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Background: Within the population aging and the trend of aging in place on the rise, it is crucial to explore how care needs are being met for this demographic within the community. Methods: This study utilizes data from the 2019–2021 survey on 1,126 rural older adults aged 60 years and above across 11 provinces and 31 villages in China. This study aims to examine the influence of spouse, offspring, and community status on the extent to which the care needs of rural older adults are met. Furthermore, it seeks to clarify the underlying mechanism of influence, as well as the change that occurs throughout the life cycle, using a multiple linear regression analysis. Results: This study demonstrates that the health status of spouses, the education level of offspring, the relationship with offspring, and the living with offspring significantly and positively influence the meeting of care needs among rural older adults. Notably, older adults with healthier spouses experience a 14.5% greater fulfillment of care needs compared to those without partners. Furthermore, those living with their offspring experience a 10.6% higher degree of care met. Additionally, the construction and operation of community senior care facilities, indicative of community quality, significantly enhance the meeting of care needs among rural older adults, with a 16.0% increase in met needs for those residing in communities equipped with such facilities compared to those without. From a life cycle perspective, the aforementioned significant effects are only observed among rural older adults aged 60–74 years or those in better health. Conclusion: Our results indicate the meeting of the care needs among rural older adults is influenced by the quality of their spouse, offspring, and community, with these effects diminishing later in the life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Sardinian grass snake (Natrix helvetica cetti) is an endangered subspecies endemic to Sardinia, Italy, with a highly fragmented distribution. This study reports the first documented clutch from a wild melanistic female, yielding nine healthy hatchlings. Detailed phenotypic and biometric data were collected and compared to other Natrix natrix complex species, revealing the smallest recorded snout-to-vent length for a gravid female N. helvetica, suggesting unique traits for this subspecies. Both the dam and hatchlings tested negative for Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, the pathogen responsible for ophidiomycosis. These findings address significant gaps in knowledge about the reproductive biology of N. h. cetti, offering helpful insights for the conservation and management of this rare and vulnerable subspecies. The Sardinian grass snake, Natrix helvetica cetti, is an island-endemic subspecies with a restricted and highly fragmented distribution confined to Sardinia, Italy. Information on its reproductive biology and wild offspring remain scarce in the scientific literature. This present study reports the first recorded data on a clutch of eggs laid by a wild melanistic female N. h. cetti that exhibited lethargy when observed basking, prompting a brief period of health monitoring and screening for the presence of the pathogenic fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo). The clutch yielded nine hatchlings, for which phenotypic data are provided and compared with existing information on the Natrix natrix complex. Both the adult female and its offspring tested negative in the Oo screening. The body size of the adult grass snake, specifically its snout-to-vent length of 48.3 cm, is the smallest ever recorded for a gravid female N. helvetica. This may indicate that maturity is reached at particularly small sizes, a distinctive trait of this intriguing island subspecies, suggesting the need for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Iron supplementation is necessary for pregnant sows, which is not only beneficial for the generation of red blood cells in sows, but also essential for fetal growth. This study explored the effects of supplementation of pregnant sows with ferrous sucrose in the late gestation period on reproductive performance and iron stores in piglets. The results indicated that maternal supplementation with ferrous sucrose increased litter weight and average weight and promoted the development of small intestinal villi. It also increased hepatic iron stores in neonatal piglets. This study provides new ideas and solutions for preventing iron deficiency in neonatal piglets. As one of the most important trace elements required by sows, especially in the late gestation period, iron plays a crucial role in the growth and development of a fetus. To explore the effects of dietary supplementation with ferrous sucrose on the reproductive performance of sows and the hepatic iron stores in offspring, sixty primiparous Landrace × Yorkshire sows on day 95 of gestation with an average body weight of 174.1 ± 7.7 kg were randomly assigned to two groups of a basic diet (control) and a basic diet supplemented with 109 mg/kg ferrous sucrose (FS) in a fully randomized block design. The trial lasted for 20 days. The results showed that maternal supplementation