Search Results (97)

Early life stress (ELS) and adverse childhood experiences are critical determinants of neurodevelopmental trajectories and long-term somatic and psychiatric health outcomes. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence, identified through searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, on the neurobiological and epigenetic mechanisms through which early environmental exposures shape developmental programming and stress responsivity across the lifespan. A central framework is the dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which mediates adaptive and maladaptive stress responses. During sensitive developmental periods, including prenatal, perinatal, and early postnatal stages, increased neuroplasticity confers heightened vulnerability to environmental influences, resulting in persistent alterations in stress regulation systems, brain circuitry, and endocrine function. The review further examines the role of maternal stress during gestation, with emphasis on placental regulatory mechanisms and fetal programming processes that establish long-term physiological set points. In parallel, emerging evidence on paternal stress is considered, highlighting potential contributions of germline epigenetic modifications and postnatal environmental transmission pathways. At the molecular level, epigenetic mechanisms—including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA regulation—are discussed as key mediators linking early environmental exposures to stable changes in gene expression without alterations in DNA sequence. Collectively, the evidence supports ELS as a fundamental biological embedding process with enduring consequences for health across the lifespan. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms, alongside the identification of reliable biomarkers, is essential for early detection and the development of targeted preventive and intervention strategies in pediatric populations. Full article

(1) Background: Integrated bioarchaeological approaches combining osteological and ancient DNA analyses provide powerful insights into health, disease, and population history in past societies. However, the relationship between rare skeletal variations, genetic disorders, and ancestry remains insufficiently explored within single individuals. This study aimed to investigate the combined osteological, paleopathological, and genetic characteristics of a Roman-period individual from southwestern Anatolia. (2) Methods: A multidisciplinary approach was applied to the skeletal remains of an adult male recovered from the Sekköy excavation site. Osteological analysis was conducted to assess cranial morphology, pathological lesions, and dental status. Ancient DNA was extracted from petrous bone under strict contamination control. The hemoglobin beta (HBB) gene was analyzed using Next Generation Sequencing and validated by Sanger sequencing. Y-chromosomal STR analysis was performed to determine paternal lineage. (3) Results: Osteological examination revealed a rare craniovertebral anomaly consistent with a third occipital condyle, along with porotic hyperostosis and extensive antemortem dental pathology, indicating prolonged physiological stress. Genetic analysis identified a heterozygous hemoglobin S mutation (HbAS; rs334), confirmed by both next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing, providing direct molecular evidence of hereditary hemoglobinopathy. Y-STR profiling assigned the individual to haplogroup R1b (predicted based on Y-STR data), indicating affiliation with Western Eurasian paternal lineages. (4) Conclusions: Despite the presence of comparable skeletal stress indicators, the integration of osteological and genetic data revealed a complex interaction between anatomical variation, chronic physiological stress, and inherited disease. The co-occurrence of a rare cranial anomaly, HbS mutation, and a defined paternal lineage represents a unique bioarchaeological case. These findings highlight the value of integrating skeletal and molecular approaches to reconstruct individual health profiles in archaeological contexts and demonstrate the methodological potential of interdisciplinary bioarcheological analysis. Full article

Leydig cells (LCs) represent a somatic testicular population responsible for testosterone synthesis, a hormone essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility. The obesity condition impairs LC steroidogenic activity, contributing to testicular oxidative stress and male reproductive dysfunctions. Using a high-fat-diet (HFD) murine model, we investigated the regulatory role of the nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5s) in the obesity-induced LC damage and the resulting alterations in intergenerationally inherited sperm circRNA cargo. Our findings reveal a significant upregulation of both circNFAT5 and NFAT5 protein levels in HFD testis. This molecular signature correlated with decreased antioxidant defense system, increased LC apoptosis, and impaired steroidogenesis. In vitro experiments, performed in TM3 cells, confirmed that NFAT5 nuclear shuttling drives proapoptotic gene activation, while NFAT5 silencing promotes LC survival. The analysis of HFD progeny (F1H) revealed a full recovery of testis oxidative status and LC apoptosis, linked with the recovery of NFAT5 expression. However, a steroidogenic deficiency persisted in F1H offspring. Notably, HFD and F1H epididymides exhibited NFAT5 overexpression concomitantly with impaired sperm morphology, motility, viability, and altered sperm circRNA profiles alongside a deregulated 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE) profile, a marker of sperm oxidative stress. Lastly, an enhanced FUS-related amplification of circRNA perturbations was highlighted in F1H spermatozoa. Collectively, our findings reveal a dual functional role of NFAT5 as a testicular regulator of LC fate and an epididymal sentinel of metabolic stress, in turn linking paternal obesity to the persistent transmission of sperm epigenetic anomalies across the offspring. Full article

