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.

The early environment, developmental plasticity and aging

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avan Aihie Sayer ◽  
David Barker
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Alternative Form ◽  
Early Environment ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Individual

Darwin described how animal populations have two adaptation strategies: natural selection based on genetic variation acting over many generations, and developmental plasticity acting within the lifetime of an individual. The contribution of these processes can be difficult to distinguish at the individual level, and the relevance of human developmental plasticity to aging and health in later life is only now being recognized. The formal definition of developmental plasticity is ‘the ability of a single genotype to produce more than one alternative form of structure, physiological state or behaviour in response to environmental conditions’. As an alternative to adaptation to changing environments through genetic diversification, living things have evolved plastic responses. This enables the production of phenotypes that are better suited to their environment than would be possible if the same phenotype was produced regardless of environmental conditions

Sex-specific embryonic origin of postnatal phenotypic variability

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Laguna-Barraza ◽  
P. Bermejo-Álvarez ◽  
P. Ramos-Ibeas ◽  
C. de Frutos ◽  
A. P. López-Cardona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Embryos ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Long Term Effects

Preimplantation developmental plasticity has evolved in order to offer the best chances of survival under changing environments. Conversely, environmental conditions experienced in early life can dramatically influence neonatal and adult biology, which may result in detrimental long-term effects. Several studies have shown that small size at birth, which is associated with a greater risk of metabolic syndrome, is largely determined before the formation of the blastocysts because 70%–80% of variation in bodyweight at birth has neither a genetic nor environmental component. In addition, it has been reported that adult bodyweight is programmed by energy-dependent process during the pronuclear stage in the mouse. Although the early embryo has a high developmental plasticity and adapts and survives to adverse environmental conditions, this adaptation may have adverse consequences and there is strong evidence that in vitro culture can be a risk factor for abnormal fetal outcomes in animals systems, with growing data suggesting that a similar link may be apparent for humans. In this context, male and female preimplantation embryos display sex-specific transcriptional and epigenetic regulation, which, in the case of bovine blastocysts, expands to one-third of the transcripts detected through microarray analysis. This sex-specific bias may convert the otherwise buffered stochastic variability in developmental networks in a sex-determined response to the environmental hazard. It has been widely reported that environment can affect preimplantation development in a sex-specific manner, resulting in either a short-term sex ratio adjustment or in long-term sex-specific effects on adult health. The present article reviews current knowledge about the natural phenotypic variation caused by epigenetic mechanisms and the mechanisms modulating sex-specific changes in phenotype during early embryo development resulting in sex ratio adjustments or detrimental sex-specific consequences for adult health. Understanding the natural embryo sexual dimorphism for programming trajectories will help understand the early mechanisms of response to environmental insults.

scholarly journals Long-Term Effects of Abuse in Later Life Perpetrated by Family Members

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 444-445
Author(s):  
Naomi Meinertz ◽  
Pi-Ju Liu ◽  
Ron Acierno
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Long Term Impact

Abstract Abuse in later life could potentially lead to lower levels of social support, especially when perpetrated by family members who are charged with protecting the older adult in their care. Using both waves of the National Elder Mistreatment longitudinal data (wave one collected in 2008 and wave two in 2015; N=774), long-term effects of abuse (i.e., physical, emotional, sexual, and financial) on levels of social support, physical health, and clinical depressive symptoms for respondents at or above the age of 60 years were analyzed. A multivariate analysis of variance showed that respondents abused at wave one (n=261) by a family member (B=-0.55, p≤0.001), a spouse or ex-partner (B=-0.349, p=0.02), or a non-relative or stranger (B=-0.301, p=0.026) had lower levels of social support eight years later at wave two. Those abused by a family member at wave one also experienced higher levels of depressive symptoms at wave two (B=-0.187, p=0.01). Perpetrator type did not predict general health at wave two. These results emphasize the long-term impact of abuse on the lives of older adults and highlight the importance trusted relationships, such as with family members, have on older adult health and wellbeing.

