Effects of drinking water, sanitation, handwashing and nutritional interventions on stress physiology, oxidative stress, and epigenetic programming in young children living in rural Bangladesh: A randomized clinical trial

Importance: A regulated stress response is essential for healthy trajectories, but the integrated effects of early childhood environmental and nutritional interventions on stress physiology are unknown. Objective: To assess the effects of a combined nutritional, water, sanitation, and handwashing intervention on physiological stress response, oxidative stress, and DNA methylation. Design, Setting, and Participants: In a trial in rural Bangladesh, we randomized geographical clusters of pregnant women and their in-utero children into either the combined nutritional, water, sanitation, and handwashing intervention or the control group. Physiological stress response, oxidative stress, and methylation levels of 757 children were measured at ages one and two years. Analysis was intention-to-treat. Interventions: The intervention group received combined nutritional counseling and lipid-based nutrient supplements, chlorinated drinking water, upgraded sanitation, and handwashing with soap (N+WSH). The control group did not receive interventions. Main Outcomes and Measures: We measured four isomers of urinary F2-isoprostanes [iPF(2α)-III; 2,3-dinor-iPF(2α)-III; iPF(2α)-VI; 8,12-iso-iPF(2α)-VI] at year one. At year two, we measured pre- and post-stressor concentrations of salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol, overall methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) exon 1F promoter including methylation levels at the nerve growth factor-inducible protein A (NGFI-A) binding site, mean arterial pressure, and resting heart rate. Results: Children in the N+WSH group had lower levels of F2-isoprostanes compared to controls (difference -0.16 to -0.19 log ng/mg of creatinine, P<0.01). Compared to the control group, post-stressor cortisol levels were elevated (0.24 log μg/dl; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.4; P<0.01) and the residualized gain score for cortisol was higher (0.06 μg/dl; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.12; P=0.023) in the N+WSH group. Children in the N+WSH group exhibited decreased methylation of the NGFI-A transcription factor binding site (-0.04 logit-transformed %; 95% CI, -0.08 to 0; P=0.037). Conclusions and Relevance: A nutritional, water, sanitation, and handwashing intervention reduced oxidative stress, enhanced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity, and reduced methylation levels in a transcription factor binding site of the glucocorticoid receptor gene. A targeted environmental and nutritional intervention affected the set point, reactivity, and regulation of the physiological stress system in early childhood, which may have implications for long-term health and developmental trajectories. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01590095

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The physiological stress response and oxidative stress biomarkers in rainbow trout and brook trout from selenium-impacted streams in a coal mining region

Journal of Applied Toxicology ◽

10.1002/jat.1458 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 681-688 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

L. L. Miller ◽

J. B. Rasmussen ◽

V. P. Palace ◽

A. Hontela

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Rainbow Trout ◽

Stress Response ◽

Coal Mining ◽

Brook Trout ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽

Stress Biomarkers ◽

Physiological Stress Response ◽

And Oxidative Stress

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Stress and translocation: alterations in the stress physiology of translocated birds

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2008.1778 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 276 (1664) ◽

pp. 2051-2056 ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

Molly J. Dickens ◽

David J. Delehanty ◽

L. Michael Romero

Keyword(s):

Stress Response ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Negative Feedback ◽

Threatened Species ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Feedback System ◽

Stress Physiology ◽

Reduced Body ◽

Physiological Stress Response

Translocation and reintroduction have become major conservation actions in attempts to create self-sustaining wild populations of threatened species. However, avian translocations have a high failure rate and causes for failure are poorly understood. While ‘stress’ is often cited as an important factor in translocation failure, empirical evidence of physiological stress is lacking. Here we show that experimental translocation leads to changes in the physiological stress response in chukar partridge, Alectoris chukar . We found that capture alone significantly decreased the acute glucocorticoid (corticosterone, CORT) response, but adding exposure to captivity and transport further altered the stress response axis (the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis) as evident from a decreased sensitivity of the negative feedback system. Animals that were exposed to the entire translocation procedure, in addition to the reduced acute stress response and disrupted negative feedback, had significantly lower baseline CORT concentrations and significantly reduced body weight. These data indicate that translocation alters stress physiology and that chronic stress is potentially a major factor in translocation failure. Under current practices, the restoration of threatened species through translocation may unwittingly depend on the success of chronically stressed individuals. This conclusion emphasizes the need for understanding and alleviating translocation-induced chronic stress in order to use most effectively this important conservation tool.

