scholarly journals Maternal Dietary Exposure to Low-Dose Bisphenol A Affects Metabolic and Signaling Pathways in the Brain of Rat Fetuses

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1448
Author(s):  
Claudia Tonini ◽  
Marco Segatto ◽  
Simone Gagliardi ◽  
Simona Bertoli ◽  
Alessandro Leone ◽  
...  

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic compound widely used for the production of polycarbonate plasticware and epoxy resins. BPA exposure is widespread and more than 90% of individuals have detectable amounts of the molecule in their body fluids, which originates primarily from diet. Here, we investigated whether prenatal exposure to BPA affects the mevalonate (MVA) pathway in rat brain fetuses, and whether potential effects are sex-dependent. The MVA pathway is important for brain development and function. Our results demonstrate that the fetal brain, exposed in utero to a very low dose of BPA (2.5 µg/kg/day), displayed altered MVA pathway activation, increased protein prenylation, and a decreased level of pro-BDNF. Interestingly, the BPA-induced effects on estrogen receptor α were sex-dependent. In conclusion, this work demonstrates intergenerational effects of BPA on the brain at very low doses. Our results reveal new targets for BPA-induced interference and underline the impacts of BPA on health.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huban Thomas Rajarethnem ◽  
Kumar Megur Ramakrishna Bhat ◽  
Malsawmzuali Jc ◽  
Siva Kumar Gopalkrishnan ◽  
Ramesh Babu Mugundhu Gopalram ◽  
...  

Choline is an essential nutrient for humans which plays an important role in structural integrity and signaling functions. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, highly enriched in cell membranes of the brain. Dietary intake of choline or DHA alone by pregnant mothers directly affects fetal brain development and function. But no studies show the efficacy of combined supplementation of choline and DHA on fetal neurodevelopment. The aim of the present study was to analyze fetal neurodevelopment on combined supplementation of pregnant dams with choline and DHA. Pregnant dams were divided into five groups: normal control [NC], saline control [SC], choline [C], DHA, and C + DHA. Saline, choline, and DHA were given as supplements to appropriate groups of dams. NC dams were undisturbed during entire gestation. On postnatal day (PND) 40, brains were processed for Cresyl staining. Pups from choline or DHA supplemented group showed significant (p<0.05) increase in number of neurons in hippocampus when compared to the same in NC and SC groups. Moreover, pups from C + DHA supplemented group showed significantly higher number of neurons (p<0.001) in hippocampus when compared to the same in NC and SC groups. Thus combined supplementation of choline and DHA during normal pregnancy enhances fetal hippocampal neurodevelopment better than supplementation of choline or DHA alone.


Author(s):  
Sanjay Basak ◽  
Rahul Mallick ◽  
Asim K Duttaroy

Dietary components are important for the structural and functional development of the brain. Among these, docosahexaenoic acid,22:6n-3 (DHA) is critically required for the structure and development of the growing fetal brain in utero. DHA is the major n-3 long-chain fatty acid in brain gray matter representing about 15% of all fatty acids in the human frontal cortex. DHA affects neurogenesis, neurotransmitter, synaptic plasticity &amp; transmission, and signal transduction in the brain. Studies in animals and humans show that adequate levels of DHA in neural membranes are important for cortical astrocyte maturation and vascular coupling, and helps cortical glucose uptake and metabolism. In addition, specific metabolites of DHA are bioactive molecules that protect tissues from oxidative injury and stress in the brain. A low DHA level in the brain results in behavior changes and is associated with learning problems and memory deficits. In humans, the third trimester-placental supply of maternal DHA to the growing fetus is critically important as the growing brain obligatory requires DHA during this window period. Besides, DHA is also involved in the early placentation process, essential for placental development. This underscores the critical importance of maternal DHA intake for the structural and functional development of the brain. This review describes DHA's multiple roles during gestation, lactation, and the consequences of its lower intake during pregnancy and postnatally on the children's brain development and function.


