of their mothers. Mothers who consumed alcohol, but not cigarette smokers, had a significantly increased SCE rate compared to control mothers. However, these maternal habits did not affect the SCE rate of their infants. Neonates with neural tube defects showed a significantly increased SCE rate compared to normal babies.