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Addressing educational inequalities and promoting learning through studies of stress physiology in elementary school students

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579420001443 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 1899-1913

Author(s):

Jelena Obradović ◽

Emma Armstrong-Carter

Keyword(s):

Elementary School ◽

Stress Response ◽

Elementary School Students ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Stress Physiology ◽

Developmental Stress ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

School Students ◽

Behavioral Adaptations ◽

Physiological Stress Response

AbstractTo be ready to learn, children need to be focused, engaged, and able to bounce back from setbacks. However, many children come to school with heightened or diminished physiological arousal due to exposure to poverty-related risks. While stress physiology plays a role in explaining how adversity relates to processes that support students’ cognitive development, there is a lack of studies of physiological stress response in educational settings. This review integrates relevant studies and offers future directions for research on the role of stress physiology in the school adaptation of elementary school students, focusing on these important questions: (a) What are the links between physiological stress response and learning-related skills and behaviors, and do they vary as a function of proximal and distal experiences outside of school? (b) How are school experiences associated with students’ physiological stress response and related cognitive and behavioral adaptations? (c) How can we leverage measures of students’ physiological stress response in evaluations of school-based interventions to better support the school success of every student? We hope to stimulate a new wave of research that will advance the science of developmental stress physiology, as well as improve the application of these findings in educational policy and practice.

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Physiological stress response of the Wistar albino rats orally exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles

10.21203/rs.3.rs-23042/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ali Akbar Babaei ◽

Mohammad Rafiee ◽

Fariba Khodagholi ◽

Elham Ahmadpour ◽

Fatemeh Amereh

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Stress Response ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Male Rats ◽

Whole Body ◽

Oral Exposure ◽

Control Group ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Biochemical Responses

Abstract Background Few studies have examined nano-sized plastic particulates (NPs) exposure in relation to oxidative stress and biochemical responses in rodents, commonly used for toxicity evaluations on which to base risk assessment for humans.Methods Here we explored possible oxidative stress and biochemical responses of five weeks oral exposure to polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles (1, 3, 6 and 10 mg/kg body weight per day) in male rats. We used variance analysis and variance explained statistic eta-squared (𝜂2) to estimate the strength of relationships worked out. The whole body scanning further provided insight into the bio-distribution of nanoplastics upon oral exposure.Results Results demonstrated the accumulation of PS-NPs through whole body and also a dose-dependent increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Significant alterations in antioxidant responses including serum levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total glutathione content were noticed, pointing towards a perturbation of redox state induced by the exposure conditions. Acetylcholinesterase level in highest dose group was about 40 percent lower than those in control group. Biochemical parameters viz. glucose, cortisol, lipase, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), triglycerides, and urea showed a significant increase, while total protein, albumin and globulin levels showed an appreciable decline.Conclusion The pattern of associations noticed with AChE activity and biochemical responses in our study suggests the possibility that a neurobehavioral effect or dysfunctions in energy metabolism, or both, may be the potential mode of action, possibly through stress response as well as liver function. Perturbations of creatinine and uric acid levels are indeed plausible biological explanations for the association with kidney dysfunction. Although we provided a new scientific clue for exploring the biological effects of plastics nanoparticles, the results warrant additional research with a larger sample size. The suggested potential mechanisms also remains to be investigated.

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Effects of acute and subchronic exposures to waterborne selenite on the physiological stress response and oxidative stress indicators in juvenile rainbow trout

Aquatic Toxicology ◽

10.1016/j.aquatox.2007.05.001 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 83 (4) ◽

pp. 263-271 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

L.L. Miller ◽

F. Wang ◽

V.P. Palace ◽

A. Hontela

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Rainbow Trout ◽

Stress Response ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Stress Indicators ◽

Juvenile Rainbow Trout ◽

Physiological Stress Response ◽

Oxidative Stress Indicators ◽

And Oxidative Stress

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The reaction of pearl dace (Pisces, Cyprinidae) to alarm substance: time-course of behavior, brain amines, and stress physiology

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z87-442 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 65 (12) ◽

pp. 2916-2921 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Bradley G. Rehnberg ◽

R. J. F. Smith ◽

B. D. Sloley

Keyword(s):

Stress Response ◽

Initial Phase ◽

Time Course ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Stress Physiology ◽

Alarm Substance ◽

Behavioral Reactions ◽

Physiological Stress Response ◽

Alarm Reaction ◽

Induced Changes

Pearl dace, Semotilus margarita (Pisces, Cyprinidae), respond behaviorally and physiologically to conspecific alarm substance. The behavioral alarm reaction was biphasic. A brief initial phase of rapid and unpredictable swimming was followed by a period of inactivity that was observable even after 5 h. In nature, biphasic behavioral reactions may function to remove alarmed fish from the area of greatest danger and then render them inconspicuous. The physiological alarm reaction included elements of a stress response. Concentrations of plasma cortisol and glucose were elevated at 15 min after the detection of alarm substance, but had returned to control levels by 5 h. There were no odor-induced changes observed in brain concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, or tryptophan. The biphasic behavioral response and the physiological stress response were interpreted as adaptations that permit pearl dace to successfully react to threats of predation.

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