Chronic Effects of Maternal Low-Protein and Low-Quality Protein Diets on Body Composition, Glucose-Homeostasis and Metabolic Factors, Followed by Reversible Changes upon Rehabilitation in Adult Rat Offspring

Several studies suggest that the maternal protein content and source can affect the offspring’s health. However, the chronic impact of maternal quality and quantity protein restriction, and reversible changes upon rehabilitation, if any, in the offspring, remains elusive. This study examined the effects of maternal low-quality protein (LQP) and low-protein (LP) intake from preconception to post-weaning, followed by rehabilitation from weaning, on body composition, glucose-homeostasis, and metabolic factors in rat offspring. Wistar rats were exposed to normal protein (NP; 20% casein), LQP (20% wheat gluten) or LP (8% casein) isocaloric diets for 7 weeks before pregnancy until lactation. After weaning, the offspring were exposed to five diets: NP, LQP, LQPR (LQP rehabilitated with NP), LP, and LPR (LP rehabilitated with NP) for 16 weeks. Body composition, glucose-homeostasis, lipids, and plasma hormones were investigated. The LQP and LP offspring had lower bodyweight, fat and lean mass, insulin and HOMA-IR than the NP. The LQP offspring had higher cholesterol, T3 and T4, and lower triacylglycerides and glucose, while these were unaltered in LP compared to NP. The majority of the above outcomes were reversed upon rehabilitation. These results suggest that the chronic exposure of rats to maternal LQP and LP diets induced differential adverse effects by influencing body composition and metabolism, which were reversed upon rehabilitation.

Seasonal Changes in Plasma Hormones, Sex-Related Genes Transcription in Brain, Liver and Ovary during Gonadal Development in Female Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the periodic seasonal changes in endocrine activity and gonadal development of female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a high-altitude cold-water environment. The fish were sampled monthly from January to November and the levels of plasma hormones (estradiol (E2), cortisol and thyroid hormones (THS)) and vitellogenin (VTG) were measured by ELISA. Moreover, the transcriptions of sex-related genes in the ovary, brain, and liver were detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed a seasonal fluctuation of plasma hormones and VTG together with the development of the ovary, which reached a peak from August to October. Similarly, the transcription of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone-2 (cgnrh-2), hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors (gnrhr) and follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh) in the brain varied from January to September, but the highest level was detected in September to November. In addition, the transcription of sex-related genes located in the ovary and liver increased significantly during August to October, accompanied by a continuous increase in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and a decrease in the hepatosomatic index (HSI). Therefore, plasma hormones and sex-related genes regulate the development and maturation of O. mykiss oocytes with the change in seasons and peaked in November. The results of this study provide a reference for improving the efficiency of the artificial reproduction of O. mykiss.

Evaluation of Serum Gonadotropin and Prolactin Level among Sudanese Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Background: Generally, patients on hemodialysis for chronic renal failure also have endocrine defects and sexual function disorders. In this study, we aimed to assess the serum prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in patients with chronic renal failure. Methods: This hospital-based case–control study was conducted at Jabal Aulia Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. The study was carried out between August 2019 and February 2020. A total of 100 subjects were enrolled – 50 chronic renal failure patients and 50 as controls. The serum hormones were estimated using Tosoh 360. SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the results. Results: The serum PRL, LH, and FSH were significantly increased among chronic renal failure patients than their healthy counterparts (p-value = 0.000). The age of patients was positive correlated with plasma hormones, PRL (r = 0.332, p = 0.001), LH (r = 0.387, p = 0.000), and FSH (r = 0.320, p = 0.001). No correlation was found between the duration of the disease and serum hormones. Conclusion: Patients with chronic renal failure had a highly significant increase of serum PRL, LH, and FSH and also the age of the patients was positively correlated with serum hormones. Keywords: chronic renal failure, prolactin, gonadotropin, hemodialysis

Sexual Dimorphism in Changes That Occur in Tissues, Organs and Plasma during the Early Stages of Obesity Development

Despite obesity being a major health concern, information on the early clinical changes that occur in plasma and tissues during obesity development and the influence of sexual dimorphism is lacking. This study investigated changes in tissue and organ histology, macrophage infiltration, plasma hormones, lipid, and chemokine and cytokine levels in mice fed on a high fat diet for 11-weeks. An increase in adiposity, accompanied by adipocyte hypertrophy and macrophage infiltration, was observed to be significantly greater in males than females. Important changes in cell morphology and histology were noted in the lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, and heart, which may indicate early signs for developing obesity associated comorbidities. Leptin, but not adiponectin, was significantly altered during weight gain. Additionally, leptin, but not adiposity, correlated with insulin levels. Interestingly, GM-CSF, TNFα, and IL-12 (p70) were not produced in the early stages of obesity development. Meanwhile, the production of MCP-1, IP-10, RANTES, IL-10, IL-6, KC, and IL-9 were greatly influenced by sexual dimorphism. Importantly, IL-6/IL-10 axis of anti-inflammatory cytokine regulation was observed only in females and may account for their significantly lower weight gain compared to males. This study provides new knowledge on how sexual dimorphism may influence the development of obesity and associated comorbidities.