2007 ◽  
Vol 194 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Monje ◽  
Jorgelina Varayoud ◽  
Enrique H Luque ◽  
Jorge G Ramos

The xenoestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly ingested by humans. We examined the effects of neonatal exposure to low versus high doses of BPA over the control of estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression in the preoptic area (POA) of prepubertal female rats. Pups received s.c. injections every 48 h of BPA (high dose, 20 mg/kg and low dose, 0.05 mg/kg) or diethylstilbestrol (DES, 0.02 mg/kg) from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND7 and were killed at PND8 or PND21. Relative expression of ERα transcripts containing alternative 5′-untranslated regions OS, ON, O, OT, and E1 in POA were evaluated by RT-PCR. Methylation status of ERα promoters was determined by bisulfited DNA restriction analysis and ERα protein by immunohistochemistry. In PND8, the high dose of BPA and DES diminished total ERα mRNA levels, mediated by the decreased expression of ERα-O and ERα-OT variants. In contrast, the low dose of BPA augmented total ERα mRNA by increasing the expression of the ERα-E1 variant. In PND21, both BPA doses increased total ERα mRNA by means of the augmented expression of ERα-O and ERα-OT variants. In PND21, the methylation status of the ERα promoters and the circulating levels of estradiol were similar in all experimental groups. At PND8 and PND21, DES and the high dose of BPA decreased, while the low dose of BPA increased ERα protein in the POA. These findings show that neonatal BPA exposure alters the abundance of hypothalamic ERα transcript variants and protein in a dose-dependent manner.


2003 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiko Kubo ◽  
Okio Arai ◽  
Minoru Omura ◽  
Rumi Watanabe ◽  
Rika Ogata ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Caroline A. Miller ◽  
Laura L. Bruce

The first visual cortical axons arrive in the cat superior colliculus by the time of birth. Adultlike receptive fields develop slowly over several weeks following birth. The developing cortical axons go through a sequence of changes before acquiring their adultlike morphology and function. To determine how these axons interact with neurons in the colliculus, cortico-collicular axons were labeled with biocytin (an anterograde neuronal tracer) and studied with electron microscopy.Deeply anesthetized animals received 200-500 nl injections of biocytin (Sigma; 5% in phosphate buffer) in the lateral suprasylvian visual cortical area. After a 24 hr survival time, the animals were deeply anesthetized and perfused with 0.9% phosphate buffered saline followed by fixation with a solution of 1.25% glutaraldehyde and 1.0% paraformaldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer. The brain was sectioned transversely on a vibratome at 50 μm. The tissue was processed immediately to visualize the biocytin.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 249-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márk Molnár ◽  
Roland Boha ◽  
Balázs Czigler ◽  
Zsófia Anna Gaál

This review surveys relevant and recent data of the pertinent literature regarding the acute effect of alcohol on various kinds of memory processes with special emphasis on working memory. The characteristics of different types of long-term memory (LTM) and short-term memory (STM) processes are summarized with an attempt to relate these to various structures in the brain. LTM is typically impaired by chronic alcohol intake but according to some data a single dose of ethanol may have long lasting effects if administered at a critically important age. The most commonly seen deleterious acute effect of alcohol to STM appears following large doses of ethanol in conditions of “binge drinking” causing the “blackout” phenomenon. However, with the application of various techniques and well-structured behavioral paradigms it is possible to detect, albeit occasionally, subtle changes of cognitive processes even as a result of a low dose of alcohol. These data may be important for the consideration of legal consequences of low-dose ethanol intake in conditions such as driving, etc.


Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472199246
Author(s):  
David D. Rivedal ◽  
Meng Guo ◽  
James Sanger ◽  
Aaron Morgan

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) has been shown to improve phantom and neuropathic pain in both the acute and chronic amputee population. Through rerouting of major peripheral nerves into a newly denervated muscle, TMR harnesses the plasticity of the brain, helping to revert the sensory cortex back toward the preinsult state, effectively reducing pain. We highlight a unique case of an above-elbow amputee for sarcoma who was initially treated with successful transhumeral TMR. Following inadvertent nerve biopsy of a TMR coaptation site, his pain returned, and he was unable to don his prosthetic. Revision of his TMR to a more proximal level was performed, providing improved pain and function of the amputated arm. This is the first report to highlight the concept of secondary neuroplasticity and successful proximal TMR revision in the setting of multiple insults to the same extremity.


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