Project description:Reproductive capacity can be altered by challenges experienced during critical periods of development, including fetal development and early neonatal life. Gossypol is a polyphenolic compound, commonly found in seeds of cotton plants, that impairs male reproduction. In this study, we investigated whether the exposure to gossypol in utero and during lactation alters testis development and testis gene expression in sheep.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Reproductive capacity can be altered by challenges experienced during critical periods of development, including fetal development and early neonatal life. Gossypol is a polyphenolic compound, commonly found in cotton seeds, that impairs male reproduction. Here, we investigated whether the exposure to gossypol in utero and during lactation alters male reproductive function in sheep. From conception until 60 days postpartum, ewes were randomly assigned to a control diet or a gossypol-rich diet based on cottonseed. Lamb testicles were removed at 60 days of age and subjected to RNA-sequencing. RESULTS:Lambs derived from the maternal cottonseed diet showed significantly lower growth and lower testis weight as a proportion of the total body weight, and reduced testosterone levels. In addition, the testis transcriptome was significantly altered by the maternal cottonseed diet. Most of the altered genes are directly implicated in testis development and sperm biology, cell communication, iron ion metabolism, calcium homeostasis and signaling, among other functions. Interestingly, network analysis revealed that exposure to gossypol significantly disturbed coexpression patterns among spermatogenesis-related genes, suggesting a disruption in coregulation mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings provide evidence that maternal exposure to gossypol alters male reproductive function in the offspring, with potential lasting or lifelong negative consequences.
Project description:[Original title] In utero and lactational exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces disruption of the prostate glands and fibrosis in rhesus monkeys. We investigated the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure on the prostate in rhesus monkey offspring. Dams received 0, 30 or 300 ng/kg TCDD subcutaneously on Day 20 of gestation, and then 5% of the initial dose was injected every 30 days until Day 90 after delivery. The offspring were maintained until reaching sexual maturity, and examined histopathologically. Dose-dependent decreases in the prostate glands and widespread fibrosis were observed in offspring. It is noteworthy that 7 years from the final lactational TCDD exposure, inflammatory cell infiltration and disruption of the prostate glands were also observed. Differential mRNA expression associated with fibrosis, inflammatory response and disruption of cell components were demonstrated by microarray analysis, and up-regulation of TGM4, TGFB1, COL1A1 and MMP2 was confirmed with Real-time PCR. In conclusion, in utero and lactational exposure to TCDD induced dose-proportional prostatic fibrosis, indicating prostatic dysfunction and inducible semen quality reduction in second-generation rhesus monkeys.
Project description:The goal was to study the long term metabolic programming effects of exposure of offspring to a dam eating 60% high fat diet during the lactation period only. We previously showed that offspring from dams given lactational high fat diet (HFD) are predisposed to obesity, glucose intolerance and inflammation. The purpose of these studies was to understand the programming implications of lactational HFD on offspring metabolic liver disease risk. Dams were fed a 60% lard-based HFD from the day of delivery through the 21 day lactation period. Starting at weaning offspring were fed normal fat diet until 3 months of age at which point a subset were challenged with an additional HFD stressor. Lactational HFD fed male offspring developed hepatic insulin resistance. Postweaning HFD challenge led male offspring progressing to NAFLD with more severe outcomes in the lactational HFD challenged offspring.
Project description:Previous studies conducted in our laboratory have found altered adult health outcomes in animals with prenatal exposure to environmentally relevant levels of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) chemicals with endocrine-disrupting activity. This study aimed to examine potential metabolic health outcomes following a preconception, prenatal and postnatal exposure to a mixture of 23 UOG chemicals. Prior to mating and from gestation day 1 to postnatal day 21, C57BL/6J mice were developmentally exposed to a laboratory-created mixture of 23 UOG chemicals in maternal drinking water. Body composition, spontaneous activity, energy expenditure, and glucose tolerance were evaluated in 7-month-old female offspring. Neither body weight nor body composition differed in 7-month female mice. However, females exposed to 1.5 and 150 μg/kg/day UOG mix had lower total and resting energy expenditure within the dark cycle. In the light cycle, the 1,500 μg//kg/day group had lower total energy expenditure and the 1.5 μg/kg/day group had lower resting energy expenditure. Females exposed to the 150 μg/kg/day group had lower spontaneous activity in the dark cycle, and females exposed to the 1,500 μg/kg/day group had lower activity in the light cycle. This study reports for the first time that developmental exposure to a mixture of 23 UOG chemicals alters energy expenditure and spontaneous activity in adult female mice.
