scholarly journals THE ROLE OF INTRAGESTATIONAL GHRELIN ON POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE PROGRAMMING IN MICE

Reproduction ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Javier Torres ◽  
Eugenia Mercedes Luque ◽  
Marina Flavia Ponzio ◽  
Verónica Cantarelli ◽  
Marcela Diez ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intragestational role of ghrelin in offspring development and reproductive programming in a mouse model of ghrelin imbalance during pregnancy. Female mice were injected with ghrelin (supraphysiological levels: 4 nmol/animal/day), antagonist (endogenous ghrelin inhibition with (D-Lys3)GHRP-6, 6 nmol/animal/day) or vehicle (control=normal ghrelin levels) throughout the pregnancy. Parameters evaluated in litters were growth, physical, neurobiological, and sexual development and, at adulthood, reproductive function. Litter size and initial weight did not vary between treatments. Male pups from dams treated with ghrelin showed higher body weight increase until adulthood (31.7±0.8 vs control=29.7±0.7, n=11-14 litters/treatment; p<0.05). Postnatal physical and neurobiological development were not modified by treatments. The antagonist accelerated male puberty onset, evidenced as earlier testis descent and increased relative testicular weight (antagonist=0.5±0.0% vs ghrelin=0.4±0.0% and control=0.4±0.0%, n=5-10 litters/treatment; p<0.05). At adulthood, these males exhibited lower relative testicular weight and reduced sperm motility (63.9±3.6% vs control=70.9±3.3 and ghrelin=75.6±3.0, n=13-15 animals; p<0.05), without changes in plasma testosterone or fertility. Female pups intragestationally exposed to the antagonist showed earlier vaginal opening (statistically significant only at day 25) and higher ovarian volume (antagonist=1085.7±64.0mm3 vs ghrelin=663.3±102.8mm3 and control=512.3±116.4mm3; n=4-6 animals/treatment; p<0.05), indicating earlier sexual maturation. At adulthood, these females and those exposed to ghrelin showed a tendency to higher percentages of embryo loss and/or foetal atrophy. In conclusion, ghrelin participates in reproductive foetal programming: alterations in ghrelin activity during pregnancy modified body weight increase and anticipated puberty onset, exerting (or tending to) negative effects on adult reproductive function.

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 930
Author(s):  
Odysseas Androutsos ◽  
Maria Perperidi ◽  
Christos Georgiou ◽  
Giorgos Chouliaras

Previous studies showed that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown imposed changes in adults’ lifestyle behaviors; however, there is limited information regarding the effects on youth. The COV-EAT study aimed to report changes in children’s and adolescents’ lifestyle habits during the first COVID-19 lockdown and explore potential associations between changes of participants’ lifestyle behaviors and body weight. An online survey among 397 children/adolescents and their parents across 63 municipalities in Greece was conducted in April–May 2020. Parents self-reported changes of their children’s lifestyle habits and body weight, as well as sociodemographic data of their family. The present study shows that during the lockdown, children’s/adolescents’ sleep duration and screen time increased, while their physical activity decreased. Their consumption of fruits and fresh fruit juices, vegetables, dairy products, pasta, sweets, total snacks, and breakfast increased, while fast-food consumption decreased. Body weight increased in 35% of children/adolescents. A multiple regression analysis showed that the body weight increase was associated with increased consumption of breakfast, salty snacks, and total snacks and with decreased physical activity. The COV-EAT study revealed changes in children’s and adolescents’ lifestyle behaviors during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Greece. Effective strategies are needed to prevent excessive body weight gain in future COVID-19 lockdowns.


Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 3071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giustino Orlando ◽  
Sheila Leone ◽  
Claudio Ferrante ◽  
Annalisa Chiavaroli ◽  
Adriano Mollica ◽  
...  

Besides its role as key regulator in gonadotropin releasing hormone secretion, reproductive function, and puberty onset, kisspeptin has been proposed to act as a bridge between energy homeostasis and reproduction. In the present study, to characterize the role of hypothalamic kisspeptin as metabolic regulator, we evaluated the effects of kisspeptin-10 on neuropeptide Y (NPY) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression and the extracellular dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine, 5-HT), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIIA) concentrations in rat hypothalamic (Hypo-E22) cells. Our study showed that kisspeptin-10 in the concentration range 1 nM–10 μM was well tolerated by the Hypo-E22 cell line. Moreover, kisspeptin-10 (100 nM–10 μM) concentration independently increased the gene expression of NPY while BDNF was inhibited only at the concentration of 10 μM. Finally, kisspeptin-10 decreased 5-HT and DA, leaving unaffected NE levels. The inhibitory effect on DA and 5-HT is consistent with the increased peptide-induced DOPAC/DA and 5-HIIA/5-HT ratios. In conclusion, our current findings suggesting the increased NPY together with decreased BDNF and 5-HT activity following kisspeptin-10 would be consistent with a possible orexigenic effect induced by the peptide.


