Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a mitochondrial deacetylase, is a key regulator of energy metabolism in the liver. In nonruminants, the hepatic abundance of SIRT3 is decreased in individuals with nonalcoholic ...fatty liver diseases, and recovery of SIRT3 alleviates hepatic triacylglycerol (TG) deposition. However, the level of SIRT3 expression and its effects on lipid metabolism in dairy cows have not been characterized. Here we studied the hepatic expression of SIRT3 in cows with fatty liver and the role of SIRT3 in fatty acid metabolism in bovine hepatocytes. This in vivo study involved 10 healthy cows and 10 cows with fatty liver, from which we collected samples of liver tissue and blood. Primary hepatocytes were isolated from Holstein calves and treated with 0, 0.5, or 1.0 mM nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) for 24 h or transinfected with SIRT3 overexpression adenovirus (Ad-SIRT3)/SIRT3-short interfering (si)RNA for 48 h. Cows with fatty liver displayed lower serum glucose concentrations but higher serum NEFA and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations relative to healthy cows. Cows with fatty liver also had significant lower mRNA and protein abundance of hepatic SIRT3. Incubation of primary hepatocytes with NEFA reduced SIRT3 abundance in primary hepatocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Fatty acid (1 mM) treatment also markedly increased the abundance of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) but significantly decreased the abundance of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1A), carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT2), and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO). Knockdown of SIRT3 by SIRT3-siRNA downregulated the mRNA abundance of CPT1A, CPT2, and ACO. In contrast, overexpression of SIRT3 by Ad-SIRT3 upregulated the mRNA abundance of CPT1A, CPT2, and ACO; downregulated the mRNA abundance of ACC1 and FAS; and consequently, decreased intracellular TG concentrations. Overexpression of SIRT3 ameliorated exogenous NEFA-induced TG accumulation by downregulating the abundance of ACC1 and FAS and upregulating the abundance of CPT1A, CPT2, and ACO in calf hepatocytes. Our data demonstrated that cows with fatty liver had lower hepatic SIRT3 contents, and an increase in SIRT3 abundance by overexpression mitigated TG deposition by modulating the expression of lipid metabolism genes in bovine hepatocytes. These data suggest a possible role of SIRT3 as a therapeutic target for fatty liver disease prevention in periparturient dairy cattle.
An adverse nutritional environment during the perinatal period increases the risk of adult-onset metabolic diseases, such as obesity, which may persist across generations. Adipose tissue (AT) from ...offspring of malnourished dams has been shown to display altered adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and adipokine expression, impaired thermogenesis, and low-grade inflammation. Although the exact mechanisms underlying these alterations remain unclear, epigenetic processes are believed to have an important role. In this review, we focus on epigenetic mechanisms in AT that may account for transgenerational dysregulation of adipocyte formation and adipose function. Understanding the complex interactions between maternal diet and epigenetic regulation of the AT in offspring may be valuable in improving preventive strategies against the obesity pandemic.
Increasing evidence suggests that adult-onset metabolic disorders, including obesity, may derive in part from events taking place during fetal and postnatal development.
Studies in animal models and humans suggest that AT is the focus of developmental programming events in a sex- and depot-specific manner.
Suboptimal nutritional and hormonal milieu during the perinatal period may affect adipogenesis via epigenomic remodeling consistent with modified gene expression levels.
Editing of epigenetic marks on adipocyte progenitors (DNA methylation and histone modifications) during gestation and lactation may serve as a memory of exposure to maternal malnutrition.
The persistence of these marks throughout life may program permanent changes in gene expression and may account for epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity.
The aim of this study was to investigate trajectories of sleep quality and associations with mood in the perinatal period. Although it is commonly accepted that subjective sleep quality declines ...during pregnancy and the transition to parenthood, some women may follow qualitatively distinct trajectories.
Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were collected from 293 women at four time points: during early pregnancy, at Time 1 (T1; < 22 w gestational age GA; late pregnancy, at Time 2 (T2; 32 w GA); during the postnatal period at Time 3 (T3; 3 mo postpartum); and Time 4 (T4; 6 mo postpartum). A group-based semiparametric mixture model was used to estimate patterns of sleep quality throughout the perinatal period.
Four trajectory groups were identified, including patterns defined by high sleep quality throughout (21.5%), mild decrease in sleep quality (59.5%), significant decrease in sleep quality (12.3%) and a group with poor sleep quality throughout (6.7%). Women who had the worst sleep quality at Time 1 and those who experienced significant increases in sleep problems throughout pregnancy were also the groups who reported the highest levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in early pregnancy and the lowest levels of social support. After controlling for covariates, the groups with worst subjective sleep quality during pregnancy were also the most likely to experience high symptoms of depression in the postpartum period.
