Paternal DDT exposure induces sex-specific programming of fetal growth, placenta development and offspring's health phenotypes in a mouse model.

Mounting evidence suggests that environmentally induced epigenetic inheritance occurs in mammals and that traits in the progeny can be shaped by parental environmental experiences. Epidemiological studies link parental exposure to environmental toxicants, such as the pesticide DDT, to health phenotypes in the progeny, including low birth and increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. Here, we show that the progeny of male mice exposed to DDT in the pre-conception period are born smaller and exhibit sexual dimorphism in metabolic function, with male, but not female, offspring developing severe glucose intolerance compared to controls. These phenotypes in DDT offspring were linked to reduced fetal growth and placenta size as well as placenta-specific reduction of glycogen levels and the nutrient sensor and epigenetic regulator OGT, with more pronounced phenotypes observed in male placentas. However, placenta-specific genetic reduction of OGT only partially replicates the metabolic phenotype observed in offspring of DDT-exposed males. Our findings reveal a role for paternal pre-conception environmental experiences in shaping placenta development and in fetal growth restriction. While many questions remain, our data raise the tantalizing possibility that placenta programming could be a mediator of environmentally induced intergenerational epigenetic inheritance of phenotypes and needs to be further evaluated.

Mindfulness-based program to support lifestyle modification and weight loss in infertile women: randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the short-term effects of a mindfulness-based program (MBP) on weight loss through lifestyle modification in infertile women who were overweight or obese. METHODS: The participants were randomly assigned to 8 consecutive weekly sessions of MBP plus diet or diet alone. Both groups received a customized dietary plan. Body measures were taken and a questionnaire was applied to evaluate dietary habits at baseline and three months later. RESULTS: The study was completed by 28 women in the MBP group and 24 in the control group. Body weight decreased 1.8 kg (2.1%) in the MBP group (p = 0.001, follow-up vs. baseline) and 1.7 kg (1.9%) in the control group (p = 0.035). There was an average reduction of 2.9 cm of waist circumference in the MBP group (p = 0.008) and 0.3 cm in the control group (p = 0.633). There was a significant reduction in the daily energy intake of the women attending the MBP (mean difference -430 Kcal/day, p=0.010) whereas no significant change was observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: In the short term, this MBP did not affect weight loss in infertile women, but the MBP intervention contributed to reduce waist circumference, possibly due to a significant decrease in food energy intake. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: RBR-7by76r.

Mindfulness-based program for stress reduction in infertile women: Randomized controlled trial.

Infertile women often experience chronic stress, which may have a negative impact on general well-being and may increase the burden of infertility. In this open-label, parallel, randomized controlled trial, infertile women aged 18-50 years (median 37 years) were assigned to an 8-week mindfulness-based program (MBP) or no intervention. The primary outcome was stress severity measured by the Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory (ISSL). Data were analyzed by modified intent-to-treat principle, which included all cases available to follow-up regardless of adherence to the intervention (62 participants from the MBP group and 37 from the control group). The median number of symptoms of chronic stress recorded in the past month decreased from six (interquartile range 2 to 9) before the MBP to two (interquartile range 1 to 4) after the intervention (p < 0.001, repeated measures analysis of variance with Time × Group interaction). Depressive symptoms also decreased after MBP, whereas general well-being improved (p < 0.01 for both outcomes). Hair cortisol and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) did not change significantly between preintervention and postintervention. None of the outcomes changed significantly in the control group. MBP was effective in reducing stress and depressive symptoms while increasing general well-being in infertile women.

Elevated levels of neuropeptide Y in preeclampsia: A pilot study implicating a role for stress in pathogenesis of the disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if preeclampsia (PE) is associated with dysregulation of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) system. METHODS: The study enrolled 114 subjects either with normal pregnancy (NP) or with PE. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was collected from patients using a standard sphygmomanometer. The PE patients were divided into two groups based on the gestational age (GA) at delivery - placental PE (PLPE, GA <34 weeks) or maternal PE (MTPE, GA ≥34 weeks). NPY was measured in platelet rich plasma (PRP), platelet poor plasma (PPP) and in the serum of NP and PE patients utilizing radioimmunoassay. Serum levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured in NP and PE subjects by ELISA. RESULTS: SBP was higher in PE compared to NP. Circulating NPY in serum and PRP, as well as NPY content per 100,000 platelets, but not its concentrations in PPP, were elevated in PE, as compared to NP. The highest NPY concentrations were observed in sera and PRP of patients with MTPE. PE patients had also elevated levels of sFlt-1, as compared to NP, although no difference between PLPE and MTPL groups were observed. There was no increase in P1GF in PE patients. CONCLUSION: Systemic NPY is elevated in PE patients, as compared to NP. This increase is observed in blood fractions containing platelets, suggesting accumulation of the peptide in these cells. NPY concentrations are particularly high in patients with MTPE, underlying differences in etiology between PLPE and MTPE. Our study implicates NPY as a potential target in antihypertensive therapies for PE patients.