scholarly journals Adaptive reshaping of the hormonal phenotype after social niche transition in adulthood

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1928) ◽  
pp. 20200667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra M. Mutwill ◽  
Tobias D. Zimmermann ◽  
Antonia Hennicke ◽  
S. Helene Richter ◽  
Sylvia Kaiser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Behavioural Phenotype ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Social Niche

Phenotypic plasticity allows individuals to adjust traits to the environment. Whether long-term adjustments of the phenotype occur during later life stages is largely unknown. To address this question, we examined whether hormonal phenotypes that are shaped by the environment during adolescence can still be reshaped in full adulthood. For this, guinea pig males were either housed in mixed-sex colonies or in heterosexual pairs. In adulthood, males were individually transferred to pair housing with a female. This way, a social niche transition was induced in colony-housed males, but not in pair-housed males. Before transfer, corresponding to findings in adolescence, adult colony-housed males showed significantly higher baseline testosterone levels and lower cortisol responsiveness than pair-housed males. One month after transfer, the hormonal phenotype of colony-housed males was changed towards that of pair-housed males: animals showed comparable baseline testosterone levels and cortisol responsiveness was significantly increased in colony-housed males. This endocrine readjustment builds the basis for an adaptive behavioural tactic in the new social situation. Thus, an adaptive change of the behavioural phenotype may still occur in adulthood via modification of underlying mechanisms. This suggests a greater role for developmental plasticity in later life stages than is commonly presumed.

Rodent models of early environment effects on offspring development and susceptibility to neurological diseases in adulthood

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Coutellier
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Early Environment ◽  
Offspring Development ◽  
Early Life Events

AbstractEvents early in life can program brain for a pattern of neuroendocrine and behavioral responses in later life. This mechanism is named “developmental phenotypic plasticity”. Experimental evidences from rodents show that early experiences influence long-term development of behavioral, neuroendocrine and cognitive functions. While some neonatal conditions lead to positive outcomes, offspring might also display neurological dysfunctions in adulthood in case of adverse conditions during the early development. Different factors have been suggested to mediate the effects of neonatal conditions on offspring development but their exact contribution as well as their interaction still needs to be clarified. Studies based on rodents have been developed to model the long-term effects of early environmental conditions on the developing brain. These studies highlight importance of maternal behavior in mediating the effects of early environmental conditions on the offspring. However, other studies suggest that aside from the level of maternal care, other factors (gender, neonatal glucocorticoid levels) contribute to the adjustment of offspring phenotype to early environmental cues. Altogether, rodents-based evidence suggests that developmental plasticity is a very complex phenomenon mediated by multiple factors that interact one to each other. Ultimately, the goal is to understand how early life events can lead to advantageous phenotype in adult life, or, on the contrary, can predispose individuals to psychopathologies such as depression or anxiety.

scholarly journals Factors Predicting Voluntary and Involuntary Workforce Transitions at Mature Ages: Evidence from HILDA in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 3769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy Honge Gong ◽  
Xiaojun He
Keyword(s):  
Older Workers ◽  
Work Force ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Work Capacity ◽  
Population Ageing ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Household Incomes

The fast population ageing has generated and will continue to generate large social, economic and health challenges in the 21th century in Australia, and many other developed and developing countries. Population ageing is projected to lead to workforce shortages, welfare dependency, fiscal unsustainability, and a higher burden of chronic diseases on health care system. Promoting health and sustainable work capacity among mature age and older workers hence becomes the most important and critical way to address all these challenges. This paper used the pooled data from the longitudinal Household, Incomes and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey 2002–2011 data to investigate common and different factors predicting voluntary or involuntary workforce transitions among workers aged 45 to 64. Long term health conditions and preference to work less hours increased while having a working partner and proportion of paid years decreased both voluntary and involuntary work force transitions. Besides these four common factors, the voluntary and involuntary workforce transitions had very different underlying mechanisms. Our findings suggest that government policies aimed at promoting workforce participation at later life should be directed specifically to life-long health promotion and continuous employment as well as different factors driving voluntary and involuntary workforce transitions, such as life-long training, healthy lifestyles, work flexibility, ageing friendly workplace, and job security.

scholarly journals The Plasticity and Developmental Potential of Termites

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewis Revely ◽  
Seirian Sumner ◽  
Paul Eggleton
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Phenotypic Diversity ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Alternative Phenotypes ◽  
Phenotypic Complexity ◽  
The Rich