Most of the women in our sample reported mild sleep disturbances through the perinatal period. A subgroup of women reported a significant decline in sleep quality from early to late pregnancy and another reported poor subjective sleep quality throughout pregnancy; these groups had the greatest risk of experiencing high symptoms of depression in the postpartum period.
Bisphenol S (BPS) is an alternative chemical to bisphenol A commonly used in food packaging materials. It raises concerns due to potential adverse effects on human health. However, limited evidence ...exists regarding reproductive toxicity from BPS exposure, and the mechanism of associated transgenerational toxicity remains unclear. In this study, pregnant SD rats were exposed to two different doses of BPS (0.05 or 20 mg/kg) from GD6 to PND21. The objective was to investigate reproductive and transmissible toxicity induced by BPS, explore endocrine effects, and uncover potential underlying mechanisms in rats. Perinatal exposure to BPS in the F0 generation significantly decreased the rate of body weight, ovarian organ coefficient, and growth and development of the F1 generation. Notably, these changes included abnormal increases in body weight and length, estrous cycle disruption, and embryonic dysplasia in F1. 4D-DIA proteomic and PRM analyses revealed that exposure to 20 mg/kg group significantly altered the expression of proteins, such as Lhcgr and Akr1c3, within the steroid biosynthetic pathway. This led to elevated levels of FSH and LH in the blood. The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, responsible for promoting fertility through the cyclic secretion of gonadotropins and steroid hormones, was affected. RT–qPCR and Western blot results demonstrated that the expression of GnRH in the hypothalamus was decreased, the GnRHR in the pituitary gland was decreased, and the expression of FSHβ and LHβ in the pituitary gland was increased. Overall, BPS exposure disrupts the HPO axis, hormone levels, and steroid biosynthesis in the ovaries, affecting offspring development and fertility. This study provides new insights into the potential effects of BPS exposure on the reproductive function of the body and its relevant mechanisms of action.
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•Natural BPS exposure concentrations induce reproductive toxicity in female rats.•Pregnant rat exposure to BPS affects growth and development.•This exposure also causes estrous cycle disruption in offspring.•BPS exposure affects the steroid biosynthetic pathway.•BPS exposure also interferes with the HPO axis.
•The ‘vulnerable’ label holds a dichotomy: it facilitates acces to appropriate care but also risks stigmatization by the women it intends to describe.•For women, being vulnerable during pregnancy and ...after birth means not being able to sufficiently care for themselves or their children.•The ‘vulnerable’ label becomes more accurate and less stigmatizing when it concurrently acknowledges women’s personal narratives and their intrinsic strengths.•Prioritizing women’s perceptions in the discourse on vulnerability can lessen its stigmatizing impact and significantly improve the quality of maternal care.
The term ‘vulnerable’ is often used to describe women facing psychosocial adversity during pregnancy, implying a heightened risk of experiencing suboptimal pregnancy outcomes. While this label might facilitate the pathway to appropriate care, it can be perceived as stigmatizing by the women it intends to help, which could deter their interaction with healthcare services. This study explores how women facing psychosocial adversity before, during and after pregnancy perceive the concept of vulnerability and experience being labeled as such.
We conducted a thematic analysis of semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Through purposive sampling targeting maximum variation, ten women of diverse backgrounds were included.
Three central themes emerged: defining vulnerability, embracing vulnerability and the feeling of being stigmatized. Women perceived vulnerability as an inability to adequately care for themselves or their children, necessitating additional support alongside routine antenatal care. Acceptance of the ’vulnerable’ label came when it also acknowledged their proactive efforts and strengths to improve their situation. Conversely, if discussions surrounding vulnerability failed to recognize women’s agency – specifically, their personal journeys and the courage needed to seek support – the label was perceived as stigmatizing.
Addressing vulnerability effectively in maternity care requires a nuanced, patient-centered approach, acknowledging both the challenges and strengths of women facing psychosocial adversities. Emphasizing personal narratives and their courage in seeking support can mitigate the stigmatizing effects of the ’vulnerable’ label. Integrating these narratives into maternal healthcare practices can foster deeper connections with the women involved, enhancing the overall quality of care.
