How developmental stressors affect mitochondrial respiratory function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Developmental biology
• Mitochondrial physiology
• Environmental science

Background:

• Early environmental conditions profoundly shape organismal traits and life-history strategies.
• Mitochondrial function is sensitive to environmental changes and may mediate developmental effects across tissues.
• Understanding how developmental stressors impact mitochondria is crucial for evolutionary biology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To meta-analyze the effects of developmental stressors on mitochondrial respiratory function.
• To identify which components of mitochondrial function are most affected by developmental stress.
• To investigate the influence of stressor type, timing, sex, and taxon on these effects.

Main Methods:

• Compiled data from 86 studies on developmental stressors and mitochondrial function.
• Utilized meta-analysis to assess general effects on antioxidants, metabolic capacity, oxidative damage, oxidative stress, and aerobic respiration.
• Analyzed how stressor type, timing (prenatal/postnatal), sex, and taxon modulated the outcomes.

Main Results:

• Developmental exposure to glucocorticoids, parental deprivation, and psychological stress generally impaired mitochondrial respiratory function.
• These stressors increased reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage while decreasing aerobic respiration, metabolic capacity, and antioxidant levels.
• Nutritional imbalances showed a slight negative effect, potentially influenced by publication bias.

Conclusions:

• Developmental stressors significantly impair mitochondrial respiratory function.
• Altered cellular metabolism, particularly mitochondrial function, may link early-life stress to downstream effects on animal traits and fitness.
• Mitochondrial function serves as a key cellular mechanism mediating the long-term impacts of developmental environments.