Immunotoxicity by Dioxins and PCB’s in the Perinatal Period

Author(s):  
J. G. Koppe ◽  
P. De Boer
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
K.C. Feng-Chen ◽  
F.B. Essien ◽  
K.J. Prestwidge ◽  
J.T. Cheng ◽  
C.L. Shen

The physiology of the fetal heart differs significantly from that of the mature post-natal organ: e.g., the metabolic supply for adult cardiac contraction relies mainly on fatty acids; whereas, the fetal heart uses carbohydrates as its primary energy source. Limited morphological descriptions of the developing myocardium have appeared. However, additional studies are required to elucidate the ultrastructural changes occuring in the perinatal period when enormous physiological adjustments are made. Although adult animals are most often used in toxocological and pathological analyses, it is also important to investigate fetal cardiac responsiveness to various agents. The vulnerability of the ultrastructure of the fetal mouse myocardium to genetic and environmental assault is the subject of this report. The genetically determined effect on the heart was observed in mouse embryos homozygous for the cab (cardiac abnormality) mutation discovered by Essien.


Author(s):  
D Tathishvili ◽  
S Natriashvili ◽  
T Jokhadze ◽  
N Kapanadze ◽  
S Sulava
Keyword(s):  

2006 ◽  
Vol 210 (S 5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Malamitsi-Puchner ◽  
KE Nikolaou ◽  
E Economou ◽  
M Boutsikou ◽  
T Boutsikou ◽  
...  

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Alessandra Coscia ◽  
Flaminia Bardanzellu ◽  
Elisa Caboni ◽  
Vassilios Fanos ◽  
Diego Giampietro Peroni

In recent years, the role of human microbiota as a short- and long-term health promoter and modulator has been affirmed and progressively strengthened. In the course of one’s life, each subject is colonized by a great number of bacteria, which constitute its specific and individual microbiota. Human bacterial colonization starts during fetal life, in opposition to the previous paradigm of the “sterile womb”. Placenta, amniotic fluid, cord blood and fetal tissues each have their own specific microbiota, influenced by maternal health and habits and having a decisive influence on pregnancy outcome and offspring outcome. The maternal microbiota, especially that colonizing the genital system, starts to influence the outcome of pregnancy already before conception, modulating fertility and the success rate of fertilization, even in the case of assisted reproduction techniques. During the perinatal period, neonatal microbiota seems influenced by delivery mode, drug administration and many other conditions. Special attention must be reserved for early neonatal nutrition, because breastfeeding allows the transmission of a specific and unique lactobiome able to modulate and positively affect the neonatal gut microbiota. Our narrative review aims to investigate the currently identified pre- and peri-natal factors influencing neonatal microbiota, before conception, during pregnancy, pre- and post-delivery, since the early microbiota influences the whole life of each subject.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2540
Author(s):  
Teresa Chioccarelli ◽  
Marina Migliaccio ◽  
Antonio Suglia ◽  
Francesco Manfrevola ◽  
Veronica Porreca ◽  
...  

The objective of this work has been to characterize the estrogenic activity of bisphenol-A (BPA) and the adverse effects on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in modulating germ cell progression. Male offspring exposed to BPA during the foetal-perinatal period at doses below the no-observed-adverse-effect-level were used to investigate the exposure effects in adulthood. Results showed that BPA accumulates specifically in epididymal fat rather than in abdominal fat and targets testicular expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and cytochrome P450 aromatase, thus promoting sustained increase of estrogens and a decrease of testosterone. The exposure to BPA affects the expression levels of some ECS components, namely type-1 (CB1) and type-2 cannabinoid (CB2) receptor and monoacylglycerol-lipase (MAGL). Furthermore, it affects the temporal progression of germ cells reported to be responsive to ECS and promotes epithelial germ cell exfoliation. In particular, it increases the germ cell content (i.e., spermatogonia while reducing spermatocytes and spermatids), accelerates progression of spermatocytes and spermatids, promotes epithelial detachment of round and condensed spermatids and interferes with expression of cell–cell junction genes (i.e., zonula occcludens protein-1, vimentin and β-catenin). Altogether, our study provides evidence that early exposure to BPA produces in adulthood sustained and site-specific BPA accumulation in epididymal fat, becoming a risk factor for the reproductive endocrine pathways associated to ECS.


Author(s):  
Daan H. H. M. Viering ◽  
Anneke P. Bech ◽  
Jeroen H. F. de Baaij ◽  
Eric J. Steenbergen ◽  
A. H. Jan Danser ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundGenetic loss of function ofAGT(angiotensinogen),REN(renin),ACE(angiotensin-converting enzyme), orAGTR1(type-1 angiotensin II receptor) leads to renal tubular dysgenesis (RTD). This syndrome is almost invariably lethal. Most surviving patients reach stage 5 chronic kidney disease at a young age.MethodsHere, we report a 28-year-old male with a homozygous truncating mutation inAGTR1(p.Arg216*), who survived the perinatal period with a mildly impaired kidney function. In contrast to classic RTD, kidney biopsy showed proximal tubules that were mostly normal. During the subsequent three decades, we observed evidence of both tubular dysfunction (hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, salt-wasting and a urinary concentrating defect) and glomerular dysfunction (reduced glomerular filtration rate, currently ~30 mL/min/1.73 m2, accompanied by proteinuria). To investigate the recurrent and severe hyperkalemia, we performed a patient-tailored functional test and showed that high doses of fludrocortisone induced renal potassium excretion by 155%. Furthermore, fludrocortisone lowered renal sodium excretion by 39%, which would have a mitigating effect on salt-wasting. In addition, urinary pH decreased in response to fludrocortisone. Opposite effects on urinary potassium and pH occurred with administration of amiloride, further supporting the notion that a collecting duct is present and able to react to fludrocortisone.ConclusionsThis report provides living proof that even truncating loss-of-function mutations inAGTR1are compatible with life and relatively good GFR and provides evidence for the prescription of fludrocortisone to treat hyperkalemia and salt-wasting in such patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Sonia Mangialavori ◽  
Michele Giannotti ◽  
Marco Cacioppo ◽  
Federico Spelzini ◽  
Franco Baldoni

Previous studies documented gender-related differences in the expression of Perinatal Affective Disorders. However, little attention has been paid to screening the male population during the perinatal period. This study was based on three aims: (1) to investigate the mental health of expectant fathers based on their levels of depression, anxiety, addiction, anger attacks/hostility, and somatization, identifying psychological profiles; (2) to analyze the association between these profiles and the individual variable of perceived stress; (3) and to examine the association between these profiles and the couple’s variable of marital adjustment. A total of 350 Italian expectant fathers in the last trimester of pregnancy were asked to fill in questionnaires concerning perceived stress, dyadic adjustment, psychiatric symptomatology, and depression. Three different clusters were found: “psychologically healthy men” (68%) with low levels of symptoms on all the scales; “men at risk of externalized behavioral problems” (17.1%), characterized by one or more addictive or risky behaviors and moderate levels of scales scores; and “men experiencing psychological distress” (14.9%), with the highest scores on all the scales. A significant association emerged among the perceived stress, marital adjustment, and cluster membership. These results highlight the importance of screening fathers in perinatal health services, which are still predominantly mother-centered, and underscore the necessity to create tailored and personalized interventions.


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