Sex, Pramipexole and Tiagabine Affect Behavioral and Hormonal Response to Traumatic Stress in a Mouse Model of PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with abnormal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal gland axis (HPA). Women demonstrate a more robust HPA response and are twice as likely to develop PTSD than men. The role of sex hormones in PTSD remains unclear. We investigated whether post-trauma chronic treatment with the GABA-ergic agent tiagabine and dopamine-mimetic pramipexole affected the behavioral outcome and plasma levels of corticosterone, testosterone, or 17β-estradiol in female and male mice. These medications were investigated due to their potential capacity to restore GABA-ergic and dopaminergic deficits in PTSD. Animals were exposed to a single prolonged stress procedure (mSPS). Following 13 days treatment with tiagabine (10 mg/kg) or pramipexole (1 mg/kg) once daily, the PTSD-like phenotype was examined in the fear conditioning paradigm. Plasma hormones were measured almost immediately following the conditioned fear assessment. We report that the exposure to mSPS equally enhanced conditioned fear in both sexes. However, while males demonstrated decreased plasma corticosterone, its increase was observed in females. Trauma elevated plasma testosterone in both sexes, but it had no significant effects on 17β-estradiol. Behavioral manifestation of trauma was reduced by pramipexole in both sexes and by tiagabine in females only. While neither compound affected corticosterone in stressed animals, testosterone levels were further enhanced by tiagabine in females. This study shows sex-dependent efficacy of tiagabine but not pramipexole in a mouse model of PTSD-like symptoms and a failure of steroid hormones’ levels to predict PTSD treatment efficacy.

Alternation of Resting-State Functional Connectivity Between Visual Cortex and Hypothalamus in Guinea Pigs With Experimental Glucocorticoid Enhanced Myopia After the Treatment of Electroacupuncture

Excessive glucocorticoids (GC) may lead to the aggravation of several basic diseases including myopia, due to plasma hormone imbalances associated with the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPAA). Electroacupuncture (EA) is an effective therapeutic method to treat many diseases, although it remains unclear whether EA at acupoints on the foot or back would be effective in treating eye diseases. It was recently found that visual cortex activity for responses to visual stimuli with spatial frequency and resting-state functional connectivity (FC) between the supramarginal gyrus and rostrolateral prefrontal cortex was significantly reduced in patients with high myopia. The present study aims to investigate the role of the alternation of resting-state FC among the bilateral visual cortex and hypothalamus in exerting anti-myopia effects of EA in GC-enhanced lens-induced myopic (LIM) guinea pigs such that the mechanisms of EA to treat GC-enhanced myopia at Shenshu (BL23) acupoints can be probed. To confirm the effects of EA, ocular parameters including axial length and GC-associated physiological parameters such as animal appearance, behavior, bodyweight, and levels of four HPAA-associated plasma hormones [free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T)] were also collected. Increased resting-state FC between the left and right visual cortex was detected in GC-enhanced lens-induced myopic guinea pigs with EA at BL23 acupoints (LIM+GC+EA) guinea pigs compared to GC-enhanced lens-induced myopic guinea pigs with EA at sham acupoints (LIM+GC+Sham) guinea pigs, as well as suppressed myopia and recovery of symptoms initially caused by overdose of GC. Recovered symptoms included improved animal appearance, behavior, bodyweight, and HPAA-associated plasma hormone levels were observed after 4 weeks of EA treatment. In contrast, the LIM+GC+Sham group showed decreased FC with elongation of axial length for myopization as compared to the control group and LIM group and exhibited a deterioration in physiological parameters including reduced body weight and balance disruption in the four measured HPAA-associated plasma hormones. Our findings suggest that EA could effectively treat GC-enhanced myopia by increasing resting-state FC between the left and right visual cortices, which may be pivotal to further understanding the application and mechanisms of EA in treating GC-enhanced myopia.