with ferrous sucrose significantly increased litter weight (p = 0.002) in neonatal piglets. Compared with the control group, the serum iron and serum transferrin saturation of farrowing sows increased by 45.67% (p = 0.002) and 37.01% (p = 0.033), respectively, and umbilical cord serum iron (p = 0.012) also increased in the FS group. Finally, the serum iron (p < 0.001) and hepatic iron stores (p = 0.071) of neonatal piglets were both increased to varying degrees. Taken together, supplementation of pregnant sows with ferrous sucrose has positive effects on the growth and hepatic iron stores of their offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal constant light exposure (CLE) impaired the anxiety response and circadian rhythms of testicular enzymes in adult male rat offspring, while melatonin corrected these deficiencies. However, the mechanism by which CLE induces these long-term behavioral consequences and the impact of melatonin system have not been examined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of prenatal CLE and melatonin treatment on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, and the melatonin system in male and female adult rat offspring. Six groups of male and female rat offspring (P60) exposed to either light/dark (LD) or CL regimes, and treated with vehicle or melatonin (10 mg/kg, s.c.) were evaluated for anxiety by open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), and light/dark (LD) tests, and depressive-like response by splash test and sucrose preference test. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone (CORT) and melatonin expression, and hippocampal MT1A and MT1b receptor expression were assessed by ELISA. Prenatal CLE induced behavioral deficits and elevated plasma CORT levels, while melatonin levels, their circadian rhythmicity, and hippocampal MT receptor expression were not altered in male and female offspring in the CLE regime. However, prenatal melatonin treatment corrected behavioral deficits in a sex-specific manner by up-regulating hippocampal MT receptors, even without altering systemic melatonin levels or normalizing CORT in either sex. The results of this study suggest critical insights into how prenatal environmental factors and therapeutic interventions shape physiological and behavioral outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) during pregnancy on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation in the brain tissues of rat offspring. Materials and methods: Sixteen SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group (CON) and SCH group. BS-seq sequencing was used to analyze mtDNA methylation levels in the offspring's brain tissues; the 2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe method was employed to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in brain tissues; electron microscopy was utilized to observe the mitochondrial structure in the hippocampal tissues of the offspring. Results: In the analysis of differentially methylated regions (DMRs), the mitochondrial chromosome in the SCH group exhibited 23 DMRs compared to the control group. ROS levels in the brain tissues of the SCH group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The mitochondrial structure in the hippocampus of the SCH group was less intact compared to the CON group. Conclusion: Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnant rats may alter the mtDNA methylation pattern in the brains of their offspring, potentially affecting mitochondrial function and structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Access to electric light has exposed living organisms to varying intensities of light throughout the 24 h day. Dim light at night (DLAN) is an inappropriate signal for the biological clock, which is responsible for the circadian organization of physiology. During the gestational period, physiological adaptations occur to ensure a successful pregnancy and optimal fetal development. Environmental maternal conditions, such as disruptions of maternal circadian rhythms, could negatively affect offspring health. We have previously demonstrated that exposure of female Wistar rats to DLAN results in circadian, metabolic, and behavioral alterations. A relevant behavior during adolescence is social play, primarily regulated by the nucleus accumbens (NAc) which is crucial for the proper performance of important behaviors in adulthood. Throughout development, microglia are responsible for the remodeling of diverse brain regions via synaptic pruning. During adolescence, this process occurs within the NAc, where immune-mediated remodeling directly impacts social play behavior. Methods: This study investigated the effects of maternal exposure to DLAN or a light-dark cycle (LD) before (5 weeks) and during the gestational period (21–23 days) on the metabolism and behavior of offspring in adolescence and adulthood. Body mass was measured every 5 days from postnatal day 1 (PN1) to PN25 and every 10 days from PN40 to PN90; food consumption was monitored weekly from PN40 to PN90. Social play behavior was evaluated at PN40. The quantification and morphology of microglia in the NAc were measured on PN30. An open field test was conducted at PN60, and anhedonia test was assessed at