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Ontogeny and programming of the fetal temporal cortical endocannabinoid system by moderate maternal nutrient

Kushal Gandhi1, Vanessa Montoya-Uribe2, Stacy Martinez1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University Health sciences Center at the Permian Basin, Odessa, Texas.

Physiological Reports
|March 27, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Poor pregnancy nutrition (MNR) impacts baboon fetal brain development. Maternal nutrient reduction specifically decreased cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) in male fetal temporal cortex, suggesting vulnerability in male offspring.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Poor maternal nutrition is a global health issue linked to fetal stress and cognitive deficits.
  • The endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) is crucial for brain development and function, with known roles in neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Temporal lobe epilepsy and associated neurocognitive disorders can be influenced by early life stress and sex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of maternal nutrient reduction (MNR) on the developing endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) in the baboon fetal temporal cortex.
  • To determine if MNR-induced changes in the ECS are sex-specific during gestation.
  • To utilize baboons as a natural model for epilepsy and ECS research.

Main Methods:

  • Comparison of maternal, fetal, and placental morphometry between control and MNR pregnancies at 120 days gestational age (dGA).
  • Assessment of maternal weight gain at 165 dGA.
  • Analysis of ECS synthesizing and degrading enzyme expression and CB1R protein expression in fetal temporal cortex across gestational ages in control and MNR groups.

Main Results:

  • Maternal nutrient reduction (MNR) did not alter morphometry at 120 dGA but decreased maternal weight gain by 165 dGA.
  • In male fetuses, ECS enzyme expression was gestational age-dependent, except for FAAH.
  • MNR significantly decreased CB1R protein expression in the male fetal temporal cortex at 120 and 140 dGA, indicating a sex-specific effect.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal nutrient reduction exerts sex-specific effects on the developing endogenous cannabinoid system in the baboon fetal temporal cortex.
  • Male baboon fetuses exhibit vulnerability in their temporal cortical ECS under conditions of maternal nutrient reduction during gestation.
  • These findings highlight the critical role of maternal nutrition in neurodevelopment and suggest potential implications for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Keywords:
Brainendogenous cannabinoid systemfetusmaternal nutrient reductionprogramming

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