Perinatal care is important in mammals due to its contribution to fetal growth, maternal health, and lactation. Substantial changes in host hormones, metabolism, and immunity around the parturition ...period may be accompanied by alterations in the gut microbiome. However, to our knowledge, changes in the gut microbiome and their contribution to the shifts in host metabolism around parturition have not been investigated in pigs. Furthermore, pigs are an ideal biomedical model for studying the interactions of the gut microbiota with host metabolism, due to the ease of controlling feeding conditions. Here we report dramatic remodeling of the gut microbiota and the potential functional capacity during the late stages of pregnancy (5 days before parturition, LP) to postpartum (within 6 h after delivery, PO) in both experimental and validated populations of sows (
n
= 107). The richness of bacteria in the gut of both pregnant and delivery sows significantly decreased, whilst the β-diversity dramatically expanded. The ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes, and the relative abundance of Prevotella significantly decreased, whilst the relative abundance of the predominant genus
Lactobacillus
significantly increased from LP to PO state. The predicted functional capacities of the gut microbiome related to amino acid metabolism, the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, and glycan biosynthesis were significantly decreased from LP to PO state. However, the abundance of the functional capacities associated with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were increased. Consistent with these changes, serum metabolites enriched at the LP stage were associated with the metabolism of amino acids and vitamins. In contrast, metabolites enriched at the PO stage were related to lipid metabolism. We further identified that the richness and β-diversity of the gut microbiota and the abundance of
Lactobacillus
accounted for shifts in the levels of bile acid metabolites associated with lipid metabolism. The results suggest that host-microbiota interactions during the perinatal period impact host metabolism. These benefit the lactation of sows by providing energy from lipid metabolism for milk production.
Intimate partner violence and nonpartner violence are common in Nepal, yet the relationship between violence and fertility is unclear. The risk of violence for young, newly married women in Nepal may ...be associated with becoming pregnant and giving birth due to either the family's desire to protect the fetus (reducing violence) or the added household stressors that accompany a pregnancy (increasing violence).
This study aimed to investigate changes in partner and nonpartner violence over time in early marriage and explore the hypothesis that conception and childbirth may be associated with risk of domestic violence.
We surveyed newly married women aged 18 to 25 years and living in the Nawalparasi district of Nepal in 4 rounds of data collection at 6-month intervals over 2 years. At each survey, interviewers asked whether participants had experienced any violence within the previous 6 months, including details about the type and perpetrator of the violence, and whether they had ever been pregnant or given birth.
A cohort of 200 participants completed the baseline survey and 183 (92%) completed all 4 survey rounds. The proportion of participants experiencing any recent violence increased substantially over time. By the end of the study, 58% of participants reported experiencing intimate partner violence, nonpartner violence, or both in the previous 6 months. Most participants had been pregnant (148 79%) and given birth (117 64%) during the study period. Multivariate models were used to estimate the odds of any intimate partner violence during the previous 6 months. The odds of experiencing any intimate partner violence were more than 2 times higher for participants who became pregnant (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–4.7) and gave birth (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–7.2) than for those who did not. After adjusting for covariates, pregnancy and birth were not statistically associated with a change in the odds of reporting any nonpartner violence.
Our study indicates that newly married young women in Nepal are vulnerable to violence in the home from both partners and nonpartners. Our findings support the hypothesis that risk of intimate partner violence may be greater during the perinatal period. The longitudinal nature of the study contributes to the existing literature by adding evidence that violence increases in early marriage and is positively associated with pregnancy and birth.
This study was conducted to explore the effects of supplementary feeding of bamboo powder on the physical parameters of sows during the perinatal period of 7 days ± in parturition, including farrow ...duration, serum biochemical indexes, fecal physicochemical indexes, and microbial flora.
Thirty pregnant sows were randomly divided into three groups: the control group was fed a basal diet, TRE1 group and TRE2 group were fed a basal diet supplemented with 30 g d
and 60 g d
bamboo powder, respectively. Multiple parameters of sows and offspring piglets were determined.
The contents of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride of sows in TRE2 group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The contents of serum malondialdehyde of sows in TRE2 and TRE1 groups were significantly lower than that in control group. The water content of sow feces in TRE2 group was significantly higher than that in control group, and the pH values of sows in TRE2 and TRE1 groups were significantly higher than that in control group. The richness index (Chao) of sow fecal bacterial community in TRE2 group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the Ace and Sobs indexes tended to be lower than those of the control group. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of
in the feces of sows in TRE2 group was significantly lower than that of the control group, while that of
in the feces of suckling piglets in TRE2 group tended to be lower than that of the control group. At the genus level, among the Top10 dominant bacteria, the relative abundance of
in the feces of sows in TRE2 group was significantly lower than that of the control group while that of
in the feces of suckling piglets in TRE2 group tended to be lower than that of the control group. The relative abundance of
1,
,
, and
in the feces of sows in TRE2 group was significantly lower than that of TRE1 group (
< 0.05), while
tended to be higher than that of TRE1 group (
< 0.10).
