Maternal benzo[a]pyrene exposure is correlated with the meiotic arrest and quality deterioration of offspring oocytes in mice

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in particulate matter that has a diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5). Studies have demonstrated that BaP exposure causes oocyte meiotic arrest in mice. However, whether BaP exposure also affects oocyte maturation in offspring remains unclear. To test this, female mice were administered BaP before pregnancy to generate BaP-exposed offspring. Our findings showed that BaP exposure reduced the in vitro maturation and increased the abnormalities of meiotic apparatus in offspring oocytes. In addition, BaP exposure reduced the mitochondrial content and intracellular ATP generation, induced early apoptosis, increased reactive oxidative species accumulation and the genomic DNA 5-methylcytosine (5mc) level in offspring oocytes. Along with the abovementioned defective parameters, maternal BaP exposure further compromised the embryo developmental competence of offspring oocytes. In summary, our study demonstrated that maternal BaP exposure compromised offspring oocyte maturation and quality.     

Effect of maternal cadmium exposure on postnatal development and tissue cadmium,copper and zinc concentrations in rats

Administration of 60 ppm cadmium (Cd) in drinking water from the 1^st to the 20^th day of gestation to female rats did not affect the viability, body weight gain, food, and water consumption of offspring. The blood hemoglobin level was reduced in 2-week-old females and males but not in 16-week-old offspring. Hematocrit and serum glucose level were not affected at either age. Cadmium concentration in the intestinal wall was increased in both age groups, with marginal uptake in other organs. A decrease in copper (Cu) concentration was found in the brain of 2-week-old offspring of both sexes and of 16-week-old females. The brain zinc (Zn) concentration was decreased only in 16-week-old animals. The physical and neuromuscular development of offspring before weaning was not impaired by maternal Cd treatment. The alterations in Cu and Zn metabolism were associated with reduced locomotor activity and affected open-field behavior in adult offspring of either sex and with decreased avoidance acquisition in adult female offspring.The results obtained suggest a relationship between the reduced brain Cu and Zn levels and CNS dysfunction in adult offspring of female rats exposed to Cd during gestation.     

Role of cutaneous feedback in ventral rubbing in the male Mongolian gerbil

Increased arousal levels in pregnant rats were produced via electrical stimulation of the reticular formation (RF) on Days 6–16 of gestation. Current levels between 0.02 and 0.06 mA were selected depending on the threshold for overt motor response to stimulation in the individual animal. Offspring were tested at 30 days of age for threshold of flurothyl-induced convulsion, and at 90 days of age for percent avoidance in a shock avoidance task. In comparison to offspring of implanted controls, RF-stimulated offspring had elevated seizure thresholds (males and females) and enhanced avoidance performance (females only). Further studies using fostering showed that the effect on avoidance performance was mediated both prenatally and postnatally. The relative importance of prenatal and postnatal influences on seizure threshold could not be determined. These results are compared to previous studies of the behavioral effects of prenatal chlorpromazine threatment.     

Huntington's Disease — Imbalance of free amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients and offspring at-risk

Summary A total of 27 different amino acids were determined in the fasting, morning lumbar CSF of 12 patients with Huntington's Disease (HD), 8 at-risk offspring and 16 non-choreic control patients. A significant (P<0.001) decrease was observed for asparagine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, histidine, arginine, -aminoadipic acid and homocarnosine in patients with HD compared to the non-choreic controls. Only tyrosine was increased in HD. These alterations were to an extent more pronounced in 5 neurophysiologically conspicuous offspring. The alterations suggest that amino acid imbalance is an early metabolic disturbance in HD.

---

Zusammenfassung Bei 12 Patienten mit manifester Huntingtonscher Krankheit (HD), 8 nicht erkrankten Nachkommen und 16 nicht choreatischen Kontrollpatienten wurden 27 verschiedene Aminosäuren im Liquor cerebrospinalis (nüchterner Lumballiquor) untersucht. Asparagin, Isoleucin, Leucin, Phenylalanin, Histidin, Arginin, -Aminoadipinsäure und Homocarnosin waren signifikant (P<0.001) erniedrigt bei Patienten gegenüber den Kontrollen. Diese Veränderungen waren bei 5 neurophysiologisch auffälligen Nachkommen teilweise ausgeprägter, was für eine frühzeitige metabolische Störung spricht. Tyrosin war als einzige Aminosäure erhöht. Die Veränderungen sprechen für eine Aminosäurenimbalanz bei Huntingtonscher Krankheit, deren Bedeutung besprochen wird.

