Administration of Histidine to Female Rats Induces Changes in Oxidative Status in Cortex and Hippocampus of the Offspring

Histidinemia is an inherited metabolic disorder biochemically characterized by high concentrations of histidine in biological fluids. Usually affected patients are asymptomatic although some individuals have mental retardation and speech disorders. Considering the high prevalence of histidinemia and the scarce information on the effects of maternal histidinemia on their progeny, we investigated various parameters of oxidative stress in brain cortex and hippocampus of the offspring from female rats that received histidine (0.5 mg/g of body weight) in the course of pregnancy and lactation. At 21 days of age we found a significant increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), 2′,7′-dihydrodichlorofluorescein oxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, total sulfhydryls and glutathione (GSH) content in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. We also verified that at 60 days of age, GSH, SOD and total sulfhydryls returned to normal levels in brain cortex, while the other parameters decreased in the same structure. In the hippocampus, at 60 days of age GSH returned to normal levels, CAT persisted elevated and the other parameters decreased. These results indicate that histidine administration to female rats can induce oxidative stress in the brain from the offspring, which partially recovers 40 days after breastfeeding stopped.     

Neonatal Exposure to Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Affects Behavior and Expression of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors in the Hippocampus of Adult Rats after Psychogenic Trauma

Biochemistry (Moscow) - According to the two-hit hypothesis of psychoneuropathology formation, infectious diseases and other pathological conditions occurring during the critical periods of early...     

地塞米松致子代大鼠海马轴突发育损伤

为了探讨地塞米松对子代大鼠海马轴突的影响,建立了孕期地塞米松暴露（prenatal dexamethasone exposure, PDE）模型。Wistar大鼠于孕中晚期皮下注射地塞米松（0.2 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）,部分子代于孕20天（GD20）、出生后12周（PW12）处死取海马样本,检测海马糖皮质激素受体（glucocorticoid receptor, GR）活化指标以及轴突损伤指标。PDE子代胎鼠海马GR活化,GR、糖皮质激素调节激酶1（glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1, SGK1）和FK506结合蛋白（FK506 binding protein 5, FKBP5）表达显著增加。轴突损伤指标包括生长相关蛋白43（growth associated protein-43,GAP43）、信号素3A（semaphorin 3A, SEMA3A）和集聚蛋白（agrin）表达明显升高。而PDE成年子代大鼠海马GR无明显活化,轴突损伤指标GAP43、SEMA3A和AGRIN表达明显升高。研究结果证实PDE通过活化胎海马GR引起轴突发育损伤,且轴突损伤可延续至出生后。     

饲喂雌鼠大豆异黄酮对后代雌性生殖性状的影响

目的研究雌性小鼠饲喂异黄酮后对其后代雌鼠生殖性状的影响。方法分别在雌鼠从断奶到妊娠前和妊娠期间两个不同阶段的日粮中添加不同剂量的大豆异黄酮（0、50、400 mg/kg）。记录F1代的出生窝产仔数、出生窝重、雌鼠的阴道最早开张时间和最早见栓时间,以及后代雌鼠性成熟期和体成熟期生殖器官重量、血清雌激素的含量。结果雌鼠妊娠期饲喂含50、400 mg/kg大豆异黄酮的饲料后F1代的窝产仔数显著高于对照组（P〈0.05）;雌鼠妊娠期采食400 mg/kg大豆异黄酮饲料,其后代雌鼠初次配种时间明显延迟（P〈0.05）;45、65日龄体重显著低于对照组,65日龄子宫重显著低于对照组,卵巢重显著高于对照组;血清中雌激素含量显著低于对照组（P〈0.05）,妊娠期间采食50 mg/kg大豆异黄酮饲料,其F1代雌鼠仅窝产仔数和45日龄时血清中雌激素含量受到影响;而雌鼠从断奶到怀孕期间饲喂含大豆异黄酮饲料的F1代在各项指标与对照组均差异无显著性。结论雌鼠妊娠期间饲喂含400 mg/kg大豆异黄酮的饲料会显著影响其雌性后代的初情期、生殖器官发育、血清雌激素含量等生殖生理性状,而在非妊娠期饲喂含大豆异黄酮饲料对F1代无显著影响。     