scholarly journals Severe but not moderate hyperoxia of newborn mice causes an emphysematous lung phenotype in adulthood without persisting oxidative stress and inflammation

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Kindermann ◽  
Leonore Binder ◽  
Jan Baier ◽  
Beate Gündel ◽  
Andreas Simm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Lung Compliance ◽  
Elastic Fibers ◽  
Newborn Mouse ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Newborn Mice ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Oxygen Concentrations

Abstract Background Preterm newborns typically require supplemental oxygen but hyperoxic conditions also damage the premature lung. Oxygen-induced lung damages are mainly studied in newborn mouse models using oxygen concentrations above 75% and looking at short-term effects. Therefore, we aimed at the investigation of long-term effects and their dependency on different oxygen concentrations. Methods Newborn mice were exposed to moderate vs. severe hyperoxic air conditions (50 vs. 75% O2) for 14 days followed by a longer period of normoxic conditions. Lung-related parameters were collected at an age of 60 or 120 days. Results Severe hyperoxia caused lower alveolar density, enlargement of parenchymal air spaces and fragmented elastic fibers as well as higher lung compliance with peak airflow limitations and higher sensitivity to ventilation-mediated damages in later life. However, these long-term lung structural and functional changes did not restrict the voluntary physical activity. Also, they were not accompanied by ongoing inflammatory processes, increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or altered expressions of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutases, catalase) and lung elasticity-relevant proteins (elastin, pro-surfactant proteins) in adulthood. In contrast to severe hyperoxia, moderate hyperoxia was less lung damaging but also not free of long-term effects (higher lung compliance without peak airflow limitations, increased ROS formation). Conclusions Severe but not moderate neonatal hyperoxia causes emphysematous lungs without persisting oxidative stress and inflammation in adulthood. As the existing fragmentation of the elastic fibers seems to play a pivotal role, it indicates the usefulness of elastin-protecting compounds in the reduction of long-term oxygen-related lung damages.

scholarly journals Long-term effects of warming and ocean acidification are modified by seasonal variation in species responses and environmental conditions

2013 ◽  
Vol 368 (1627) ◽  
pp. 20130186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin A. Godbold ◽  
Martin Solan
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Climatic Forcing ◽  
Species Responses

Warming of sea surface temperatures and alteration of ocean chemistry associated with anthropogenic increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide will have profound consequences for a broad range of species, but the potential for seasonal variation to modify species and ecosystem responses to these stressors has received little attention. Here, using the longest experiment to date (542 days), we investigate how the interactive effects of warming and ocean acidification affect the growth, behaviour and associated levels of ecosystem functioning (nutrient release) for a functionally important non-calcifying intertidal polychaete ( Alitta virens ) under seasonally changing conditions. We find that the effects of warming, ocean acidification and their interactions are not detectable in the short term, but manifest over time through changes in growth, bioturbation and bioirrigation behaviour that, in turn, affect nutrient generation. These changes are intimately linked to species responses to seasonal variations in environmental conditions (temperature and photoperiod) that, depending upon timing, can either exacerbate or buffer the long-term directional effects of climatic forcing. Taken together, our observations caution against over emphasizing the conclusions from short-term experiments and highlight the necessity to consider the temporal expression of complex system dynamics established over appropriate timescales when forecasting the likely ecological consequences of climatic forcing.

scholarly journals Autophagy Induction and Accumulation of Phosphorylated Tau in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex of Adult C57BL/6 Mice Subjected to Adolescent Fluoxetine Treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 1691-1702
Author(s):  
Jorge A. Sierra-Fonseca ◽  
Minerva Rodriguez ◽  
Anapaula Themann ◽  
Omar Lira ◽  
Francisco J. Flores-Ramirez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Protein Degradation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome System ◽  
Adolescent Male ◽  
Phosphorylated Tau ◽  
Protein Markers ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Autophagy Induction

