Perinatal exposure to genistein affects the normal development of anxiety and aggressive behaviors and nitric oxide system in CD1 male mice

Early exposure to bisphenol A alters neuron and glia number in the rat prefrontal cortex of adult males, but not females

“…Solutions of 0, 0.002, 0.02, and 0.2 mg BPA/ml of oil were mixed daily, and a final volume of 2 μl/g of body weight was pipetted into the mouths of the pups while the dam was held temporarily in a separate cage. Oral dosing by insertion of the oil into the mouth has been used in other studies administering BPA to different ages of rodents (Adriani et al, 2003; Delcos et al, 2014; Neese et al, 2013; Wang et al, 2014) and has also been specifically used at this age in rodents for other endocrine disruptors, such as genestein (Cimafranca et al, 2010; Rodriguez-Gomez et al, 2014). This direct oral route mimics oral exposure that occurs in humans and is less stressful than gavage.…”

Autism genes are selectively targeted by environmental pollutants including pesticides, heavy metals, bisphenol A, phthalates and many others in food, cosmetics or household products

“…For example adult male mice perinatally exposed to daidzein show significantly less exploration and higher levels of anxiety and aggression [170]. Genestein given to rat dams during late pregnancy and early lactation affects the differentiation of brain structures as well as changes in anxiety and aggressive behaviour in the male offspring [171].Phytoestrogens can be found in pregnant women's serum and amniotic fluid during pregnancy and soy ingestion increases amniotic fluid phytoestrogen concentrations in female and male foetuses [172] . The use of Soy infant formula has indeed been linked to Autistic behaviour in one study [113].…”

Grape seed procyanidins administered at physiological doses to rats during pregnancy and lactation promote lipid oxidation and up-regulate AMPK in the muscle of male offspring in adulthood

“…We recently demonstrated that these bioactive food compounds can reach the foetuses and placentas of pregnant rats [11]. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that polyphenols can exert metabolic programming effects on the offspring through maternal intake [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. For example, genistein was effective in preventing body weight gain of the offspring when administered during pregnancy and lactation [12,14] but also exerted harmful effects related to anxiety, aggressive behaviours, spatial learning and reproductive development [13,14].…”

“…Furthermore, recent studies have shown that polyphenols can exert metabolic programming effects on the offspring through maternal intake [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. For example, genistein was effective in preventing body weight gain of the offspring when administered during pregnancy and lactation [12,14] but also exerted harmful effects related to anxiety, aggressive behaviours, spatial learning and reproductive development [13,14]. In another study, male and female offspring of obese rats that received quercitin at different doses (50,100 and 200 mg kg −1 of body weight/day) during pregnancy and lactation had lower body weights, improved insulin sensitivity and lower grades of inflammation than their counterparts, although most of these effects were observed at the high doses [19].…”