Neuritin在大鼠脑外伤合并骨折过程中的作用研究

目的：研究脑外伤合并股骨骨折的骨痂中Neuritin的表达及血清中变化,探讨中枢神经系统损伤加速对骨折愈合的作用,为临床难治性骨创伤提供新的理论依据。方法：取96只雄性SD大鼠随机分成：A组正常组8只、B组单纯骨折组40只、C组单纯脑外伤组8只及D组骨折合并脑外伤组40只,做股骨骨折和采用脑损伤液压装置建脑损伤模型,术后3、7、14、21、28天取血离心,ELISA法测血清中的Neuritin值。分时间处死B组和D组,取骨痂做切片,行免疫组织化学染色,观测各时间点骨痂中Neuritin的变化和骨折愈合情况。结果：①免疫组织化学染色：骨折愈合过程中血管内皮细胞、软骨细胞及成骨细胞的胞浆中有阳性表达,并显色强。D组1w至3w时的Neuritin阳性细胞百分数均高于B组有显著性统计意义（P〈0．05）,但4周时（P〉0．05）。②血清浓度值：A组值（81．37±1．37）,B组、C组、D组3天（94．94±3．77107．28±3．46118．35±1．43）逐渐升高,2周达到高峰（110．18±1．48131．89±3．26161．48±1．46）,然后下降,3d至3w时各组有显著性统计意义（P〈0．05）,4周下降为略高于正常（P〉0．05）。结论：血清和骨痂中Neuritin的表达显著升高,提示Neuritin可能是大鼠股骨骨折合并脑损伤时促进骨折修复的重要因素一。     

Neuritin在大鼠脑外伤合并骨折过程中的作用研究

目的:研究脑外伤合并股骨骨折的骨痂中Neuritin的表达及血清中变化,探讨中枢神经系统损伤加速对骨折愈合的作用,为临床难治性骨创伤提供新的理论依据。方法:取96只雄性SD大鼠随机分成:A组正常组8只、B组单纯骨折组40只、C组单纯脑外伤组8只及D组骨折合并脑外伤组40只,做股骨骨折和采用脑损伤液压装置建脑损伤模型,术后3、7、14、21、28天取血离心,ELISA法测血清中的Neuritin值。分时间处死B组和D组,取骨痂做切片,行免疫组织化学染色,观测各时间点骨痂中Neuritin的变化和骨折愈合情况。结果:①免疫组织化学染色:骨折愈合过程中血管内皮细胞、软骨细胞及成骨细胞的胞浆中有阳性表达,并显色强。D组1w至3w时的Neuritin阳性细胞百分数均高于B组有显著性统计意义(P<0.05),但4周时(P>0.05)。②血清浓度值:A组值(81.37±1.37),B组、C组、D组3天(94.94±3.77 107.28±3.46 118.35±1.43)逐渐升高,2周达到高峰(110.18±1.48131.89±3.26 161.48±1.46),然后下降,3d至3w时各组有显著性统计意义(P<0.05),4周下降为略高于正常(P>0.05)结论:血清和骨痂中Neuritin的表达显著升高,提示Neuritin可能是大鼠股骨骨折合并脑损伤时促进骨折修复的重要因素一     

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Following Muscle Trauma Leads to Improved Muscular Regeneration in Both Male and Female Rats

BackgroundMesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has the potential to enhance muscular regeneration. In previous publications, our group was able to show a dose-response relationship in female animals between the amount of transplanted cells and muscle force. The impact of sex on the regeneration of musculoskeletal injuries following MSC transplantation remains unclear.ObjectiveWe investigated histologic and biomechanical regeneration parameters in rats after autologous transplantation of MSCs. Our hypothesis was that female rats have greater muscle regeneration potential than male rats after autologous MSC transplantation.MethodsThirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats received an open crush trauma of the left soleus muscle. One week after trauma, 2.5 × 10⁶ autologous MSCs, harvested from tibial biopsies, were transplanted locally (female, n = 9; male, n = 9). Control animals received saline solution (female, n = 9; male, n = 9). Histologic analysis and biomechanical evaluation by in vivo muscle force measurement were performed 3 weeks after transplantation.ResultsMSC therapy improved the force of the injured soleus in male rats significantly (twitch: treated, 0.76 [0.51–1.15]; twitch: untreated, 0.45 [0.32–0.73] [P = 0.01]; tetany: treated, 0.63 [0.4–1.21], tetany: untreated, 0.34 [0.16–0.48] [P = 0.04]). Force measurements in females also revealed significant improvements (twitch: treated, 0.71 [0.38–0.96]; twitch: untreated, 0.36 [0.18–0.63] [P = 0.005]; tetany: treated, 0.53 [0.21–0.68]; tetany: untreated, 0.27 [0.11–0.47] [P = 0.01]). The intersexual comparison of fast twitch and tetanic contraction forces revealed no significance (twitch, P = 0.55; tetany, P = 0.19). The histologic analysis showed no differences in the amount of fibrotic tissue (male, P = 0.9; female, P = 0.14) and the size of muscle area (male, P = 0.2; female, P = 0.56) following treatment. Male animals showed higher values for muscle area (P = 0.011) and less fibrosis (P = 0.028), independent of treatment.ConclusionThe outcome of skeletal muscle regeneration after injury can be improved in animals of both sexes with MSC transplantation.     

Mitochondrial DNA Deletion in Offspring of Female Mice Exposed to X-Rays

Biophysics - Abstract—The effects of X-ray exposure on the mitochondrial genome were studied in the offspring of female mice exposed in the preconception period at doses of 0.5 and 2 Gy....     

Social Experience During Development and Female Offspring Aggression in Peromyscus Mice

Cross‐fostering between the highly aggressive, biparental California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) and the less aggressive, less parental white‐footed mouse (P. leucopus) influences female offspring attack latency in California mice, but not in white‐footed mice. Adult female California mice raised by white‐footed mice expressed longer attack latencies in a neutral‐arena test but not in a resident‐intruder test. One social cue that may be used by offspring to develop environmentally appropriate levels of aggression is the type of parental care during development. In California mice, a composite score of maternal behavior was positively associated with neutral‐arena aggression as indicated by decreased attack latency. In both species, paternal nest‐building was positively associated with neutral‐arena aggression and higher maternal retrieval behavior predicted higher offspring resident‐intruder aggression as indicated by decreased attack latency. Together, these results indicate that parental behavior has the potential to shape the development of attack latency in female offspring.     

谷氨酰胺对创伤后大鼠恢复的效果

本研究观察了谷氨酰胺（ＧＬＮ）对创伤大鼠恢复的影响,１７只ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠随机分成ＧＬＮ组（９只）和对照组（８只）,大鼠行创伤手术后,分别饲喂含或不含１．２％ＧＬＮ的合成饲料。实验中观察了动物体重恢复、血浆蛋白变化,实验第１４天,处死动物,测定伤口皮肤抗张力强度和胶原蛋白含量、淋巴细胞转化率、小肠粘膜核酸及蛋白质含量。用Ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔ＇ｓＴ检验分析结果差异的显著性。实验结果显示：两组动物的饲料摄入量、体重增长、血浆蛋白水平、氮平衡均无明显差别,但在实验结束时,ＧＬＮ组大鼠的小肠粘膜ＤＮＡ、ＲＮＡ及蛋白质含量显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）,同时其伤口皮肤抗张力强度、伤口胶原蛋白合成以及反映机体免疫功能的淋巴细胞转化率,亦有高于对照组的趋势,但无统计学差别（Ｐ＞０．０５）,揭示了ＧＬＮ具有保护肠道粘膜的作用,有益于大鼠创伤后的恢复。     

