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PubMed1994

An oxytocin receptor antagonist infused into the supraoptic nucleus attenuates intranuclear and peripheral release of oxytocin during suckling in conscious rats.

We tested the hypothesis that oxytocin (OXT) released within the supraoptic nucleus (SON) during suckling in lactating rats facilitates its own intranuclear release and thereby stimulates its secretion into blood during the milk ejection reflex. In the first study, to examine the positive feedback action of OXT released within the SON, microdialysates of the SON area were sampled before and during suckling. Either vehicle (1.0 microliter) or an OXT receptor antagonist (50 ng/microliters) was infused adjacent to the microdialysis probe into the SON area before suckling began. Compared to the corresponding presuckling values (100%), the OXT content in microdialysates sampled during the suckling period increased after vehicle treatment (to 501 +/- 174%; P < 0.01), whereas infusion of the OXT antagonist significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the rise in the release of OXT during suckling (130 +/- 22.0%). In the second study, the influence of intranuclear OXT on release of OXT into the blood during suckling was examined. Compared to those in rats infused with vehicle into both SON before suckling started (100%), injection of the OXT antagonist decreased the concentration of OXT in plasma (to 32.1 +/- 5.50%; P < 0.05) and the milk transfer to the pups during the suckling period (to 30.2 +/- 13.3%; P < 0.01). Although the neuroendocrine response to suckling was attenuated in rats receiving the OXT antagonist, maternal behavior, assessed as the time at which six to eight pups began suckling and the time from the onset until the occurrence of the third milk ejection reflex, was unaffected. These findings provide evidence for a receptor-mediated positive feedback action of OXT on its own release within the SON during suckling. The amplification of intranuclear release of OXT is needed for the release of appropriate amounts of OXT into the bloodstream to stimulate milk transfer to the suckling pups.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Overexpression of human stanniocalcin affects growth and reproduction in transgenic mice.

In mammals stanniocalcin (STC) is widely expressed, and in the kidney and gut it regulates serum calcium levels by promoting phosphate reabsorption. To shed further light on its functional significance in mammals we have created several lines of mice that express a human STC (hSTC) transgene. Three lines expressed the hSTC transgene, but only two lines exhibited high expression and contained circulating hSTC, and in these animals there was a reduction in postnatal growth (30-50%) that persisted after weaning. Moreover, even wild-type pups exhibited a growth retardation phenotype when nursed by a transgenic foster mother, and this implies that hSTC overexpression deleteriously affects maternal behavior and/or lactation. The reproductive potential of female transgenic mice was also compromised, as evidenced by significantly smaller litter sizes, but transgenic male fertility was unchanged even though the transgene was most highly expressed in testes. Interestingly, transgene-derived serum hSTC increased significantly after puberty and was severalfold higher in females than in males, suggesting a gender-specific mechanism for maintaining elevated circulating levels of STC. Blood analysis revealed that both transgenic lines had elevated phosphate and decreased alkaline phosphatase levels, indicative of altered kidney and bone metabolism. These studies provide the first evidence that STC is involved in growth and reproduction and reaffirm its role in mineral homeostasis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2004

Real-time detection of interactions between the human oxytocin receptor and G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2.

Although the oxytocin receptor (OTR) mediates many important functions including uterine contractions, milk ejection, and maternal behavior, the mechanisms controlling agonist-induced OTR desensitization have remained unclear, and attempts to demonstrate involvement of a G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) have so far failed. Using the OTR as a model, we demonstrate here directly for the first time the dynamics of agonist-induced interactions of a GRK with a G protein-coupled receptor in real time, using time-resolved bioluminescence resonance energy transfer. GRK2/receptor interactions started within 4 sec, peaked at 10 sec, and decreased to less than 40% within 8 min. By contrast, beta-arrestin/OTR interactions initiated only at 10 sec, reached plateau levels at 120 sec, but remained stable with little decrease thereafter. Physical GRK2/OTR association was further demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation of endogenous GRK2 with activated OTR. In COS-7 cells, which express low levels of GRK2 and beta-arrestin, overexpression of GRK2 and beta-arrestin increased receptor phosphorylation, desensitization, and internalization to the high levels observed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. By contrast, specific inhibition of endogenous GRK2 by dominant-negative mutants robustly inhibited OTR phosphorylation and internalization as well as arrestin/OTR interactions. These data characterize the temporal and causal relationship of GRK-2/OTR and beta-arrestin/OTR interactions and establish GRK/OTR interaction as a prerequisite for beta-arrestin-mediated OTR desensitization.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preventive intervention during the perinatal and infancy periods: overview and guidelines for evaluation.