1992 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Pérez-Villamil ◽  
E. Bordiú ◽  
M. Puente-Cueva

ABSTRACT We have investigated the role of physiological prolactin levels in the development of prepubertal male rats. Prolactin GH and testosterone levels, as well as body, ventral prostate and testicular weight, have been analysed in both control and bromocriptine-treated rats between 21 and 60 days of life. Furthermore the role of prolactin in the regulation of its own receptors has also been studied during the same period. In control rats, prolactin levels showed a prepubertal peak of secretion at 25 days of age. At this time GH and testosterone levels were low and did not show any significant variation. After this age, prolactin levels increased more gradually; determinations of GH showed great variation with low levels in most of the rats and very high values in the other animals; testosterone levels remained low until day 35 after which they increased. Simultaneously with the serum prolactin peak on day 25, a decrease in prolactin-binding capacity of ventral prostate glands, was observed and a maximum rate of body, prostate and testicular weight gain was obtained. Furthermore, in rats with pharmacologically suppressed serum prolactin levels (lower than 1 μg/l), prolactin binding to prostate glands as well as the weight of body, ventral prostate and testes were lower than in control animals. When results were expressed in mg prostate or testes/g body weight, testes from 25-day-old treated rats weighed significantly less than controls. The later stages of development, from days 25 to 60, were characterized by an initial decline in serum prolactin levels at 29 days of age which was followed by a continuous increase until adult values were reached. During this period, prostatic prolactin receptors which were at their lowest value at 33 days of age showed a gradual rise parallel with the observed increase in plasma prolactin levels. When testicular tissue was analysed, no changes in prolactin-binding sites caused by sexual maturation were observed. The present results indicate that physiological prolactin secretion has a specific effect on the normal increase in the prostate, testes and body weight and clearly is also implicated in the regulation of its prostatic receptors at the earlier stages of development. Journal of Endocrinology (1992) 132, 449–459


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 83-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Martin ◽  
Eve Lapouble ◽  
Yohan Chaix

The mutation extra-toes (Gli3Xt-J) on chromosome (Chr) 13 of the mouse is known to be involved in the development of the skeleton. The only visible manifestation is the presence of an extra digit on each hind foot. Here we report evidence from several experiments that Gli3XtJ/+mice weigh more than littermate Gli3+/+mice, suggesting an effect on body weight ofGli3or of a gene tightly linked to it on Chr 13. Four independent experiments in different environments were conducted on mice with different genetic backgrounds derived from the C3XtEso Gli3Xt-J/+Eso/+linkage testing strain and the JE/Le strain at adult age. The analyses have shown an association between the Gli3Xt-Jallele and a body weight increase of about 6.5%. This effect is genetically dominant. It would appear that if the gene of interest is notGli3itself, it must be very close to this locus. Indeed, the expected size for this fragment is 7.9 ± 5.3 cM. The manifestation of this gene, observed in two animal facilities and on different genetic backgrounds, is consistent with the idea that the effect of the gene(s) is displayed in a stable manner. It accounts for a variation of 6.5% of body weight.


Author(s):  
Aidan Duane ◽  
Patrick Finnegan

As the criticality of e-mail for electronic business activity increases, adhoc e-mail implementation, prolonged management neglect and user abuse of e-mail systems have generated negative effects. However, management’s ability to rectify problems with e-mail systems is hindered by our understanding of its organisational use. Research on e-mail systems is often dated and based on quantitative methodologies that cannot explain the interaction between various controls in organisational settings. Updating our understanding of the organisational aspects of e-mail systems utilizing qualitative methods is necessary. This chapter presents a multiple case study investigation of e-mail system monitoring and control. The study examines the interaction between key elements of e-mail control identified by previous researchers and considers the role of such controls at various implementation phases. The findings reveal eight major elements to be particularly important in monitoring and controlling e-mail systems within the organisations studied. These are: (1) form a cross-functional e-mail system management team; (2) implement and regularly update e-mail management software; (3) formulate a detailed and legally sound e-mail policy; (4) engage in structured e-mail system training; (5) create and maintain ongoing awareness of e-mail policy; (6) engage in a process of hybrid feedback and control-based e-mail monitoring; (7) firmly enforce discipline in accordance with the e-mail policy; and (8) conduct regular reviews and updates of the e-mail management programme.


Reproduction ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugenia Mercedes Luque ◽  
Pedro Javier Torres ◽  
Nicolás de Loredo ◽  
Laura María Vincenti ◽  
Graciela Stutz ◽  
...  

