Exposure of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to pregnant dams has been shown to be strongly associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in offspring at adulthood, however, effects evident during neonatal periods are unclear. We designed this study to examine cardiac function of neonatal mice (14 days old) exposed to in utero PM2.5.Pregnant FVB female mice were exposed either to filtered air (FA) or PM2.5 at an average concentration of 91.78 μg/m3 for 6 h/day, 5 days/wk (similar to exposure in a large industrial area) throughout the gestation period (21 days). After birth, animals were analyzed at day 14 of life.Fourteen day old mice exposed to PM2.5 during the in utero period demonstrated decreased fractional shortening (%FS, 41.1 ± 1.2% FA, 33.7 ± 1.2% PM2.5, p < 0.01) and LVEDd (2.87 ± 0.08 mm FA, 2.58 ± 0.07 mm PM2.5, p < 0.05) compared to FA exposed mice. Contractile kinetics and calcium transients in isolated cardiomyocytes from PM2.5 exposed mice illustrated reduced peak shortening (%PS, 16.7 ± 0.5% FA, 14.7 ± 0.4% PM2.5, p < 0.01), negative contractile velocity (-dL/dT, −6.91 ± 0.3 μm/s FA, −5.46 ± 0.2 μm/s PM2.5, p < 0.001), increased time to relaxation 90% (TR90, 0.07 ± 0.003 s FA, 0.08 ± 0.004 s PM2.5, p < 0.05), decreased calcium transient amplitude (Δ340/380, 33.8 ± 3.4 FA, 29.5 ± 2.8 p.m.2.5) and slower fluorescence decay rate (τ, 0.72 ± 0.1 s FA, 1.16 ± 0.15 s PM2.5, p < 0.05). Immunoblotting studies demonstrated alterations in expression of Ca2+ handling proteins- SERCA-2A, p-PLN, NCX and CaV1.2 in hearts of 14 day old in utero PM2.5 exposed mice compared to FA exposed hearts.PM2.5 exposure during the critical in utero period adversely affects the developing mouse fetus leading to functional cardiac changes that were evident during the very early (14 days) stages of adolescence. These data demonstrated that exposure to PM2.5 during the gestation period significantly impacts cardiovascular outcomes early in life.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common flavor enhancer and stabilizer for ready-made or packaged foods. This research investigated the impact of MSG on the maternal and fetal liver. The present study was carried out on sixteen mature female Albino rats and eight male rats of reproductive age. The control group was dissected on day 20 of gestation. MSG group was administrated MSG daily at a dosage of 1 g/5 mL/kg body weight from day 0 to day 20 of gestation. The liver function and lipid profile of the control and treated mothers were investigated in the blood sera. The levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities in the liver homogenate of maternal and fetal tissue were assayed, in addition to histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies were done to the liver tissue. The activities of liver functions and lipid profile significantly altered in the treated mothers with MSG. MSG significantly reduced the SOD and reduced GSH activities in addition to the elevated TNF-α and NO in liver tissue of pregnant mothers and their fetuses. Severe histopathological alterations were observed in both maternal and fetal liver tissues of MSG-treated groups. Moreover, histochemical observations showed a reduction of total polysaccharides in the liver of pregnant rats and fetuses. A significant increase in the percentage area of positive immunoreaction for caspase 3 was observed in the liver of treated rats with MSG compared to the liver of the control. The liver of fetuses treated with MSG revealed an alteration like their mother. This study showed that during the gestational period MSG exposure resulted in several biochemical, histological, and histochemical changes in the maternal and fetal liver tissues which emphasize the toxic effect of MSG.

Whether exposure to air pollution is associated with the increased incidence of childhood eczema is controversial. Only a few previous researches about the relationship between gestational and early-life exposures to ambient air pollutants and childhood eczema were conducted in China, and there is a lack of studies in Hubei province. This study aimed to explore the associations between air pollution exposure in gestation and the first year of life and childhood eczema. From November to December 2017, a total of 3383 children aged 3–6 years were recruited from 12 kindergartens in Hubei, China; 3167 were included in the final analysis. Parent-reported data involved with childhood eczema was inquired by questionnaire, and the concentrations of NO₂, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀ were acquired from air quality monitoring stations which were the nearest to the twelve kindergartens. A binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the associations of period-mean concentrations of individual pollutant exposure with childhood eczema. Of the 3167 children, 848 (26.8%) had a history of doctor-diagnosed eczema. After adjusting for the covariates, high levels of NO₂, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀ exposures were significantly associated with a positive increase in risk of childhood eczema during the gestational period and the first year of life. In the gestational period, the estimate OR in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of NO₂ was 1.256 and 1.496, respectively. During the first year of life, the estimate OR in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of NO₂ was 1.371 and 1.335, respectively. Our study indicated that the gestational period and the first year of life exposures to high levels of ambient NO₂, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀ were significantly associated with increased eczema among preschool children. Some effective measures of prevention and intervention could be developed for preschool children.

The present study evaluated the effects of low doses of atrazine administered during gestation and breastfeeding on sperm characteristics of the wild rodent Calomys laucha. Adult females were divided into groups of 10 and administered different doses of atrazine through gavage, during gestational or breastfeeding period. At 3 months of age, the F1 adult male progeny of these females was evaluated. We observed a drastic reduction in the total and progressive motility of male sperm cells at all doses and during both the exposure periods. Moreover, the plasma membrane integrity of adult male sperm cells decreased at all doses of atrazine administered during the breastfeeding, whereas the membrane fluidity of these cells increased at all tested doses. Atrazine led to a decrease in the sperm mitochondrial functionality at all doses and during both exposure periods. The damage to the sperm DNA was higher in males exposed to the highest dose (1.0 mg/kg) during the gestation period, and in animals exposed to the lowest dose of atrazine (0.1 mg/kg) during breastfeeding period. Furthermore, the highest dose (1.0 mg/kg) of atrazine reduced the sperm concentration. Furthermore, the reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were observed at all evaluated doses in males exposed during the gestation period. These results suggest that the administration of low doses of atrazine at critical periods of development may permanently reduce the sperm quality in C. laucha.