This paper reviews recent changes in perspectives of development in the prenatal, neonatal, and infancy periods and describes exemplary preventive interventions and their evaluation. Particular emphasis is placed on expanding criteria for successful early interventions to include measures of socioemotional and physical health as well as the more traditional measures of intellectual development. A theme which emerges is the need for peer and professional support for early parenting.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed2001

Neonatal bone mass: influence of parental birthweight, maternal smoking, body composition, and activity during pregnancy.

Evidence is accumulating that intrauterine growth and development may influence an individual's risk of osteoporosis in later adult life. To examine maternal and paternal influences on intrauterine skeletal growth, we used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure the neonatal bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of 145 infants born at term. Independently of the infant's duration of gestation at birth, the birthweights of both parents and the height of the father were positively correlated with neonatal whole body BMC. Women who smoked during pregnancy had infants with a lower whole body BMC and BMD; overall, there was a 7.1-g (11%) average difference between whole body BMC of infants whose mothers did and did not smoke during pregnancy (p = 0.005). Women with thinner triceps skinfold thicknesses (reflecting lower fat stores) and those who reported a faster walking pace and more frequent vigorous activity in late pregnancy also tended to have infants with a lower BMC and BMD (p values for BMC; 0.02, 0.03, and 0.05, respectively). Maternal thinness and faster walking pace but not maternal smoking or parental birthweight also were associated with lower bone mineral apparent density (BMAD). The influences on skeletal growth and mineralization were independent of placental weight, a marker of the placental capacity to deliver nutrients to the fetus. These observations point to a combination of genetic and intrauterine environmental influences on prenatal skeletal development and suggest that environmental modulation, even at this early stage of life, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in adulthood.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1987

Mockery through caricature: a variant of introjection utilized by a masochistic woman.

This case study of a woman with moral masochism focuses upon her characteristic defenses. Particular attention is paid to her utilization of a variant of identification. This patient's mother was a strict, harsh disciplinarian who insisted upon total compliance as a condition for her approval and love. This roused considerable anger and resentment in this patient but also intense anxiety, lest she lose her mother's love. To deal with this, she adopted an ingenious strategy. She established a veneer of pseudocompliance, following her mother's dictates to the letter. She incorporated many of her severe attitudes. She took these to an extreme, in effect caricaturing her. Through this process of exaggerating these bits of maternal behavior she made herself miserable, i.e., she became anhedonic, anorectic, and anorgasmic except via painful anal intercourse. This was a most useful compromise formation that enabled her to appear as her mother's ideal child and, therefore, retain her love. At the same time, by achieving a state of misery through following her mother's orders, she exposed her as ridiculous, and thus covertly discharged considerable aggression.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The effects of environmental tobacco smoke on health services utilization in the first eighteen months of life.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on health services use in Chinese infants with nonsmoking mothers. DESIGN: Prospective, population-based birth cohort. SETTING: General population of Hong Kong in 1997-1998. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8327 parent-infant pairs who were followed up for 18 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Doctor consultations and hospitalizations. Results. After adjusting for the age, education level, and employment status of mothers-as well as infants' birth weight, method of delivery, breastfeeding status, and birth order-ETS exposure through the mother in utero was positively associated with higher consultation (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14, 1.39) and hospitalization (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.31) use in infants with nonsmoking mothers attributable to any illness. In addition, postnatal exposure to ETS at home was linked to higher rates of hospitalizations for any illness compared with nonexposed infants (OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.25), although the relationship did not hold for outpatient consultation visits. The OR for higher hospital use in infants exposed to 2 or more smokers at home was 1.30 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.58). CONCLUSIONS: The use of tobacco products by household members, even among nonsmoking mothers, has an enormous adverse impact on the health of children, as well as increases health services use and cost. The present data support the revision of public policy to reflect an evidence-based approach to the promotion of smoking cessation in all household members during and after pregnancy. environmental tobacco smoke, health services, infants.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Randomized, controlled trial of a prenatal and postnatal lactation consultant intervention on duration and intensity of breastfeeding up to 12 months.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an individualized, prenatal and postnatal, lactation consultant intervention resulted in increased cumulative intensity of breastfeeding up to 52 weeks. DESIGN: The randomized, nonblinded, controlled trial recruited women from prenatal care. Baseline prenatal interviews covered demographic data and breastfeeding experience, intention, and knowledge. Interviews at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 months after birth collected data on weekly feeding patterns, infant illness, and infant health care use. SETTING: Two community health centers serving low-income, primarily Hispanic and/or black women. PARTICIPANTS: The analytic sample included 304 women (intervention: n = 145; control: n = 159) with > or = 1 postnatal interview. INTERVENTION: Study lactation consultants attempted 2 prenatal meetings, a postpartum hospital visit, and/or home visits and telephone calls. Control subjects received the standard of care. OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative breastfeeding intensity at 13 and 52 weeks, based on self-reports of weekly feeding, on a 7-level scale. RESULTS: The intervention group was more likely to breastfeed through week 20 (53.0% vs 39.3%). Exclusive breastfeeding rates were low and did not differ according to group. In multivariate analyses, control subjects had lower breastfeeding intensity at 13 weeks (odds ratio [OR]: 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-3.20) and 52 weeks (OR: 2.50; 95% CI: 1.48-4.21). US-born control subjects had lowest breastfeeding intensity at 13 weeks (OR: 5.22; 95% CI: 2.43-11.22) and 52 weeks (OR: 5.25; 95% CI: 2.44-11.29). There were no significant differences in breastfeeding intensity among the US-born intervention, foreign-born intervention, and foreign-born control groups. CONCLUSIONS: This "best-practices" intervention was effective in increasing breastfeeding duration and intensity. Breastfeeding promotion should focus on US-born women and exclusive breastfeeding.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Reproductive and developmental toxicity studies of calcipotriol (MC903): (2)--A teratogenicity study in rats by subcutaneous administration].