Goji, a plant unique to China, is recognized for its dual use as both a food and a medicine and is rich in various nutrients. However, long-term asexual propagation often leads to cultivar degeneration and viral accumulation, which severely impact its yield, quality, and disease resistance. Homozygous seeds can stably produce offspring with uniform traits. Haploid breeding technology, which involves doubling the chromosomes of haploid plants to obtain homozygous diploids, can significantly accelerate the breeding process. The DMP (Domain of Unknown Function 679 Membrane Protein) family is a plant-specific family of membrane proteins involved in various biological functions, including physiological processes, reproductive development, and senescence. Concurrently, loss-of-function of the DMP gene impedes the proper integration of the paternal genome following fertilization. Consequently, the embryo develops with exclusively maternal chromosomes, a mechanism that underlies the induction of haploids. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of the DMP gene family in goji, analyzing the physicochemical properties, chromosomal locations, cis-acting elements, phylogenetic relationships, sequence characteristics, expression patterns, and subcellular localization of its members. The objective was to identify DMP genes capable of inducing haploid production in goji berry for future breeding applications. The results revealed a total of 11 DMP family members in the goji berry genome, distributed across seven chromosomes. The proteins encoded by these members contain 136 to 237 amino acids, with molecular weights ranging from 15,267.96 to 26,141.01 Da and isoelectric points (pI) ranging from 5.14 to 9.32. The LbDMPs were found to contain numerous cis-acting elements that play roles in plant responses to abiotic stresses and various phytohormones. Notably, LbDMP1 and LbDMP11, which contain the typical DUF679 domain, are predominantly expressed in pollen, suggesting their involvement in the reproductive process of goji berry. They were therefore identified as candidate genes for haploid induction. Subcellular localization analysis demonstrated that LbDMP1 is localized to the plasma membrane, while LbDMP11 is localized to membrane systems such as the endoplasmic reticulum. This research provides a fundamental basis for further exploration of the functional roles of the DMP gene family in goji berry and offers valuable genetic resources for haploid induction in its breeding programs. Full article

This article reads the recent Chinese sci-fi blockbuster franchise The Wandering Earth (2019) and The Wandering Earth II (2023) as linked thought experiments about planetary survival as governance. It argues that the franchise operationalizes survival through administrative techniques that allocate life chances and format subjects for compliance, including selection policy, evaluative procedures, and computational judgment. Drawing on feminist social reproduction theory, affective and emotional labor scholarship, and critical posthumanism, the article shows how the films redistribute life-making work under catastrophe by routing care, sacrifice, and intergenerational continuity through gendered paternal figures. Fathers become the privileged conduits through which attachment is rendered socially legible as authorized labor, while other forms of care remain structurally secondary unless crisis forces their instrumental uptake. At the same time, the franchise is preoccupied with the limits of procedural governance. Across both installments, paternal attachment repeatedly appears as a governance problem: it cannot be fully stabilized as procedure yet becomes actionable at system stress points. The survival regime thus depends on a recurrent sequence of emergency recruitment followed by retroactive legitimation, whether through official affect, selective recognition, containment, or memorialization. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin that adversely affects directly exposed individuals, yet the intergenerational consequences of paternal ZEN exposure remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of paternal ZEN exposure on hepatic outcomes in F1 offspring, with a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms. Kunming male mice (F0) were fed a ZEN-supplemented diet (10 mg/kg bw/day) for 5 weeks. Their F1 offspring developed hepatic steatosis, elevated oxidative stress, and a chronic inflammatory state. Proteomic analysis of F1 livers revealed significant dysregulation of immune and inflammatory pathways, including NF-κB and chemokine signaling, with reduced MHC-I and increased MHC-II levels. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how paternal ZEN exposure disrupts hepatic immune-metabolic homeostasis in F1 offspring, highlighting a critical and understudied pathway in intergenerational toxicology. Full article