     

Offspring genetic effects on maternal care

Parental care is found widely across animal taxa and is manifest in a range of behaviours from basic provisioning in cockroaches to highly complex behaviours seen in mammals. The evolution of parental care is viewed as the outcome of an evolutionary cost/benefit trade-off between investing in current and future offspring, leading to the selection of traits in offspring that influence parental behaviour. Thus, level and quality of parental care are affected by both parental and offspring genetic differences that directly and indirectly influence parental care behaviour. While significant research effort has gone into understanding how parental genomes affect parental, and mostly maternal, behaviour, few studies have investigated how offspring genomes affect parental care. In this review, we bring together recent findings across different fields focussing on the mechanism and genetics of offspring effects on maternal care in mammals.     

Effect of yoga on cardiac autonomic dysfunction and insulin resistance in non-diabetic offspring of type-2-diabetes parents: A randomized controlled study

ObjectiveThe present study was aimed to determine the effect of yoga program on cardiac autonomic dysfunction and insulin resistance in non-diabetic offspring of diabetes parents.MethodsA randomized passive-controlled study was conducted on 64 non-diabetic offspring of type-2-diabetes parents (mean-age:25.17years). Yoga group participants received yoga training for 8 weeks. Heart-rate variability (HRV) indices: low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and LF/HF ratio; fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin resistance (IR) were estimated at baseline and after 8-weeks of intervention.ResultsWe found a significant decrease in LF (p = 0.005), LF/HF ratio (p = 0.004), IR (p < 0.001), OGTT (p = 0.003) and increase in HF (p = 0.022) in yoga group participants. Control group participants did not show any significant change in any variables.ConclusionsImprovement in cardiac autonomic function and insulin resistance by yoga training implies that yoga can reduce the risk of development of diabetes in offspring of diabetes parents.     

How does parental cancer affect adolescent and young adult offspring? A systematic review

ObjectivesTo i) identify and synthesise evidence published since 2007 regarding the impact of parental cancer on adolescent and young adult offspring, ii) identify methodological and evidence gaps addressed during this period and iii) highlight those requiring further attention.DesignA systematic review and thematic synthesis of peer reviewed literature regarding the impact of parental cancer upon AYA offspring.Data sourcesOnline searches of CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsychInfo and Scopus databases were conducted. Reference lists of included articles were screened and additional searches by prominent authors were performed.Review methodsStudy selection, data extraction and quality analysis was undertaken by three independent researchers. Extracted study data was iteratively reviewed and discussed to achieve consensus regarding thematic synthesis of included studies.ResultsDatabase and hand-searching yielded 1730 articles, 54 of which were included in the final synthesis. Included studies are discussed with respect to the following themes: i) study design and quality; ii) measurement and sampling; iii) positive and negative aspects of parental cancer; iv) needs; v) communication and information; vi) coping strategies; vii) interventions; and viii) family functioning and other predictors. Twenty-nine studies reported negative impacts related to parental cancer, while eight identified positive outcomes related to post-traumatic growth. Five returned null or mixed findings. Unmet needs were frequently explored and a new validated measure developed. Communication and information were particularly important for offspring, though these needs were often unmet and parents wanted guidance regarding discussions with their children. Offspring may adopt a variety of coping strategies, some of which appear maladaptive, and may cycle between different approaches. Few evaluations of interventions were identified, and further work in this area is needed. Further evidence has emerged that poorer family functioning and other family and illness-related factors predict worse psychosocial outcomes for offspring, however evidence for other predictors such as age and gender remain mixed.ConclusionsAdditional evidence for the negative psychosocial impact of parental cancer on adolescent and young adult offspring, their needs, and factors predicting psychosocial outcomes has emerged in the last decade. However, substantial gaps and methodological issues remain and evidence for the development, efficacy or implementation of interventions for this population is very limited. There is also a clear need for greater focus on bereaved and young adult offspring and those from non-western cultural groups, who remain under-represented in research conducted to date.     

Observations on heredity and obesity in the emergence of diabetes

Summary The 899 offspring of Natal Indian diabetic couples are compared with the general Indian population. Diabetes was present in 25% of offspring aged 40– 49 as against 14.7% of the general population. The ratio of offspring diabetics to population diabetics diminished with age, suggesting that the genetic influence affects mainly age of onset of diabetes. Old and young diabetic couples had a similar proportion of diabetic children. Another similar comparison could be made between an inbred Tamil Indian family in Cape Town and the general population of Cape Hindus. More young diabetics were obese than old diabetics, in3 different racial groups and in both clinic and survey diabetics, whereas in the general population obesity is more common over age 40. Overweight may be a more important diabetes risk factor in young than in old people.