PN90. Results and discussion: Male and female offspring from mothers exposed to DLAN showed increased body mass gain at PN25. DLAN male offspring had lower food consumption, while DLAN females exhibited increased food consumption. In social play behavior, no differences were found between DLAN and LD female offspring. In contrast, DLAN male offspring exhibited a significant decrease in social play behavior compared to LD animals, which was associated with higher numbers of microglia in the NAc that had more ramified morphology. Importantly, at PN90, DLAN offspring presented increased anxiety-like behaviors. These results demonstrate that DLAN exposure induces intergenerational behavioral alterations that persist until adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is rising globally, particularly among children exposed to adverse intrauterine environments, such as those associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Epigenetic modifications, specifically DNA methylation, have emerged as mechanisms by which early environmental exposures can predispose offspring to metabolic diseases. This study aimed to investigate DNA methylation differences in children born to mothers with GDM compared to non-GDM mothers, using saliva samples, and to assess the association of these epigenetic patterns with early growth measurements. Methods: This study analyzed saliva DNA methylation patterns in 30 children (15 born to GDM mothers and 15 to non-GDM mothers) from the EPIDG cohort. Samples were collected at two time points: 8–10 weeks postpartum and at one year of age. Epigenome-wide analysis of over 850,000 CpG sites was conducted using the Illumina Methylation EPIC Bead Chip. Differential methylation positions (DMPs) were identified with the limma package, using a significance threshold of p < 0.01 and delta β ≥ 5%. Correlation analysis examined associations between methylation and growth variables (weight, height, BMI and annual growth) using Spearman tests. Results: We identified 6,968 DMPs at the postpartum stage and 5,132 after one year, with 50 sites remaining differentially methylated over time, 16 of which maintained consistent methylation directionality. Functional analysis linked several of these DMPs to genes involved in inflammation and metabolic processes, including CYTH3 and FARP2, both implicated in growth and metabolic pathways. Significant correlations were found between specific CpG sites and growth-related variables such as weight, head circumference, height, and BMI. Conclusions: This study's longitudinal design reveals stable DNA methylation patterns in saliva samples that differentiate GDM-exposed children from controls across the first year of life, highlighting the feasibility of saliva as a minimally invasive biomarker source. The persistence of these epigenetic signatures underscores their potential as early indicators of metabolic risk, offering valuable insights into the long-term impact of maternal GDM on child health. Although the use of saliva offers a practical and non-invasive tool for pediatric epigenetic research, further studies are necessary to validate these findings in larger populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: We aimed to identify neonatal circulating metabolic alterations associated with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to explore whether these altered metabolites could mediate the association of GDM with offspring neurodevelopment. Additionally, we investigated whether neonatal circulating metabolites could improve the prediction of offspring neurodevelopmental disorders over traditional risk factors. Methods: The retrospective cohort study enrolled 1228 mother–child dyads in South China. GDM was diagnosed at 24–28 weeks of gestation. Neonatal circulating amino acids and lipid metabolites (carnitines) were measured from newborn heel blood 3–7 days postpartum. Offspring neurodevelopment was assessed at age 1 year using the Children Neuropsychological and Behavioral Examination Scale. Neurodevelopmental disorders were defined as developmental delay in any domain of the scale. Results: Twenty-one metabolites associated with GDM were identified, consisting of seven amino acids and fourteen carnitines. Among these metabolites, five (glycine, myristicylcarnitine, palmitoylcarnitine, octadecadienoylcarnitine, and 3-hydroxypalmitylcarnitine) mediated the negative association of GDM with offspring neurodevelopment at 1 year (mediation proportions: 3.91–10.66%). Furthermore, six metabolites (glycine, methionine, malonylcarnitine, isovalerylcarnitine, palmitoylcarnitine, and octadecadienoylcarnitine) significantly increased the predictive performance for offspring neurodevelopmental disorders at 1 year over five traditional risk factors including GDM, parity, infant sex, birth weight, and feeding patterns (area under curve: 0.762 vs. 0.718, p = 0.012). Conclusions: GDM was associated with a variety of amino acid and lipid metabolic alterations in neonatal circulation, among which certain metabolites mediated the association of GDM with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Moreover, some neonatal circulating metabolites may serve as potential biomarkers that improved the prediction of offspring neurodevelopmental