Background: Advanced paternal age is increasingly encountered in assisted reproduction as parenthood is deferred. The clinical question is whether paternal age from about 40 to 45 years and older affects embryo development or outcomes, and to what extent any effect relates to the sperm epigenome. Methods: This narrative review synthesized PubMed-indexed evidence on sperm aging biology, including DNA methylation, chromatin packaging and nucleosome retention, small non-coding RNAs, telomere dynamics, DNA fragmentation, and oxidative and mitochondrial stress, and their potential clinical impact on assisted reproduction outcomes. Results: Maternal age remains the principal determinant of embryo aneuploidy. After multivariable adjustment, independent paternal-age effects on fertilization, blastocyst formation, and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy are small or not detected. At very advanced paternal ages near or above 50 years, some studies report higher miscarriage and lower live birth, without a consistent change in early embryo morphology. Aging in men is linked to higher DNA fragmentation and oxidative and mitochondrial signatures, together with reproducible sperm-epigenome changes, including age-linked DNA methylation, altered histone retention, and small-RNA shifts. These molecular findings support modest intergenerational influences on early development, while stable transgenerational inheritance in humans is not supported. Conclusions: Advanced paternal age should be regarded as a risk modifier rather than a primary driver of preimplantation failure. Counseling should emphasize realistic effect sizes and the predominance of maternal age. Laboratory workflows should minimize oxidative stress. Selective DNA-fragmentation testing may be appropriate in recurrent ART failure or recurrent loss. Sperm-epigenome assays remain investigational and should undergo prospective, standardized validation before use in routine care. Full article

There is a lack of focus on psychological support for fathers in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), both in research and practice, with fathers receiving far less support from NICU providers as compared with mothers. This article aims to discuss the current literature and limitations related to providing psychological support to fathers in the NICU and proposes short- and long-term efforts for improving psychological care for NICU fathers. We conducted a narrative literature review to summarize interventions for supporting fathers in the NICU, including emotional support, educational support, social support, family-integrated care, and multi-component interventions. While initial work is promising, there are major limitations. Very few studies have examined interventions specific to providing support to fathers in the NICU, and little work has investigated differences in the support needs and responses to interventions for NICU fathers as compared with mothers. Fathers have historically been overlooked in the NICU. Given the growing recognition of paternal mental health challenges and their impact on infant development, there is a pressing need for efforts aimed at supporting fathers in the NICU. Efforts must consider system structure, policy, multidisciplinary training, and implementation protocols to improve the quality of care provided to NICU fathers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Infertility is a multifactorial condition with an etiopathology that remains largely unclear. Although substantial evidence implicates oxidative stress (OS) as a key contributor to both male and female infertility, targeted strategies for OS-mediated reproductive dysfunction are still not well defined and require further investigation. Ubiquinol is the reduced form of Coenzyme Q10 involved in mitochondrial bioenergetics. It can be synthesized by humans endogenously or provided by dietary sources—typically egg yolks, oily fish, organ meats, and in smaller amounts in nuts and seeds and leafy green vegetables. The present article reviews possible mechanisms through which Ubiquinol plays a role in the regulation of fertility and reproduction, discussing why it could be positioned as a conditionally essential nutrient. Several questions and areas for further inquiry are also proposed. Methods: The present position paper narratively summarizes evidence related to Ubiquinol fertility and reproduction, focusing on the literature from PubMed, Science Direct, and Semantic Scholar. Results: Research advancements suggest that when physiological demands rise during certain life stages, e.g., the reproductive years, the amount of Ubiquinol produced internally may not be enough to meet heightened needs, particularly with advanced maternal/paternal age. This places a heavier reliance on obtaining Ubiquinol from the diet, thus presenting itself as a conditionally essential nutrient during certain life stages. Conclusions: Overall, Ubiquinol appears to enhance mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant defense in gametes, a process that appears to aid sperm function, oocyte quality, and early embryo development. Collectively, these data indicate a key physiological role for Ubiquinol in male and female fertility, especially given its age-related decline. Full article

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, 2n = 4x = 36, AABB subgenomes) is a highly nutritious crop with the potential to diversify global diets and alleviate malnutrition. It is also adaptable for production in soils increasingly affected by salinization and water scarcity. Quinoa was domesticated and artificially selected as a crop within the Andes Mountains, the geographically isolated Mediterranean climate zone of coastal Chile, and along the northwestern fringe of the Argentine dry Pampas. In addition, there is now abundant information regarding the wild species that were its immediate ancestors and which should be viewed as its secondary and tertiary breeding gene pools. These same ancestors contributed to independent domestications of the other forms of “quinoa” in ancient Mesoamerica and eastern North America from a common AABB ancestor-species, C. berlandieri, known commonly as pitseed goosefoot (PG). This review explores the biogeography of the diploid and polyploid relatives of the AABB allotetraploid goosefoot complex (ATGC). The seven or more ecotypes of PG, including the South American taxon C. hircinum, or avian goosefoot (AG), contain broad genetic variability, and some can be used directly as crossing partners in making quinoa breeding populations. Of the extant diploid relatives, C. subglabrum (SMG) is most closely related to the original maternal subgenome A of PG, while C. suecicum (SWG) or C. ficifolium (FG) are most closely related to paternal subgenome B. These and the other AA and BB diploids are valuable model organisms for locating and modifying genes of interest and their expression, the ultimate goals being to increase quinoa’s yield potential, improve its nutritional attributes, explore value-adding industrial uses, and enhance quinoa’s already formidable mechanisms to resist environmental stresses. This review is an update on the current state of quinoa breeding, with an emphasis on the value of wild genetic resources for quinoa improvement. It provides a comprehensive review of the scientific literature for scientists interested in adding quinoa to their breeding program. Full article

