The Effects of Prenatal Supplementation with β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate and/or Alpha-Ketoglutaric Acid on the Development and Maturation of Mink Intestines Are Dependent on the Number of Pregnancies and the Sex of the Offspring

Prenatal and postnatal supplementation with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) and alpha-ketoglutaric acid (AKG) affects the development and maturation of offspring. Both substances have the potential to stimulate cell metabolism via different routes. However, parity affects development and may alter the effects of dietary supplementation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gestational supplementation with HMB and/or AKG to primiparous and multiparous minks on the structure and maturation of the offspring’s small intestine. Primiparous and multiparous American minks (Neovison vison), of the standard dark brown type, were supplemented daily with HMB (0.02 g/kg b.w.) and/or AKG (0.4 g/kg b.w.) during gestation (n = 7 for each treatment). Supplementation stopped when the minks gave birth. Intestine samples were collected from 8-month-old male and female offspring during autopsy and histology and histomorphometry analysis was conducted (LAEC approval no 64/2015). Gestational supplementation had a long-term effect, improving the structure of the offspring’s intestine toward facilitating absorption and passage of intestinal contents. AKG supplementation affected intestinal absorption (enterocytes, villi and absorptive surface), and HMB affected intestinal peristalsis and secretion (crypts and Goblet cells). These effects were strongly dependent on parity and offspring gender. Present findings have important nutritional implications and should be considered in feeding practices and supplementation plans in animal reproduction.

Expression of Stress-Mediating Genes is Increased in Term Placentas of Women with Chronic Self-Perceived Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety, chronical stress, and depression during pregnancy are considered to affect the offspring, presumably through placental dysregulation. We have studied the term placentae of pregnancies clinically monitored with the Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A cutoff threshold for BAI/EPDS of 10 classed patients into an Index group (>10, n = 23) and a Control group (<10, n = 23). Cortisol concentrations in hair (HCC) were periodically monitored throughout pregnancy and delivery. Expression differences of main glucocorticoid pathway genes, i.e., corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B2), glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), as well as other key stress biomarkers (Arginine Vasopressin, AVP and O-GlcNAc transferase, OGT) were explored in medial placentae using real-time qPCR and Western blotting. Moreover, gene expression changes were considered for their association with HCC, offspring, gender, and birthweight. A significant dysregulation of gene expression for CRH, AVP, and HSD11B2 genes was seen in the Index group, compared to controls, while OGT and NR3C1 expression remained similar between groups. Placental gene expression of the stress-modulating enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B2) was related to both hair cortisol levels (Rho = 0.54; p < 0.01) and the sex of the newborn in pregnancies perceived as stressful (Index, p < 0.05). Gene expression of CRH correlated with both AVP (Rho = 0.79; p < 0.001) and HSD11B2 (Rho = 0.45; p < 0.03), and also between AVP with both HSD11B2 (Rho = 0.6; p < 0.005) and NR3C1 (Rho = 0.56; p < 0.03) in the Control group but not in the Index group; suggesting a possible loss of interaction in the mechanisms of action of these genes under stress circumstances during pregnancy.

Expression of Stress-Mediating Genes Is Increased in Term Placentas of Women with Chronic Self-Perceived Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety, chronical stress and depression during pregnancy are considered to affect the offspring, presumably through placental dysregulation. We have studied the term placentae of pregnancies clinically monitored with the Beck&rsquo;s Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A cutoff threshold for BAI/EPDS of 10 classed patients into an Index group (&gt;10, n=23) and a Control group (&lt;10, n=23). Cortisol concentrations in hair (HCC) were periodically monitored throughout pregnancy and delivery. Expression differences of main glucocorticoid pathway genes: i.e. corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), 11&beta;-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B2), glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), as well as other key stress biomarkers (Arginine Vasopressin, AVP and O-GlcNAc transferase, OGT) were explored in medial placentae using real-time qPCR and western blotting. Moreover, gene expression changes were considered for their association with HCC, offspring, gender and birthweight. A significant dysregulation of gene expression for CRH, AVP and HSD11B2 genes was seen in the Index group, compared to controls, while OGT and NR3C1 expression remained similar between groups. Placental gene expression of the stress-modulating enzyme 11&beta;-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B2) was related to both hair cortisol levels (Rho= 0.54; p&lt;0.01) and the sex of the newborn in pregnancies perceived as stressful (Index, p&lt;0.05). Gene expression of CRH correlated with both AVP (Rho= 0.79; p&lt;0.001) and HSD11B2 (Rho= 0.45; p&lt;0.03), and also between AVP with both HSD11B2 (Rho= 0.6; p&lt;0.005) and NR3C1 (Rho= 0.56; p&lt;0.03) in the Control group but not in the Index group; suggesting a possible loss of interaction in the mechanisms of action of these genes under stress circumstances during pregnancy.