The current study was aimed to investigate the impact of THI on productive and reproductive indices of PE and F₁ crosses (50% PE and 50% Italian buffaloes) and back crosses (BC) (75% PE and 25% Italian buffaloes) under hot conditions. In this study, 8385 records used PE (1914, 1518, and 1737), F₁ (387, 447, and 657), and BC (495, 585, and 645) for low, medium, and high THI, respectively. The high THI reduced the conception rate after first insemination in PE, F₁, and BC ((odds ratio, OR) = 1.187, P = 0.007; 2.361, <0.0001 and 1.603, <0.0001, respectively) when compared with low THI. But, stillbirth and calving condition were not significantly influenced by different THI levels in BC and F₁. BC was more bearable to the harsh environment; they possessed the highest incidence of conception after first insemination (72.70, 72.60, and 62.40%), producing live calves (98.50, 100, and 99.40%) with easy calving condition (98.50, 100, and 99.40%) when compared to PE and F₁ at different levels of THI, respectively. The average daily milk yield and peak of milk production were decreased in PE (4.02 and 5.12%), BC (13.33 and 10.95%), and F₁ (25.29 and 12.20%) from low to high THI. However, BC revealed no significant changes in days open, dry period, calving interval, gestation length, service per conception, and the first service post-partum at different levels of THI when compared with PE and F₁. Therefore, rearing BC is recommended for improving buffalo productive and reproductive performance under hot conditions.

The study was conducted to assess the effects of in utero di-butyl phthalate (DBP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) exposure during late gestation on offspring’s development and reproductive system of male rats. Pregnant rats were treated orally with DBP (2, 10, 50 mg/kg), BBP (4, 20, 100 mg/kg), and diethylstilbestrol (DES) 6 μg/kg (positive control) from GD14 to parturition. A significant reduction in dams’ body weight on GD21 in DBP-, BBP-, and DES-treated groups was observed. The gestation length was considerably elevated in the treated groups. Decline in male pups’ body weight was significant at PND75 in DBP- (50 mg/kg), BBP- (20,100 mg/kg), and DES-treated groups. The weight of most of the reproductive organs and sperm quality parameters was impaired significantly in DBP- (50 mg/kg) and BBP- (100 mg/kg) treated groups. Further, a non-significant decline in testicular spermatid count and daily sperm production was also monitored in treated groups. A significant reduction in serum testosterone level in BBP (100 mg/kg), whereas the testicular activity of 17β-HSD was declined non-significantly in the treated groups with respect to control. The data suggests that DBP and BBP exposure during late gestation period might have adverse effects on offspring’s development, spermatogenesis, and steroidogenesis in adult rats.

Pyriproxyfen is used in Brazil to combat epidemics of Dengue Fever, Chikungunya Fever, and Zika virus. This study assessed the effects of pyriproxyfen on reproductive performance, embryo-fetal development, head measurements, and DNA integrity in a preclinical model. Thirty pregnant mice were divided into three groups (n = 10): control (drinking water—0.1 ml/10 g (body weight—b.w., gavage) and treated with pyriproxyfen 0.0002 mg/kg and 0.0021 mg/kg (b.w., gavage) during the gestational period. Analysis of biometric, reproductive performance and embryo-fetal development parameters related to control presented no significant differences, suggesting no maternal or embryo-fetal toxicity. Head measurements showed no differences except an increase in anterior/posterior measurement and glabella/external occipital protuberance. Analysis of DNA integrity showed an increase in micronucleus only at 72 h for the lowest dose group. Thus, we infer that pyriproxyfen is not related to the occurrence of microcephaly, nor does it alter reproductive performance, embryo-fetal development or DNA integrity.

The increased exposure to cadmium (Cd) through environmental pollutants, food and cigarette smoke is a concern worldwide. The association of Cd with impaired learning disabilities led us to hypothesise that cadmium levels in brain tissue could be dose-dependently related to the extent of memory impairment and oxidative stress. In this study, we proposed to study whether cadmium exposure to dams could alter the brain Cd levels, memory parameters, antioxidant enzymes in brain and their gene expression in the F1-F2 generation mice and whether quercetin could modulate this effect. Animals were administered Cd alone and in combination with quercetin for 7 days during their gestation period. Their newborn pups (F1 and F2 mice) were reared until adulthood and were tested for memory using Morris water maze and step-down latency test. The brain tissue of F1 mice was collected. Cd levels were estimated using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. G-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activity were measured and fold increase in their respective gene expression was observed using the RT-PCR method. Cd levels were significantly increased in the brain tissue of animals exposed to Cd but cotreatment with quercetin showed decreased levels in both generations. Memory impairment was observed in animals of F1 generation exposed to Cd and cotreatment with quercetin (100 mg/kg) reversed this effect. Cd exposure significantly enhanced both activity and expression of GST and CAT in the brain tissue of F1 generation mice and quercetin attenuated this effect. In F2 generation, results were variable. GST activity and expression increased with Cd and decreased with quercetin cotreatment. However, CAT activity showed no significant change despite a decrease in gene expression. Quercetin cotreatment enhanced activity as well gene expression in F2 generation. Our study insinuates that Cd levels could act as a predictor of memory impairment and altered enzyme activity and gene expression in brain tissue. Quercetin helped to reduce Cd levels in brain tissue of F1 and F2 generation and modulated the antioxidant system of the cell by affecting expression of antioxidant enzymes at the transcription level.