Female Control of Offspring Sex Ratios Based on Male Attractiveness in the Guppy

The sex allocation hypothesis predicts that females manipulate the offspring sex ratios according to mate attractiveness. Although there is increasing evidence to support this prediction, it is possible that paternal effects may often obscure the relationship between female control of offspring sex ratios and male attractiveness. In the present study, we examined whether females played a primary role in the manipulation their offspring sex ratios based on male attractiveness, in the guppy Poecilia reticulata, a live‐bearing fish. We excluded the paternal effects by controlling the relative sexual attractiveness of the male by presenting them to the females along with a more attractive or less attractive stimulus male. The test male was perceived to be relatively more attractive by females when it was presented along with a less attractive stimulus male, or vice versa. Subsequently, test male was mated in two different roles (relatively more and less attractive) with two females. If females were responsible for offspring sex ratio manipulation, the sex ratio of the brood would be altered on the basis of the relative attractiveness of the test male. On the other hand, if males play a primary role in offspring sex ratio manipulation, the sex ratios would not differ with the relative attractiveness of the test male. We found that females gave birth to more male‐biased broods when they mated with test males in the attractive role than when they mated with males in the less attractive role. This finding suggests that females are responsible for the manipulation of offspring sex ratios based on the attractiveness of their mates.     

Effects of Maternal LPS Exposure during Pregnancy on Metabolic Phenotypes in Female Offspring

It is increasingly recognized that intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disorders in late life. Previous studies showed that mice exposed to LPS in late gestation induced fetal IUGR. The present study investigated the effects of maternal LPS exposure during pregnancy on metabolic phenotypes in female adult offspring. Pregnant mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (50 µg/kg) daily from gestational day (GD)15 to GD17. After lactation, female pups were fed with standard-chow diets (SD) or high-fat diets (HFD). Glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were assessed 8 and 12 weeks after diet intervention. Hepatic triglyceride content was examined 12 weeks after diet intervention. As expected, maternal LPS exposure during pregnancy resulted in fetal IUGR. Although there was an increasing trend on fat mass in female offspring whose dams were exposed to LPS during pregnancy, maternal LPS exposure during pregnancy did not elevate the levels of fasting blood glucose and serum insulin and hepatic triglyceride content in female adult offspring. Moreover, maternal LPS exposure during pregnancy did not alter insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue and liver in female adult offspring. Further analysis showed that maternal LPS exposure during pregnancy did not exacerbate HFD-induced glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in female adult offspring. In addition, maternal LPS exposure during pregnancy did not aggravate HFD-induced elevation of hepatic triglyceride content in female adult offspring. In conclusion, LPS-induced IUGR does not alter metabolic phenotypes in adulthood.     

Lipopolysaccharide Exposure during Pregnancy Leads to Aortic Dysfunction in Offspring Rats

Background

Prenatal exposure to Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produces hypertension in adult offspring rats. The present study was to explore the effects of prenatal inflammation on morphological and functional changes in the aorta from offspring rats and to further assess its susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases.

Methods and Results

Pregnant rats were treated intraperitoneally on gestation Days 8, 10 and 12 with saline, LPS (0.79 mg/kg), or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC, 100 mg/kg)+LPS, respectively. Aortic ring reactivity and histopathological alteration were analyzed in offspring at the age of 12 weeks. The detections of connexin (Cx) 37, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45, including immunofluorescent patterns, protein levels and mRNA expression in the aorta, were performed as well. Furthermore, the expressions of Nuclear factor (NF)-κB (p65), IκBα, phospho-IκBα and IκBβ were determined. The results showed that prenatal LPS exposure leads to morphological abnormalities and impaired aortic reactivity in offspring. Prenatal LPS exposure also decreased the protein and mRNA expression of Cx37 in the aorta from offspring rats. NF-κB and phospho-IκBα levels were both increased, IκBα level, however, was decreased in the aorta of offspring from the maternal LPS exposure compared to the controls. Simultaneously, PDTC treatment markedly reversed the action of LPS.

Conclusions

Decreased expression of Cx37 contributed to the aortic dysfunction of prenatal LPS exposure offspring, which should be associated with NF-κB activation.     