Teratogenicity of calcipotriol (MC903), an anti-psoriasic agent, was studied. MC903 at doses of 6.25, 12.5 and 25 micrograms/kg/day were subcutaneously administered to pregnant Slc:SD rats from day 7 to 17 of gestation. 1. In animals administered 25 micrograms/kg/day MC903, food consumption decreased significantly and body weight gains lowered marginally. MC903 administered at any doses did not adversely affect female animals in regard to pregnancy, delivery and maternal behavior. 2. In fetuses, suppression of growth were noted at 25 micrograms/kg group. However, fetotoxicity and teratogenicity were not noted at all groups administered MC903. 3. In F1 pups, the postnatal growth, development, responses, behaviors, learning ability and reproductive ability were not influenced. Additionally, no embryonic or fetal abnormalities of their fetuses (F2) were detected. 4. On the basis of results obtained in the present study, it is considered that the no-toxic doses level of MC903 are 12.5 micrograms/kg/day for pregnant animals and fetuses, 25 micrograms/kg/day for pups.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1996

[Reproductive and developmental toxicity studies of calcipotriol (MC903): (4)--A perinatal and postnatal study in rats by subcutaneous administration].

Perinatal and postnatal toxicity of calcipotriol (MC903), an antipsoriasic agent, was studied. MC903 at doses of 6.25, 12.5 and 25 micrograms/kg/day were subcutaneously administered to pregnant Slc:SD rats from day 17 of gestation to day 21 after delivery. 1. Administration of MC903 at any doses did not adversely affect pregnant animals in regard to gestation, delivery and maternal behavior. In dams administered MC903 25 micrograms/kg/day, food consumption and body weight gain were marginally lower than those of control animals during lactation period. 2. In group administered MC903 25 micrograms/kg/day, body weight gain in F1 offsprings was significantly lower as compared with those of control group. The drug did not have any adverse effects on the postnatal development of the offspring such as differentiation, functional development, emotionality, motor ability, learning ability or reproductive performance. 3. On the basis of results obtained in the present study, it is considered that the no-toxic dose level for general toxicity and reproduction in the dams was estimated to be 12.5 and 25 micrograms/kg/day, respectively, the no-toxic dose levels in the offspring was also estimated to be 12.5 micrograms/kg/day.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Mouse models and the role of nitric oxide in reproduction.

As a group, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms are localized to a wide variety of tissues. Understanding the role of NOS in reproductive physiology was facilitated by the introduction of genetically engineered mice. Specifically, "knock-out" mice with targeted disruptions in neuronal NOS, endothelial NOS and inducible NOS have been made. These models have been useful in addressing the of role of nitric oxide in areas of reproductive biology that include: hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, mating behavior, maternal blood pressure regulation and fetal development. Despite several promising observations using "knock-out" mouse models, one must exercise caution in interpreting data from individual experiments. Very often the need to draw on two mouse strains to generate the founder NOS deficient line, purity of the strain used for observing phenotypes (presence or absence of backcrossing to achieve a pure strain), and the strain used for comparison purposes (control strains are often not identical in their genetic make-up to the deficient line) make wide spread applicability of results open to criticism.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Motherhood and drug-dependency: the attributes of full-time versus part-time responsibility for child care.