disorders over GDM and other traditional risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous studies have indicated that maternal occupational psychosocial stressors may affect the risk of asthma in the offspring, but their results are inconsistent. Maternal occupational ergonomic strain is associated with predictors of fetal lung development, including preterm birth and low birthweight; however, it is not known, whether ergonomic strain during pregnancy is a risk factor for asthma in offspring. The aim was to investigate maternal psychosocial stressors and ergonomic strain during pregnancy relative to the risk of offspring asthma. Methods: Live- and firstborn singletons (1996–2018) and their mothers were identified from Danish nationwide registers. Job code at time of conception was assigned to each mother and linked with exposure estimates from job exposure matrices (JEMs) of psychosocial stressors and ergonomic strain. Diagnoses of childhood asthma were retrieved from the Danish National Patient Register. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) of asthma were estimated using Poisson regression; adjusted for maternal asthma, age at conception, socioeconomic position, and body mass index, and calendar year. Results: Maternal employment in occupations with low decision authority (IRR: 1.08, 95% CI 1.00–1.16) and high ergonomic strain (IRR: 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.16) was associated with increased risk of asthma among male offspring. Largely similar, but less consistent, associations were observed among female offspring due to low decision authority. Conclusion: We found a minor increased risk of asthma among offspring whose mothers worked in an occupation with low decision authority or high ergonomic strain, most pronounced among male offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Studies have inconsistently observed that children conceived by IVF or ICSI have higher blood pressure compared to children not conceived by these ARTs. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of blood pressure measures of offspring conceived by ART and those conceived naturally. Resolving the suspicion of ART as a risk factor of higher blood pressure, and therefore of heart disease, has public health and clinical implications. SEARCH METHODS A biomedical librarian searched the Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Searches were limited to records published in English since 1978. Grey literature was searched. Inclusion criteria were humans born via infertility treatment (vs no treatment) who underwent a blood pressure assessment. Exclusion criteria were non-human participants, non-quantitative studies, absence of a control group, and specialty populations (e.g. cancer patients only). Two reviewers independently screened each record's title and abstract and full text using Covidence, extracted data using Excel, and assessed bias using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Quality Assessment Tool for cohort studies. OUTCOMES Of 5082 records identified, 79 were included in the systematic review and 36 were included in the meta-analysis of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in ART and non-ART groups. Overall, 34 reports including 40 effect sizes from 25 unique cohorts, compared blood pressure between ART (N = 5229) and non-ART (N = 8509, reference) groups with no covariate adjustment. No standardized mean differences (SMD) in SBP (0.06 per SD of mmHg, 95% CI = −0.05, 0.18) or DBP (0.11, 95% CI = −0.04, 0.25) by treatment were found, but the heterogeneity was considerable (I 2=76% for SBP and 87% for DBP). Adjusted analyses were presented in 12 reports, representing 28 effect sizes from 21 unique cohorts (N = 2242 treatment vs N = 37 590 non-treatment). Studies adjusted for varied covariates including maternal (e.g. age, education, body mass index, smoking, pregnancy complications), child (e.g. sex, age, physical activity, BMI, height), and birth characteristics (e.g. birth weight and gestational age). Adjusted results similarly showed no SMD for SBP (−0.03, 95% CI = −0.13, 0.08) or DBP (0.02, 95% CI = −0.12, 0.16), though heterogeneity remained high (I 2 = 64% and 86%). Funnel plots indicated a slight publication bias, but the trim and fill approach suggested no missing studies. Removal of five studies which adjusted for birth outcomes (potentially over-adjusting for mediators) made no material difference. Type of treatment (e.g. IVF vs ICSI), period effects by birth year (≤2000 vs >2000), offspring age group (<8, 8–14, 15+), or study location (e.g. Europe) did not modify the results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS In conclusion, conception by ART was not associated with offspring blood pressure in a meta-analysis, although considerable heterogeneity was observed. Given the increasing number of children born using ART, perpetuating a difference in blood pressure would mean unnecessary risk screening for many children/adults on a population level. At a clinical level, couples considering these reproductive technologies have some reassurance that there is no evidence of strong vascular 'programming' due to the techniques used. REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO No. CRD42022374232. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been explored to predict cardiovascular health in adults. Less is known about neonatal PWV. We evaluated the association between arterial stiffness of neonates of mothers (NoM) with diabetes and childhood health. Neonatal brachial-femoral PWV (bfPWV) was measured after birth and neonates followed for a median of 5.2 years [1 month–6.6 years]. 36 pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus PGDM (n = 12), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (n = 13), and controls (n = 11) were enrolled. Neonates were similar in weight, gestational age, and delivery mode. 26 neonates had follow-up data including weight, height and blood pressure. More mothers with PGDM had poor glycemic control compared to mothers with GDM (83% vs. 8%; p = 0.0002). PWV was higher in NoM with PGDM than controls (3.4 ± 0.5 vs. 2.6 ± 0.8 m/s; p = 0.04). At follow-up, children of mothers with diabetes (n = 16) had higher weight percentile (78.5 ± 27.9 vs 49.5 ± 34.6%; p = 0.02) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (68 ± 13.6 vs 57.3 ± 4.3 mmHg; p = 0.01) than controls (n = 10). No correlation emerged between neonatal PWV and childhood body mass index (BMI) or maternal HbA1c. Results suggest maternal diabetes affect neonatal arterial stiffness and childhood blood pressure; however, the mechanism is unclear. The long-term implications of these findings warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intergenerational impact of genocide has been studied in various contexts, however, the mechanisms of trauma transmission remain unclear. The present study aimed to better understand the relationship between parental trauma and offspring mental health by exploring mechanisms of trauma transmission in the children (n = 599) and grandchildren (n = 311) of Holocaust survivors (HS) in Hungary. In a cross-sectional online survey study, we used the paradigm developed by Danieli, Norris, Lindert, Paisner, Engdahl, et al. (2015) and Danieli, Norris, Lindert, Paisner, Kronenberg, et al. (2015) to assess HS parental styles (i.e., parenting impacted by efforts to cope with past traumatic experiences), as reported by offspring participants, as well as participants' reported level of adaptational impact, that is, their efforts to cope and adapt, and current mental health symptoms posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD, complex PTSD [C-PTSD], anxiety, depression). We found differences in parental styles reported by generation; however, the mechanism of how it impacted offspring mental health was similar. Mediation analyses showed that more intense parental styles were associated with higher adaptational impact, which, in turn, was related to more mental health symptoms, in both generations. This is the first study to apply the Danieli paradigm in a third-generation sample and the first to assess the psychological impact of the Holocaust in an Eastern European country (Hungary), using systematic quantitative assessment. Our findings highlight the Holocaust's continued impact on the third generation, and the importance of raising awareness of the impact of collective traumas through educational programs, enhancing culturally sensitive and transgenerational trauma-informed mental health services, and fostering tolerance and diversity in public policy. Public Policy Relevance Statement: Genocides, such as the Holocaust, have long-term psychological impact, not only on survivors but also their offspring. This study found that Holocaust survivor parents parental style as reported by their children was related to their children's efforts to cope, which together lead to elevated mental health symptoms in both children and grandchildren of survivors. Results imply the importance of developing and increasing access to culturally sensitive and transgenerational trauma-informed mental health services to enhance resilience in both survivor parents and their offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copulation is essential for transferring sperm from males to females in most animals. During copulation, males and females are often static and thus prone to predation or other threats. Its duration should therefore be reduced to minimize costs but sufficient to ensure the fertilization of eggs. Here, we investigated reproductive behavior and success in the false widow spider, Steatoda grossa (Araneae: Theridiidae), when copulation was interrupted after 1, 3, 5, 10, or 20 min or was not experimentally interrupted (control). Copulation duration in this study is defined as the total duration of insertions of male pedipalps into a female's copulatory openings. In S. grossa, uninterrupted copulations typically last 40 to 60 min. We found that within the first 5 min, copulation interruption negatively affected reproductive success (i.e., number of egg sacs, their total mass, and number of spiderlings), and delayed production of the first egg sac within the first 10 min (in some extreme instances by over 200 days). However, when copulation duration was 10 min or longer, reproductive outcome was unaffected. In the 1-min treatment, the number of egg sacs and their mass varied greatly, which indicates considerable variation among