Phenotypic plasticity provides organisms with the potential to adapt to their environment and can drive evolutionary innovations. Developmental plasticity is environmentally induced variation in phenotypes during development that arise from a shared genomic background. Social insects are useful models for studying the mechanisms of developmental plasticity, due to the phenotypic diversity they display in the form of castes. However, the literature has been biased toward the study of developmental plasticity in the holometabolous social insects (i.e., bees, wasps, and ants); the hemimetabolous social insects (i.e., the termites) have received less attention. Here, we review the phenotypic complexity and diversity of termites as models for studying developmental plasticity. We argue that the current terminology used to define plastic phenotypes in social insects does not capture the diversity and complexity of these hemimetabolous social insects. We suggest that terminology used to describe levels of cellular potency could be helpful in describing the many levels of phenotypic plasticity in termites. Accordingly, we propose a conceptual framework for categorizing the changes in potential of individuals to express alternative phenotypes through the developmental life stages of termites. We compile from the literature an exemplar dataset on the phenotypic potencies expressed within and between species across the phylogeny of the termites and use this to illustrate how the potencies of different life stages of different species can be described using this framework. We highlight how this conceptual framework can help exploit the rich phenotypic diversity of termites to address fundamental questions about the evolution and mechanisms of developmental plasticity. This conceptual contribution is likely to have wider relevance to the study of other hemimetabolous insects, such as aphids and gall-forming thrips, and may even prove useful for some holometabolous social insects which have high caste polyphenism.

scholarly journals Animal Models for DOHaD Research: Focus on Hypertension of Developmental Origins

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 623
Author(s):  
Chien-Ning Hsu ◽  
You-Lin Tain
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Environmental Chemicals ◽  
Developmental Origins ◽  
Critical Window ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Increasing evidence suggests that fetal programming through environmental exposure during a critical window of early life leads to long-term detrimental outcomes, by so-called developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). Hypertension can originate in early life. Animal models are essential for providing convincing evidence of a causal relationship between diverse early-life insults and the developmental programming of hypertension in later life. These insults include nutritional imbalances, maternal illnesses, exposure to environmental chemicals, and medication use. In addition to reviewing the various insults that contribute to hypertension of developmental origins, this review focuses on the benefits of animal models in addressing the underlying mechanisms by which early-life interventions can reprogram disease processes and prevent the development of hypertension. Our understanding of hypertension of developmental origins has been enhanced by each of these animal models, narrowing the knowledge gap between animal models and future clinical translation.

Long-term Immigrants in Middle and Later Life: Changing Views of Home

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olena Nesteruk ◽  
Christine Price
Keyword(s):  
Later Life

Introduction: Kinship Bereavement in Later Life

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian De Vries
Keyword(s):  
Adult Child ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Traumatic Grief ◽  
Death Of A Parent ◽  
De Vries ◽  
Longitudinal Effects ◽  
Analysis Of Variation

This article introduces a volume devoted to the examination of later-life bereavement: an analysis of variation in cause, course, and consequence. Six articles address and represent this variation and comprise this volume: 1) Prigerson et al. present case histories of the traumatic grief of spouses; 2) Hays et al. highlight the bereavement experiences of siblings in contrast to those spouses and friends; 3) Moss et al. address the role of gender in middle-aged children's responses to parent death; 4) Bower focuses on the language adopted by these adult children in accepting the death of a parent; 5) de Vries et al. explore the long-term, longitudinal effects on the psychological and somatic functioning of parents following the death of an adult child; and 6) Fry presents the short-term and longitudinal reactions of grandparents to the death of a grandchild. A concluding article is offered by de Vries stressing both the unique and common features of these varied bereavement experiences touching on some of the empirical issues and suggesting potential implications and applications.

Enhanced Seasonal Exchange of CO2 by Northern Ecosystems Since 1960

Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 341 (6150) ◽  
pp. 1085-1089 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Graven ◽  
R. F. Keeling ◽  
S. C. Piper ◽  
P. K. Patra ◽  
B. B. Stephens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Ecosystem Models ◽  
The North ◽  
Ecological Changes ◽  
Term Change ◽  
Major Shift ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Global Carbon

Seasonal variations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Northern Hemisphere have increased since the 1950s, but sparse observations have prevented a clear assessment of the patterns of long-term change and the underlying mechanisms. We compare recent aircraft-based observations of CO2 above the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans to earlier data from 1958 to 1961 and find that the seasonal amplitude at altitudes of 3 to 6 km increased by 50% for 45° to 90°N but by less than 25% for 10° to 45°N. An increase of 30 to 60% in the seasonal exchange of CO2 by northern extratropical land ecosystems, focused on boreal forests, is implicated, substantially more than simulated by current land ecosystem models. The observations appear to signal large ecological changes in northern forests and a major shift in the global carbon cycle.