In order to clarify the physiological role of ghrelin in gestation, we evaluated the effects of administration of exogenous ghrelin (2 or 4 nmol/animal per day) or its antagonist (6 nmol/animal per day of (d-Lys3)GHRP6) on fertilization, early embryo development, and implantation periods in mice. Three experiments were performed, treating female mice with ghrelin or its antagonist: i) starting from 1 week before copulation to 12 h after copulation, mice were killed at day 18 of gestation; ii) since ovulation induction until 80 h later, when we retrieved the embryos from oviducts/uterus, and iii) starting from days 3 to 7 of gestation (peri-implantation), mice were killed at day 18. In experiments 1 and 3, the antagonist and/or the highest dose of ghrelin significantly increased the percentage of atrophied fetuses and that of females exhibiting this finding or a higher amount of corpora lutea compared with fetuses (nCL/nF) (experiment 3: higher nCL/nF-atrophied fetuses: ghrelin 4, 71.4–71.4% and antagonist, 75.0–62.5% vs ghrelin 2, 46.2−15.4% and control, 10–0.0%;n=7–13 females/group;P<0.01). In experiment 2, the antagonist diminished the fertilization rate, and both, ghrelin and the antagonist, delayed embryo development (blastocysts: ghrelin 2, 62.5%; ghrelin 4, 50.6%; and antagonist, 61.0% vs control 78.4%;n=82–102 embryos/treatment;P<0.0001). In experiment 3, additionally, ghrelin (4 nmol/day) and the antagonist significantly diminished the weight gain of fetuses and dams during pregnancy. Our results indicate that not only hyperghrelinemia but also the inhibition of the endogenous ghrelin effects exerts negative effects on the fertilization, implantation, and embryo/fetal development periods, supporting the hypothesis that ghrelin (in ‘adequate’ concentrations) has a physiological role in early gestational events.


Author(s):  
Daniela Reyes-Olavarría ◽  
Pedro Ángel Latorre-Román ◽  
Iris Paola Guzmán-Guzmán ◽  
Daniel Jerez-Mayorga ◽  
Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete ◽  
...  

The association between the changes in lifestyle during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confinement and body weight have not been studied deeply. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and physical activity (PA) patterns, caused by confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze its association with changes in body weight. Seven hundred participants (women, n = 528 and men, n = 172) aged between 18–62 years old of the Chilean national territory participated in the study. Food habits, PA, body weight, and sociodemographic variables were measured through a survey in May and June 2020. The body weight increase presented positive association with the consumption of fried foods ≥ 3 times per week (OR; 3.36, p < 0.001), low water consumption (OR; 1.58, p = 0.03), and sedentary time ≥6 h/day (OR; 1.85, p = 0.01). Conversely, fish consumed (OR; 0.67, p = 0.03), active breaks (OR; 0.72, p = 0.04), and PA ≥ 4 times per week (OR; 0.51, p = 0.001) presented an inverse association with body weight increase. Daily alcohol consumption (OR; 4.77, p = 0.003) was associated with PA decrease. Food habits, PA, and active breaks may be protective factors for weight increase during COVID-19 confinement.


MRS Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. 581-586
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Housel ◽  
Alyson Abraham ◽  
Genesis D. Renderos ◽  
Kenneth J. Takeuchi ◽  
Esther S. Takeuchi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIn battery systems, a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is formed through electrolyte reaction on an electrode surface. The formation of SEI can have both positive and negative effects on electrochemistry. The initial formation of the layer protects the electrode from further reactivity, which can improve both shelf and cycle life. However, if the layer continues to form, it can impede charge transfer, which increases cell resistance and limits cycle life. The role of SEI is particularly important when studying conversion electrodes, since phase transformations which unveil new electroactive surfaces during reduction/oxidation can facilitate electrolyte decomposition. This manuscript highlights recent developments in the understanding and control of SEI formation for magnetite (Fe3O4) conversion electrodes through electrolyte and electrode modification.


1957 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1113-1118
Author(s):  
George H. Beaton ◽  
Hannah Z. Banky ◽  
Audrey M. Haufschild

Doses of growth hormone which were minimal with respect to body weight increase were sufficient to produce significant alterations in liver alanine – glutamic transaminase and arginase activities and blood urea and amino nitrogen levels. The biochemical effects of the hormone appeared coincident with the body weight increase. Female rats showed a more pronounced response to growth hormone than did male rats. This sex difference was evident with respect to all of the metabolic alterations observed. Although it is not possible to state whether the metabolic alterations are direct effects of the hormone, they do take an integral part in bringing about the over-all biological effect.


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