Background: Fluoxetine (FLX) represents the antidepressant of choice for the management of pediatric mood-related illnesses. Accumulating preclinical evidence suggests that ontogenic FLX exposure leads to deregulated affect-related phenotypes in adulthood. Mood-related symptomatology constitutes a risk-factor for various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), making it possible for juvenile FLX history to exacerbate the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Objective: Because AD is characterized by the pathological accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau, which can result from impaired function of protein degradation pathways, such as autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), we evaluated the long-term effects of adolescent FLX exposure on these pathways, using mice as a model system. Methods: We subjected C57BL/6 adolescent male mice to FLX (20 mg/kg/day) from postnatal day (PD) 35 to PD49. Twenty-one days after the last FLX injection (i.e., adulthood; PD70), mice were euthanized and, using immunoblotting analysis, we evaluated protein markers of autophagy (Beclin-1, LC3-II, p62) and the UPS (K48-pUb), as well as AD-associated forms of phosphorylated tau, within the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Results: Juvenile FLX pre-exposure mediated long-term changes in the expression of protein markers (increased LC3-II and decreased p62) that is consistent with autophagy activation, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, FLX history induced persistent accumulation of AD-associated variants of tau in both the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex Conclusion: Adolescent FLX treatment may have enduring effects in the neuronal protein degradation machinery, which could adversely influence clearance of abnormal proteins, potentially predisposing individuals to developing AD in later life.

scholarly journals Long term effects of nitrogen and water supply on confered vigour and yield by SO4 and Riparia gloire de Montpellier rootstocks

OENO One ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pascal Tandonnet ◽  
Jean-Pierre Soyer ◽  
Jean-Pierre Gaudillère ◽  
Stéphanie Decroocq ◽  
Louis Bordenave ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Reproductive Development ◽  
Physiological Traits ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Cabernet Sauvignon ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Breeding Programs

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Aims</strong>: the present study was designed to test the hypothesis according to which rootstock effects on scion growth and yield are related to fundamental physiological traits which are expressed consistently and independently of environmental conditions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods and results</strong>: Pruning weights and yield components from two independent rootstock experiments are reported. In the first experiment, the effect of two levels (30 and 70 kgN/ha/year) was studied during 15 years on Cabernet-Sauvignon vines grafted onto SO4 and Riparia Gloire de Montpellier (RGM). In the second one, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot vines grafted on SO4 and RGM were submitted to two levels of soil fertility shortly after plantation: control and high (100 kgN/ha/year + irrigation) and data from the plantation to year 6 were recorded. In both experiments, vine vigour and yield were significantly affected by rootstocks and fertilisation/irrigation treatments. No interaction was recorded. The devigorating effect of RGM in comparison to SO4 was observed in both experiments, regardless of other parameters. Cabernet-Sauvignon was more affected by rootstock than Merlot.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Rootstock effects on vine vegetative and reproductive development were consistently expressed, indicating that scion-rootstock interactions are governed not only by adaptative, but also by specific physiological traits.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Significance and impact of study</strong>: This work provides information on scion-rootstock interactions which may be useful in rootstock breeding programs and may help to better choose the rootstock according to the scion and the environment.</p>

Review of Environmental Accidents and Incidents

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Palle Lindgaard-Jørgensen ◽  
Klavs Bender
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Ecological Consequences ◽  
Accident Investigation ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Environmental Accidents ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Spill Site

This paper reviewed the environmental consequences reported in more than three thousand accidents. Fifty-nine of the accidents reported environmental consequences, seven reported no environmental consequences, and for the remaining accidents, no information was available. Generally, the properties of a chemical, the dilution of the amount released, and the environmental conditions at the spill site are the parameters that determine the short-term environmental consequences. To evaluate the long-term effects, which have almost never been studied in the accidents reviewed, persistence, the tendency to accumulate in sediment and biota, and the long-term sub-lethal and chronic effects are the main parameters to be considered. While ecological consequences of accidents have been investigated more frequently in recent years, there has been no consistency in reporting methodology. An accident investigation methodology and a reporting format should therefore be developed and implemented on a broad international scale.

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