Modern olive breeding points to a plant model characterized by low vigour, high productivity, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, all traits required by the intensive and superhigh-density (SHD) systems of olive tree growing. The Italian Don Carlo and FS-17 Favolosa stand out among the new cultivars that are being tested. They were obtained not by breeding but by mass selection from two seedling populations of the Frantoio cultivar (maternal parent). Here, a multidisciplinary approach was used to determine the paternal parent of Don Carlo and FS-17, and then to investigate the inheritance of interesting traits such as fruit cell dimensions and oil content in these cultivars. Microsatellites were applied in phylogeny and kinship analyses, along with two functional markers previously developed on OeACP1 and OeACP2 genes. Ascolana Tenera cultivar was identified as the paternal parent of both new cultivars. This result was also supported by the analysis of the self-incompatibility group of the new cultivars and their most likely paternal parents. Light and electron microscopy [Cryo Scanning Electronic Microscopy (CRYO-SEM), Electronic Scanning Microscopy (E-SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)] techniques were used to analyze the fruit development concerning oil accumulation. Significant differences in cuticle thickness, size and shape of mesocarp and exocarp cells, and oil content were detected among cultivars. Our results suggested that the rearrangement of the traits studied led to an improved progeny compared to the parents. FS-17 exhibited an oil storage efficiency higher than Frantoio. Don Carlo showed fruit traits and oil content almost intermediate between the parents, making it a dual-purpose cultivar. Full article

Given the yearly challenging environmental scenario with more and more frequent and intense heat waves, the livestock sector has to find affordable and sustainable solutions to face the expected increase in meat demand by 2050. Among livestock species, rabbits are particularly sensitive to heat stress (HS) but, paradoxically, the scientific background on the response of different genetics to environmental stressors like HS is rather scarce. This is a significant gap, especially considering that most of the demographic growth, and meat demand, is expected in developing countries where rabbits play a key role in subsistence farming. Therefore, this research investigated the effects of environmental temperature (Control—20 °C; High—28 °C) on growth performance, slaughter traits and meat quality of three Hungarian rabbit genotypes (Pannon Large—PL; Pannon White—PW; Pannon Ka—PK). Animals (n = 360) were housed in wire-mesh cages (3 animals/cage) in two separate controlled-temperature rooms (60 rabbits/genotype/room), from 5 to 11 weeks of age, during which they received ad libitum feed and water. Even if the three genotypes were exposed to the same environmental challenge, they exhibited different responses. The PL line showed superior performance, with the highest carcass weight and yield (p < 0.001), and the greatest water-holding capacity (p < 0.01) in the loin muscle. The PW rabbits showed the largest reduction in overall weight gain (−24.7%; p < 0.001) and the lowest decrease in feed conversion ratio (−3.20%; p < 0.001). PK rabbits experienced the greatest reduction in total dissectible fat (−34.6%; p < 0.001) and hind leg lipid content (−20.3%; p < 0.01), with the highest proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.01), which fostered meat lipid oxidation (p < 0.05). As expected, these differences in performance and meat quality traits reflected the distinct selection criteria and genetic background of these genotypes: the PL is a paternal line, the PK is a maternal line, and the PW is a productive line. Regarding the temperature effect, PK and PW genotypes were the most impacted by chronic HS: PW rabbits suffered the largest performance depression, while PK rabbits showed the worst carcass and meat quality traits. Instead, PL rabbits demonstrated the best outcomes under chronic HS, showing the greatest productive efficiency and satisfactory meat quality traits. Full article