The results suggested that supplementary feeding 60 g d
bamboo powder could increase the water content in the feces of sows, reduce the oxidative damage, and tend to reduce the relative abundance of opportunistic pathogenic
for suckling piglets, while it reduced the fecal microbial diversity of sows.
Maternal gut microflora changes dramatically during perinatal period and plays a vital role in animal health and reproductive performance. However, little is known about the microbial differences ...between sows with different productive capacities during perinatal period. Hence, this study explored fecal microbial diversity, composition, metabolic functions, and phenotypes differences between high productive capacity (HPC, litter size ≥ 15) and low productive capacity (LPC, litter size ≤ 7) sows during late pregnancy (LP, the third day before due date) and early stage after parturition (EAP, the third day after parturition) as well as serum biochemical indices differences after parturition. Results showed that HPC sows had lower microbial richness at LP stage and higher microbial diversity at EAP stage than LPC sows. Several genera belonging to the
family exhibited higher abundance, while some genera belonging to the
family exhibited lower abundance in HPC sows compared to LPC sows at LP stage. Moreover, the relative abundance of
and
in HPC sows was significantly higher than that in LPC sows at EAP stage. The predicted metabolic functions related to Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis were significantly higher in HPC sows at LP stage. Further, HPC sows had significantly higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels after parturition, and there were strong correlations between BUN level and the relative abundance of genera belonging to the
families. These results indicated that the HPC sows may experience greater inflammation than LPC sows at LP stage. Inflammation environment might impact health but promote parturition. The microbial differences at EAP stage might be beneficial to hemostasis and anti-inflammation, which might contribute to postpartum recovery in HPC sow.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is characterized by increased insulin resistance and carries perinatal and long-term risks for the mother and her offspring. There is a link between perinatal ...depression or anxiety and GDM. Mental health problems are associated with higher insulin resistance and could explain the underlying association between GDM and depression or anxiety symptoms. We investigated the trajectories and associations between symptoms of mental health and well-being with insulin resistance and metabolic health in women with GDM.
This study included the control group (n = 106) of a randomized controlled trial in women with GDM that were followed-up during pregnancy and up to 1-year postpartum. We measured symptoms of mental health (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A), well-being (The World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5)) and metabolic health, including insulin resistance variables (HOMA-insulin resistance (IR) and Matsuda Index of insulin sensitivity) as well as weight during pregnancy and in the postpartum.
Participants' pre pregnancy weight and BMI were 69.7 kg ± 16.1 and 25.9 kg/m
± 5.5 respectively. HOMA-IR was higher during pregnancy compared to 6-8 weeks postpartum and increased between 6-8 weeks and 1-year postpartum (all p < 0.05). Matsuda index decreased between 6-8 weeks and 1-year postpartum (p < 0.001). EPDS scores decreased between pregnancy and both 6-8 weeks and 1-year postpartum (all p < 0.05). HADS-A scores did not change between pregnancy and the postpartum. WHO-5 scores improved significantly from pregnancy and both 6-8 weeks and 1-year postpartum (p < 0.001). Correlation coefficients within outcome at the three different time points were high for metabolic measures and ranged between 0.94 and 0.96 for weight, from 0.77 to 0.89 for HOMA-IR and 0.64 for the Matsuda index (all p < 0.001). Mental health and well-being variables were moderately correlated in all three time points including r = 0.36-0.55 for the EPDS (p < 0.001), r = 0.58 for HADS (p < 0.001), and r = 0.43-0.52 for the WHO-5 (p < 0.01). After adjustment for age and pre-pregnancy BMI, Matsuda index was negatively associated with EPDS scores and positively associated to WHO-5 scores at 6-8 weeks postpartum. No other association between insulin resistance and mental health or well-being outcomes were found.
While insulin resistance fluctuated with values being lowest in the early postpartum and increasing thereafter, both depression and well-being scores decreased between pregnancy and the postpartum and did not change in the postpartum period. Intraindividual variability was larger for mental health and well-being than for metabolic health outcomes at different time points, indicating a higher plasticity for mental health and well-being outcomes that could be acted upon. We found only few associations between mental health and well-being and metabolic health outcomes.
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