scholarly journals The importance of maternal pregnancy vitamin D for offspring bone health: learnings from the MAVIDOS trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 1759720X2110069
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Moon ◽  
Elizabeth M. Curtis ◽  
Stephen J. Woolford ◽  
Shanze Ashai ◽  
Cyrus Cooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Bone Development ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Positive Effects

Optimisation of skeletal mineralisation in childhood is important to reduce childhood fracture and the long-term risk of osteoporosis and fracture in later life. One approach to achieving this is antenatal vitamin D supplementation. The Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study is a randomised placebo-controlled trial, the aim of which was to assess the effect of antenatal vitamin D supplementation (1000 IU/day cholecalciferol) on offspring bone mass at birth. The study has since extended the follow up into childhood and diversified to assess demographic, lifestyle and genetic factors that determine the biochemical response to antenatal vitamin D supplementation, and to understand the mechanisms underpinning the effects of vitamin D supplementation on offspring bone development, including epigenetics. The demonstration of positive effects of maternal pregnancy vitamin D supplementation on offspring bone development and the delineation of underlying biological mechanisms inform clinical care and future public-health policies.

scholarly journals Long term alterations of growth after antenatal steroids in preterm twin pregnancies

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorsten Braun ◽  
Vivien Filleböck ◽  
Boris Metze ◽  
Christoph Bührer ◽  
Andreas Plagemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Ponderal Index ◽  
Childhood Growth ◽  
Antenatal Steroids ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Infancy And Early Childhood ◽  
Twin Pregnancies

AbstractObjectivesTo compare the long-term effects of antenatal betamethasone (ANS, ≤16 mg, =24 mg and >24 mg) in twins on infant and childhood growth.MethodsA retrospective cohort follow up study among 198 twins after ANS including three time points: U1 first neonatal examination after birth and in the neonatal period; U7 examination from the 21st to the 24th month of life and U9 examination from the 60th to the 64th month of life using data from copies of the children’s examination booklets. Inclusion criteria are twin pregnancies with preterm labor, cervical shortening, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or vaginal bleeding, and exposure to ANS between 23+5 and 33+6 weeks. Outcome measures are dosage-dependent and sex-specific effects of ANS on growth (body weight, body length, head circumference, body mass index and ponderal index) up to 5.3 years.ResultsOverall, 99 live-born twin pairs were included. Negative effects of ANS on fetal growth persisted beyond birth, altered infant and childhood growth, independent of possible confounding factors. Overall weight percentile significantly decreased between infancy and early childhood by 18.8%. Birth weight percentiles significantly changed in a dose dependent and sex specific manner, most obviously in female-female and mixed pairs. The ponderal index significantly decreased up to 42.9%, BMI index increased by up to 33.8%.ConclusionsANS results in long-term alterations in infant and childhood growth. Changes between infancy and early childhood in ponderal mass index and BMI, independent of dose or twin pair structure, might indicate an ANS associated increased risk for later life disease.SynopsisFirst-time report on long-term ANS administration growth effects in twin pregnancies, showing persisting alterations beyond birth in infant and childhood growth up to 5.3 years as potential indicator of later life disease risk.

scholarly journals Blood–brain barrier disruption and ventricular enlargement are the earliest neuropathological changes in rats with repeated sub-concussive impacts over 2 weeks

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bailey Hiles-Murison ◽  
Andrew P. Lavender ◽  
Mark J. Hackett ◽  
Joshua J. Armstrong ◽  
Michael Nesbit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Hippocampal Formation ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Lateral Ventricles ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier Disruption ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Brain Barrier Disruption ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractRepeated sub-concussive impact (e.g. soccer ball heading), a significantly lighter form of mild traumatic brain injury, is increasingly suggested to cumulatively alter brain structure and compromise neurobehavioural function in the long-term. However, the underlying mechanisms whereby repeated long-term sub-concussion induces cerebral structural and neurobehavioural changes are currently unknown. Here, we utilised an established rat model to investigate the effects of repeated sub-concussion on size of lateral ventricles, cerebrovascular blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and biochemical distribution. Following repeated sub-concussion 3 days per week for 2 weeks, the rats showed significantly enlarged lateral ventricles compared with the rats receiving sham-only procedure. The sub-concussive rats also presented significant BBB dysfunction in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal formation, whilst neuromotor function assessed by beamwalk and rotarod tests were comparable to the sham rats. Immunofluorescent and spectroscopic microscopy analyses revealed no significant changes in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, lipid distribution or protein aggregation, within the hippocampus and cortex. These data collectively indicate that repeated sub-concussion for 2 weeks induce significant ventriculomegaly and BBB disruption, preceding neuromotor deficits.

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