Male infertility affects nearly 15% of couples worldwide, with chromosomal abnormalities representing a major underlying cause. This review explores how numerical and structural chromosomal anomalies, along with environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, and age-related genetic changes, disrupt spermatogenesis and contribute to infertility. It synthesizes findings from cytogenetic, molecular, and clinical studies, with particular focus on mechanisms such as meiotic nondisjunction, spindle assembly checkpoint dysfunction, and alterations in cohesin and synaptonemal complex proteins. Chromosomal abnormalities, both numerical and structural, emerge as key contributors to male infertility by impairing chromosomal segregation and recombination, often leading to azoospermia or oligospermia. Meiotic checkpoint failures and recombination errors further exacerbate the production of aneuploid sperm. Environmental toxins, oxidative stress, and poor nutrition disrupt hormonal balance and chromatin integrity, while advancing paternal age is associated with increased sperm aneuploidy and impaired meiotic control, with implications for assisted reproduction. Specific syndromes, including AZF deletions, Kallmann syndrome, and 46,XX testicular DSD, exemplify the direct genetic impact on male fertility. Overall, chromosomal abnormalities are central to the pathophysiology of male infertility, arising from intrinsic meiotic errors as well as extrinsic environmental and lifestyle factors. Integrating cytogenetic diagnostics, genetic counseling, and lifestyle interventions is essential for comprehensive fertility assessment and management. Further research into molecular biomarkers and targeted therapies could enhance diagnosis, improve treatment strategies, and lead to better reproductive outcomes. Full article

Although heterosis plays a crucial role in enhancing crop yield and stress resistance, its underlying genetic mechanism remains not yet fully understood. Previous studies have shown that heterosis tends to increase with greater genetic distance in the absence of reproductive isolation barriers. However, whether variation in parental genome size alone can generate heterosis under near-isogenic backgrounds has not been thoroughly explored. Here, we used a rapeseed double haploid (DH) inducer line to generate progeny from the Pol CMS three-line hybrid Rongyou 18 (RY18). Although the progeny maintained the same ploidy level as the parents, their genome sizes showed notable variation (818.99–1024.88 Mb). To eliminate genetic distance effects, multiple DH progeny carrying restorer genes were crossed as paternal parents with the female parent 0068A of RY18, creating novel F₁ hybrids. Using RY18 as the control, we observed a marked reduction in the genetic distance between the newly induced restorer line and the female parent (0068A). Correlation analysis further revealed a significant negative correlation (r = −0.310 *) between the paternal genome size and heterosis for thousand-seed weight (TSW). Furthermore, the genomic expansion in hybrid offspring relative to the male parent showed that significant correlations were observed between paternal genome size and heterosis over the standard for both TSW (r = 0.300, p < 0.05) and plot yield (r = 0.326, p < 0.05). Resequencing of high-and low-yielding F₁ hybrids identified SNP sites, indicating that under an identical genetic background, heterosis for yield was more pronounced on chromosome A and chromosome C04. The doubled haploid (DH) induction line facilitates the generation of parental lines with distinct genome sizes, potentially providing a potential novel approach for studying heterosis research in Brassica napus. Full article

This pilot study evaluated the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) oil supplementation on growth performance, stress biomarkers, and haematological profiles in dairy calves undergoing the weaning transition. Nineteen Holstein calves were divided into two paternal-sibling groups: a CBD-supplemented experimental group (n = 10) and a CON-control group (n = 9). The CBD group received 5 mL/head/day of CBD oil for the first two days (pre-weaning), followed by 10 mL/head/day for three consecutive days post-weaning. Body weight increased significantly over time in both groups (p = 0.000); nevertheless, no significant differences were observed between groups (p = 0.173) or for the group × time interaction (p = 0.929), indicating that CBD did not affect overall growth trajectory. However, a significant group × time interaction (p = 0.006) for average daily gains in the CBD group was observed. Serum cortisol concentrations were significantly lower in CBD-supplemented calves at Day 0 and +2 days, compared to the CON group, indicating a transient anti-stress effect (p = 0.043 for group effect). At +5 days, cortisol levels in the CBD group increased, surpassing control values, though this difference was not significant. A trend-level group × time interaction (p = 0.067) suggested a distinct temporal cortisol response in CBD-treated calves. Immune cell counts (LYM, MON, NEU) showed no significant differences, though monocyte levels trended lower in CBD calves at early time points. Platelet indices revealed a significant reduction in mean platelet volume (p = 0.047) and stable PDWc and plateletcrit values in the CBD group, suggesting modulation of inflammatory status. Alanine aminotransferase levels increased over time with a significant group effect (p = 0.014), indicating a mild hepatic response, while glucose and alkaline phosphatase remained within physiological ranges. These findings suggest that short-term CBD supplementation may transiently modulate stress and inflammatory responses during weaning, with potential benefits for physiological resilience. However, rebound endocrine effects and hepatic sensitivity highlight the need for further research to refine dosing strategies and assess long-term safety in dairy production systems. Full article