The relationship between Toxoplasma infection in mothers and offspring gender

Background:Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasitic protozoan in humans. It is a classical model for the study of manipulation hypothesis. The behavioral and hormonal changes, memory disorder, hyperactivity and even alterations in secondary sex ratio can be induced by manipulative activity of Toxoplasma. The secondary sex ratio may be influenced by many factors such as stress, immunosuppression and the age of parents. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between offspring gender and Toxoplasma infection in seropositive and seronegative mothers to anti-Toxoplasma IgG. Methods:From 2014 woman who had been tested for toxoplasmosis, the data of 137 mothers with chronic toxoplasmosis and 137 healthy counterparts were collected from clinics and hospitals of Shiraz, Iran.The sex of the offspring, the mother’s age, the number of girls and boys in previous pregnancies, the number and gender of abortions, contact with cats, food habits, education level, and residency were recorded for analysis.Results: The number of girls in Toxoplasma-seropositive and Toxoplasma-seronegative mothers was 165 (49.44%) and 136 (45.48%), respectively. Also, it was 163(54.51%) in the control group and 166(50.15%) in the seropositive group for male offsprings. there were significant sex ratio difference in the control group. No significant difference was observed for sex ratio of aborted fetuses between groups. However, in Toxoplasma-seropositive group, the sex ratio of aborted fetuses showed that the male aborted fetus were significantly higher in number.Conclusion:In this study, a significant relationship was found between chronic Toxoplasma infection and secondary sex ratio. However, it is suggested that this relationship be investigated in further studies as well as an animal study.

Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, and Sons: Gender Differences in Adults’ Intergenerational Ties

Women are more involved in family ties than men, but these differences may vary across generations as gender roles have shifted. We know little about gender patterns across generations in the same family, however. To address this gap, midlife men and women aged 40–60 ( n = 633) from the Family Exchanges Study reported on relationships with each aging parent and each grown child. Mothers were more involved (e.g., more frequent contact, greater positive and negative relationship qualities, and more frequent support exchanges) than fathers in both generations, with parental gender differences stronger in the older generation. Offspring gender differences were generally consistent across generations, with daughters more involved by phone in emotional forms of support, and in negative relationship quality; these gender differences were stronger in the younger generation than the older ones. We discuss pervasive gender differences that favor mothers, as well as shifts in gender differences across generations.

Distinguishing postpartum and antepartum depressive trajectories in a large population-based cohort: the impact of exposure to adversity and offspring gender

BackgroundDistinguishing temporal patterns of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and after childbirth has important clinical implications for diagnosis, treatment, and maternal and child outcomes. The primary aim of the present study was to distinguish patterns of chronically elevated levels of depressive symptoms v. trajectories that are either elevated during pregnancy but then remit after childbirth, v. patterns that increase after childbirth.MethodsThe report uses latent growth mixture modeling in a large, population-based cohort (N = 12 121) to investigate temporal patterns of depressive symptoms. We examined theoretically relevant sociodemographic factors, exposure to adversity, and offspring gender as predictors.ResultsFour distinct trajectories emerged, including resilient (74.3%), improving (9.2%), emergent (4.0%), and chronic (11.5%). Lower maternal and paternal education distinguished chronic from resilient depressive trajectories, whereas higher maternal and partner education, and female offspring gender, distinguished the emergent trajectory from the chronic trajectory. Younger maternal age distinguished the improving group from the resilient group. Exposure to medical, interpersonal, financial, and housing adversity predicted membership in the chronic, emergent, and improving trajectories compared with the resilient trajectory. Finally, exposure to medical, interpersonal, and financial adversity was associated with the chronic v. improving group, and inversely related to the emergent class relative to the improving group.ConclusionsThere are distinct temporal patterns of depressive symptoms during pregnancy, after childbirth, and beyond. Most women show stable low levels of depressive symptoms, while emergent and chronic depression patterns are separable with distinct correlates, most notably maternal age, education levels, adversity exposure, and child gender.