Immune Effects of Nonylphenol on Offspring of Rats Exposed During Pregnancy

Effects of nonylphenol on immune system of male rats were examined. Dams were treated orally with nonylphenol at doses of 0, 20, 40, 80, or 200 mg/kg, respectively, from pregnant days 14 to 19. The offspring rats were investigated at postnatal day 60. Compared with the control groups, the doses of 80 and 200 mg nonylphenol/kg induced an obvious decrease in the absolute and relative weight of spleen and thymus. In the 200 mg/kg nonylphenol-treated group, the proliferative responses of murine spleen lymphocytes cultured in vitro were suppressed, Cytokine productions of interferon-gamma and interleukin-6 in serum were markedly lower than those in the control group. Histologically, the boundary between splenic red pulp and white pulp was unclear, expansion and congestion appeared in splenic sinus, lymphocytes in spleen and thymus dramatically reduced, and lots of focal necrosis cells were present. The results of this study show that nonylphenol can cross the placenta barrier, and that in utero exposure to 200 mg/kg/day nonylphenol can inhibit immune function in male offspring rats.     

Prenatal Stress Causes Oxidative Damage to Mitochondrial DNA in Hippocampus of Offspring Rats

Mitochondrion, the primary source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is also the target of ROS. 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) is the major end-product of damaged DNA caused by ROS. In our previous studies, we showed that prenatal stress (PNS) preferentially caused cognitive dysfunction and increased ROS in the hippocampus of female offspring rats. The present study aimed to determine 8-OH-dG level of mitochondria in order to elucidate the mechanism of hippocampal pyramidal neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction induced by PNS. Pregnant rats were divided into two groups: control group (undisturbed) and PNS group (exposed to a restraint stress for 7 days at the late stage of gestation). Offspring rats were divided into four groups: female-control group, male-control group, female-stress group, male-stress group and used at 30-day-old after their birth. The content of 8-OH-dG was determined by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The results showed that the contents of 8-OH-dG in female and male prenatal stressed offspring were significantly higher than that in their respective controls (P < 0.001). 8-OH-dG level was significantly higher in the female-stress group than in the male-stress group (P < 0.05), whereas there was no any gender-dependent difference in the control groups. These results suggest that accumulation of oxidative mitochondrial DNA damage may play an important role in PNS-induced cognitive dysfunction in female offspring rats. Special issue article in honor of Dr. Akitane Mori.     

Maternally Administered Sustained-Release Naltrexone in Rats Affects Offspring Neurochemistry and Behaviour in Adulthood

Naltrexone is not recommended during pregnancy. However, sustained-release naltrexone implant use in humans has resulted in cases of inadvertent foetal exposure. Here, we used clinically relevant dosing to examine the effects of maternally administered sustained-release naltrexone on the rat brain by examining offspring at birth and in adulthood. Maternal treatment (naltrexone or placebo implant) started before conception and ceased during gestation, birth or weaning. Morphometry was assessed in offspring at birth and adulthood. Adult offspring were evaluated for differences in locomotor behaviour (basal and morphine-induced, 10 mg/kg, s.c.) and opioid neurochemistry, propensity to self-administer morphine and cue-induced drug-seeking after abstinence. Blood analysis confirmed offspring exposure to naltrexone during gestation, birth and weaning. Naltrexone exposure increased litter size and reduced offspring birth-weight but did not alter brain morphometry. Compared to placebo, basal motor activity of naltrexone-exposed adult offspring was lower, yet they showed enhanced development of psychomotor sensitization to morphine. Developmental naltrexone exposure was associated with resistance to morphine-induced down-regulation of striatal preproenkephalin mRNA expression in adulthood. Adult offspring also exhibited greater operant responding for morphine and, in addition, cue-induced drug-seeking was enhanced. Collectively, these data show pronounced effects of developmental naltrexone exposure, some of which persist into adulthood, highlighting the need for follow up of humans that were exposed to naltrexone in utero.