males with respect to the speed and efficiency of sperm transfer. We discuss the costs and benefits of extended copulation duration on female reproduction and on male and female fitness. Significance statement: Interrupted copulation had a significant negative effect on reproductive success in the false widow spider, Steatoda grossa, but only if mating was terminated within the first 10 min of copulation. This implies that early during the copulation sequence sufficient amounts of sperm are transferred to fertilize most of the female's eggs. When copulation duration is less than 10 min, female spiders delayed the time to first reproduction. Prolonging the latency of reproduction can significantly affect female fitness. The role of extended mating in arthropods has focused on its effects on mate guarding, male-male competition for access to females and decreasing a female's attractiveness to other males. Preliminary data suggest that extended copulation does not reduce receptivity of S. grossa females to other males. Prolonged mating in S. grossa may play a more important role in reproductive success of the males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study investigated the effects of maternal metabolic syndrome during pregnancy on hepatic fatty acid metabolism and betacellulin expression in rat offspring. A rat model of maternal metabolic syndrome was created with a high-fructose diet (15% fructose in drinking water for six months). Methods: The females with metabolic syndrome were divided into the CON group, the HF group, which received fructose in drinking water, and the HF-DHA group, which received fructose in water and increased amounts of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) in the diet (2.5% fish oil in the diet). The male and female offspring were killed at birth and their liver tissue was analyzed for the fatty acid profile and expression of Δ-9-desaturase and betacellulin. Results: When the rat offspring were exposed in utero to maternal fatty acids altered by the high-fructose diet, this resulted in a similarly altered fatty acid profile in the liver, with the most significant changes being Δ-9 desaturation and a dramatic increase in monounsaturated fatty acids. The offspring also showed an overexpression of hepatic betacellulin. Supplementation with DHA and EPA increased the DHA content and normalized the fatty acid composition of oleic acid, saturated fatty acids, linoleic acid and n3-docosapentaenoic acid in the offspring of mothers on a high-fructose diet. In addition, the DHA/EPA supplementation of fructose-fed mothers normalized hepatic Δ-9-desaturase and betacellulin overexpression in the offspring, suggesting that DHA/EPA supplementation affects not only the fatty acid content but also the liver function. Conclusions: The changes observed in this study suggest that DHA/EPA supplementation may modulate the effects of maternal programming on disorders of the lipid metabolism in the offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannic acid, as a polyphenol, is widely present in dicotyledonous plants and angiosperms. The study found that tannins could affect the ovarian development of Brandt's voles. However, the specific effects of tannic acid on reproduction and its underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Therefore, this study explored the effects of tannic acid on the reproduction of Brandt's voles. We treated female Brandt's voles from four weeks postpartum with varying tannic acid doses (0 (control), 0.3% (low dose) or 0.6% (high dose) tannic acids) until 8 weeks (puberty) and 13 weeks (sexual maturity)). Ovarian specimens were collected for immunohistochemical analysis and RT-PCR. The treated Brandt's voles were mated with male Brandt's voles of the same age and we recorded the number of embryos, litters and the male to female ratio of the offspring. We found that the female Brandt's voles in the low-dose tannic acid group had enhanced reproductive abilities, characterized by reduced follicular atresia and increased numbers of embryos and litters of offspring. The different doses of tannic acid altered the female-male ratio of the Brandt's voles' offspring. While the low-dose of tannic acid enhanced the level of ovarian autophagy by significantly increasing the expression of Beclin1 and LC3 proteins in the ovaries of the Brandt's voles during sexual maturity. In short, tannic acid can promote the reproduction of Brandt's voles by affecting the level of ovarian autophagy and improving the development of follicles. Tannins can boost the reproduction of Brandt's voles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies showed that preeclampsia (PE) amplifies cardiovascular dysfunction induced by endotoxemia in adult male, but not female, offspring. Here, we asked if such aggravated endotoxic insult could be nullified by modulators of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). PE was induced by gestational administration of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). Adult male offspring of PE mothers treated gestationally with angiotensin 1–7 (Ang1-7, angiotensin II-derived vasodilator), losartan (AT1 receptor antagonist), pioglitazone (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, PPARγ, agonist), or