This study examined differences between the maternal characteristics of African-American drug-dependent mothers who have full-time responsibility for child care and those having part-time responsibility. The study revealed that full-time mothers have significantly higher levels of maternal adaptation than part-time mothers. For part-time mothers, the level of maternal adaptation or self-esteem did not fluctuate, regardless of whether she saw the child 4 days a week or once a month. The article identifies variables that may facilitate better maternal behaviors among drug-dependent mothers.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2004

[Relationship between depression and resilience among children with nephrotic syndrome].

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to describe the relationship between depression and resilience and to identify variables associated with depression among children with nephrotic syndrome. METHOD: Data was collected from 45 children who were registered at one hospital in Seoul. The criteria for sample selection were 10 to 15 year-old children who were diagnosed at least 6 month prior. The instruments included a self-reported questionnaire on resilience by Kim, CDI by Beck, and MBRI by Kwak. Descriptive, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were done. RESULT: The mean score of depression was 11.44 (range:0-54) and resilience was 97.47 (range:32-128). There were significant positive relationships between depression and age (r=0.302, p<.005) and academic achievement (r=-0.318, p<.005). In addition, negative relationships between depression and maternal attitude (r=-0.412, p<.001) and resilience (r=-0.649, p<.001) occurred. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that maternal behavior (beta=-0.421, p<.005) and resilience (beta=-0.639, p<.001) were related to depression. CONCLUSION: Children with higher resilience and with an affectionate mother were less depressed. Thus, it is important to identify strengths of children and help them to increase resilience and implement parenting and counseling programs for parents' of these children. Similar studies with children with other chronic illnesses are needed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

[A study on autistic children in Korea].

This Study was to determine the trend of child rearing attitude, to investigate how variables affect the child rearing attitudes, and to suggest directions for developing much needed parental effective training programs or counselling for autistic child in community. The subjects were seventy six mother's of autistic children who attending to 13 treatment institutions in Korea. The data were collected from 1, March to 30, May, 1985. Maternal Behavior Research Instrument exploited by Schaefer, used as a tool in this study. The research findings obtained were as follows: 1. Mothers, in general, had affective, restrictive attitudes, and were found to be affective, yet did not give a positive evaluation of children's behavior and used fear control extensively, thus made their children dependent. 2. There were no significant differences in child rearing attitude by children's sex and age. 3. There were no significant differences in child rearing attitudes by mother's age, education level and religion. 4. There was no significant difference in child rearing attitudes by father's occupation.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed2001

Changes in testosterone, cortisol, and estradiol levels in men becoming fathers.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify longitudinally steroid hormone (testosterone, cortisol, and estradiol) concentrations in men becoming fathers for the first time ("dads"). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Volunteer study subjects were recruited from first-trimester prenatal classes in Kingston, Ontario, in February 1999. Twenty-three dads provided saliva samples from recruitment through 3 months after the birth of their children. Fourteen men who were not fathers were recruited from the general population to serve as age-matched controls for season and time of day. Estradiol, testosterone, and cortisol levels were quantified. RESULTS: After controlling for effects of time of day and season, dads had lower mean +/- SE testosterone (6.5+/-0.7 vs 10.0+/-0.9 ng/dL; P<.005) and cortisol (morning values, 0.30+/-0.05 vs 0.53+/-0.05 microg/dL; P<.005) concentrations, a higher proportion of samples with detectable estradiol concentrations (68% [308/454] vs 57% [87/154]; P=.01), and higher estradiol concentrations in those detectable samples (3.81+/-0.09 pg/mL [13 dads] vs 3.26+/-0.11 pg/mL [9 controls]; P<.002) than did control men. Within 10 individual dads with frequent samples before and after the birth, the percentage of samples with detectable estradiol was lower during the month before the birth than during the month after (51% vs 71%; P=.02), and cortisol concentration was increased in the week before the birth (to a mean of 0.16 microg/dL). In each of 13 dads providing frequent samples, testosterone concentration and variance were low immediately after the birth (no change from previous levels in 5, decrease after prebirth increase in 3, and decrease relative to all other times in 5). CONCLUSIONS: In this population of Canadian volunteers attending prenatal classes, expectant fathers had lower testosterone and cortisol levels and a higher proportion of samples with detectable estradiol concentrations than control subjects. Individual patterns of testosterone variance relative to the birth and estradiol and cortisol concentrations immediately before the birth may be worthy of further investigation. The physiologic importance of these hormonal changes, if any, is not known. However, they are hormones known to influence maternal behavior.

Adult↗