Project description:PFAS are persistent man-made chemicals considered to be emerging pollutants, with PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS having associations with liver toxicity and steatosis. PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS can undergo placental/lactational transfer, however, little is known about the impact of PFAS mixtures during the developmental window, nor maternal diet on PFAS adverse effects. It was hypothesized that gestational/lactational PFAS exposure would alter the pup liver proteome. The work herein evaluated the liver proteome in offspring, identifying potential biochemical/signaling pathways altered via maternal PFAS exposure. Timed-pregnant CD-1 dams were fed a standard chow or 60% kcal high-fat diet. From GD1 until PND20, dams were orally gavaged daily with either 0.5% Tween 20, individual PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS at 1 mg/kg, or a mixture (1 mg/kg each, totaling 3 mg/kg). Livers were collected from PND21 offspring and SWATH-MS pro-teomics was performed. IPA analysis revealed disease and biological function pathways involved in liver damage, xenobiotics, and lipid regulation were modulated by PFAS exposure in the PND21 liver: lipid transport, storage, oxidation, and synthesis, xenobiotic metabolism and transport, liver damage and inflammation, and fatty acid metabolism, oxidation and transport. This indicates the pup liver proteome is altered via maternal exposure and predisposes the pup to metabolic dysfunctions.
Project description:[Original title] In utero and lactational exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces disruption of the prostate glands and fibrosis in rhesus monkeys. We investigated the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure on the prostate in rhesus monkey offspring. Dams received 0, 30 or 300 ng/kg TCDD subcutaneously on Day 20 of gestation, and then 5% of the initial dose was injected every 30 days until Day 90 after delivery. The offspring were maintained until reaching sexual maturity, and examined histopathologically. Dose-dependent decreases in the prostate glands and widespread fibrosis were observed in offspring. It is noteworthy that 7 years from the final lactational TCDD exposure, inflammatory cell infiltration and disruption of the prostate glands were also observed. Differential mRNA expression associated with fibrosis, inflammatory response and disruption of cell components were demonstrated by microarray analysis, and up-regulation of TGM4, TGFB1, COL1A1 and MMP2 was confirmed with Real-time PCR. In conclusion, in utero and lactational exposure to TCDD induced dose-proportional prostatic fibrosis, indicating prostatic dysfunction and inducible semen quality reduction in second-generation rhesus monkeys. Dam received 0, 30 or 300 ng/kg TCDD subcutaneously on Day 20 of gestation, and then 5% of the initial dose was injected every 30 days until Day 90 after delivery. The offspring were maintained until reaching sexual maturity, and the prostates from 3 offspring in each group were evalutated by histopathological examination, microarray analysis and Real-time quantitative PCR. Supplementary file: Fold_change comparison results of 'control group vs 30 ng/kg group' and 'control group vs 300 ng/kg group'.
Project description:High dose level dibutyl phthalate (DBP) exposure of fetal rat testes in vivo inhibits testosterone production (i.e. endocrine disruption). Here, fetal testis mRNA levels were profiled following exposure to a DBP dose level that did not significantly reduce testosterone levels. The goal was to identify the constellation of gene expression changes that do not correlate with endocrine disruption. Fischer 344 rats were exposed via oral gavage of the dam to vehicle (corn oil) or 50 mg/kg (body weight) DBP daily from gestational day (GD) 12 to 20. The day after mating was defined as gestational day 0. Six hours after the final exposure on GD20, fetal testes were dissected and mRNA levels quantified using Affymetrix Rat Expression 230 2.0 microarrays.