combined losartan/pioglitazone were instrumented with femoral indwelling catheters and challenged intravenously with a 5-mg/kg dose of lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 5 mg/kg). LPS caused significant decreases in blood pressure (BP) and spectral index of overall heart rate variability and increases in heart rate and left ventricular contractility (dP/dtmax). These effects were mostly reduced to similar magnitudes by individual drug therapies. In offspring born to Ang1-7-treated dams, the spectral index of cardiac sympathovagal balance showed elevated sympathetic dominance in response to LPS. Immunohistochemistry revealed that Ang1-7, but not losartan/pioglitazone, abolished the exaggerated increases in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) expression caused by PE/LPS in heart tissues and neuronal circuits of brainstem rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). By contrast, the losartan/pioglitazone regimen, but not Ang1-7, decreased and increased angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 expression, respectively. Together, gestational fetal reprogramming of Ang II (depression) and Ang1-7 (activation) arms of RAS effectively counterbalance worsened endotoxic cardiovascular and inflammatory profiles in adult male offspring of PE rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Maternal western-style diets that are high in glucose and fat have well-known cardiovascular effects on offspring, yet the combined influence of such diets during pregnancy is relatively less comprehended. This study investigates the impact of maternal high glucose and fat diet (HGF) on vascular constriction in offspring and the underlying mechanisms. Methods and results: Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were provided with either HGF or control diets. The assessment of fetal and postnatal vascular function disclosed an enhanced sensitivity to angiotensin II-induced vascular constriction in the offspring exposed to HGF. This was ascribed to increased oxidative stress via upregulated NOX2 expression, which was due to downregulated SHIP2 expression that was influenced by upregulated miR-325-3p. The maternal HGF diet elevated miR-325-3p, suppressed SHIP2 and enhanced NOX2 expression in fetal vascular tissues, thereby resulting in vascular dysfunction. These alterations persist into adulthood, heightening the risk of vascular diseases. Conclusion: The present study is the first to demonstrate that maternal HGF diet impairs vascular constriction function in offspring through the miR-325-3p/SHIP2/NOX2 pathway. These novel findings indicate that the detrimental effects of maternal HGF diet on fetal vascular function can persist into adulthood, advancing our knowledge on the impact of maternal diet on offspring vascular health and the early stages of fetal-origin vascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal overnutrition, prevalent among women of childbearing age, significantly impacts offspring health throughout their lifetime. While DNA methylation of metabolic-related genes mediates the transmission of detrimental effects from maternal high-fat diet (HFD), its role in programming hepatic cholesterol metabolism in offspring, particularly during weaning, remains elusive. Methods: Female C57BL/6 J mice were administered a HFD or control diet, before and during, gestation and lactation. Hepatic cholesterol metabolism genes in the liver of offspring were evaluated in terms of their expression. The potential regulator of cholesterol metabolism in the offspring's liver was identified, and the function of the targeted transcription factor was evaluated through in vitro experiments. The methylation level of the target transcription factor was assessed using the MassARRAY EpiTYPER platform. To determine whether transcription factor expression is influenced by DNA methylation, in vitro experiments were performed using 5-azacitidine and Lucia luciferase activity assays. Results: Here, we demonstrate that maternal HFD results in higher body weight and hypercholesterolemia in the offspring as early as weaning age. Maternal HFD feeding exacerbates hepatic cholesterol accumulation in offspring primarily by inhibiting cholesterol elimination to bile acids, with a significant decrease of hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). RNA-seq analysis identified myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) as a key transcription factor in the offspring liver, which was significantly downregulated in offspring of HFD-fed dams. MEF2A knockdown led to CYP7A1 downregulation and lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells, while MEF2A overexpression reversed this effect. Dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed direct modulation of CYP7A1 transcription by MEF2A. Furthermore, the reduced MEF2A expression was attributed to DNA hypermethylation in the Mef2a promoter region. This epigenetic modification manifested as early as the fetal stage. Conclusions: This study provides novel insights into how maternal HFD orchestrates hepatic cholesterol metabolism via MEF2A hypermethylation-mediated CYP7A1 suppression in offspring at weaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]