---

Beobachtungen über Erblichkeit und Fettleibigkeit beim Auftreten des Diabetes

Zusammenfassung Eine Gruppe von 899 Indern aus Natal, Nachkommen diabetischer Elternpaare, wurde mit der indischen Gesamtbevölkerung in Natal verglichen. Diabetes wurde in 25% der Nachkommen im Alter zwischen 40 und 49 Jahren beobachtet, verglichen mit 14.7% in der Gesamtbevölkerung. Die Verhältniszahl: Diabetiker unter den Nachkommen zu den Diabetikern in der Gesamtbevölkerung verringerte sich mit ansteigendem Alter; dieser Befund scheint anzudeuten, daß ein möglicher genetischer Faktor einen besonderen Einfluß auf das Alter ausübt, in dem der Diabetes sich manifestiert. Alte und junge Elternpaare hatten eine ähnliche zahlenmäßige Verteilung diabetischer Kinder. Ein ähnlicher Vergleich konnte zwischen einer Familiengruppe indischer Tamilen in Kapstadt und der gesamten HinduBevölkerung' von Kapstadt angestellt werden. Bei drei rassisch verschiedenen Bevölkerungsgruppen und bei klinischen wie bei neuentdeckten Diabetikern wurde festgestellt, daß Fettleibigkeit häufiger bei jungen als bei alten Diabetikern auftrat, während in der Gesamtbevölkerung die Fettleibigkeit im Alter von über 40 Jahren häufiger war. Übergewicht ist ais Risikofaktor für den Diabetes vielleicht wichtiger bei jüngeren als bei älteren Personen.

---

Observations sur l'hérédité et l'obésité dans l'apparition du diabèté

Résumé 899 enfants nés de couples Indiens diabétiques (province du Natal) ont été comparés à l'ensemble de la population indienne. Le diabète était présent chez 25% des descendants âgés entre 40 et 49 ans contre 14.7% pour la population générale. La différence de prévalence du diabète entre les descendants des couples diabétiques et la population générale diminuait avec l'âge, ce qui semble indiquer que le facteur génétique affecte surtout l'âge d'apparition du diabète. La proportion d'enfants diabétiques était identique pour les couples diabétiques jeunes ou vieux. Cette même comparaison a pu se faire entre une famille indienne Tamil dont les membres s'épousent entre eux et vivant au Cap et l'ensemble de la population indienne du Cap. La prévalence d'obésité était plus grande chez les diabétiques jeunes que chez les diabétiques âgés dans trois groupes raciaux différents et ceci aussi bien pour le diabète symptomatique qu' asymptomatique; par contre l'obésité est plus fréquente pour la population générale dépassant l'âge de 40 ans. L'obésité semble jouer un rôle plus important comme facteur diabétogène chez les jeunes que chez les personnes âgées.

     

Offspring psychological and biological correlates of parental posttraumatic stress: Review of the literature and research agenda

Millions of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are parents. A burgeoning literature suggests that offspring of parents with this condition may be at increased risk for psychological problems. The current paper provides an integrative and comprehensive review of the diverse research literature examining the sequelae of parental posttraumatic stress among offspring. Over 100 studies that evaluated psychological and/or biological variables among children of parents with PTSD are reviewed. Findings suggest parental symptoms of posttraumatic stress are uniquely related to an array of offspring outcomes, including internalizing-type problems, general behavioral problems, and altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning. Although very little work has directly evaluated mechanisms of transmission, there is increasing support for genetic and epigenetic effects as well as parenting behaviors. These and other mechanisms are discussed; drawing upon findings from other literatures to consider how parental PTSD may impart psychobiological vulnerability upon offspring. We conclude with a detailed discussion of the methodological strengths and challenges of the extant research, along with a recommended agenda for future research in this important area of study.     

Apolipoprotein E and familial longevity

Exceptional longevity is associated with substantial heritability. The ?4 allele in apolipoprotein E and the linked G allele in rs2075650 of TOMM40 have been associated with increased mortality and the ?2 allele with decreased mortality, although inconsistently. Offspring from long-lived families and spouse controls were recruited at 3 sites in the United States and Denmark. We used generalized estimating equations to compare the likelihood of carrying risk alleles in offspring (n = 2307) and spouse controls (n = 764), adjusting for age, sex, level of education, and family membership. The likelihood of carrying an APOE ?4 allele or a G allele in rs2075650 was lower (odds ratio [OR], 0.75; p = 0.005 and OR, 0.70; p = 0.002) and the likelihood of carrying an APOE ?2 allele was higher (OR, 1.5; p = 0.007) among family members in the offspring generation than among their spouse controls. Our findings support the hypothesis that both reduction in the frequency of the ?4 allele and increase in the frequency of the ?2 allele contribute to longevity.