Development of an Autonomous Vehicle Equipped with a Broadband Ultrasonic Sensor (Thermophone) for Engineering Verification of the Bats Jamming Avoidance Behavior

The 11th International Symposium on Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines. Kobe University, Japan. 2023-06-06/09. Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines Organizing Committee.Poster Session P3

Green Tea Extract Increases mRNA Expression of Enzymes Which Influence Epigenetic Marks in Newborn Female Offspring from Undernourished Pregnant Mother

Biochemical and toxicological properties of catechin remain unclear, e.g.; how catechin affects female offspring from undernourished pregnant dams. Here, to elucidate effects of low prenatal protein on female offspring health status, changes of enzymes which modify epigenetic marks related with metabolism in kidneys from newborns were investigated after continuously administering catechin extracted from green tea to lactating maternal rats after pregnant undernourishment. We found that green tea extract intake during lactation up-regulated the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in young female offspring from protein-restricted dams and modulated the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway in the kidney. This pathway was indicated to be stimulated by SIRT1 gene expression. The feeding of green tea extract to protein-restricted dams during lactation is likely to up-regulate AMP-activated protein kinase activation and may partly lead to alterations of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway in female offspring kidneys. In addition, energy metabolism in fetal and offspring period with green tea extract administration might be related to enzymes which modify epigenetic marks such as DNA methyltransferase 1 and 3a

Long-term effects of maternal resveratrol intake during lactation on cholesterol metabolism in male rat offspring

Resveratrol (RSV) can protect against non-communicable diseases by improving cholesterol metabolism. However, it is unclear that effects of maternal RSV intake on health of adult offspring. In this study, we examined effects of maternal RSV intake during lactation on cholesterol metabolism in adult male rat offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed a control diet (CON) supplemented with or without RSV (20 mg/kg body weight/day) during their lactation period. Male offspring were weaned onto a standard diet and maintained on this diet for 36 weeks. As a result, plasma cholesterol level significantly decreased in RSV offspring compared to CON offspring. Furthermore, a decrease in hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase level and an increase in hepatic LDL-receptor level were observed in the RSV offspring. These results indicate that maternal RSV intake causes long-term decrease in plasma cholesterol level in the offspring through suppression of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis and promotion of hepatic cholesterol uptake

Maternal resveratrol intake during lactation attenuates hepatic triglyceride and fatty acid synthesis in adult male rat offspring

Resveratrol (3,5,4-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural polyphenolic compound found in grapes and red wine and has been shown to exert protective effects on the liver preventing lipid accumulation induced by a high-fat diet. However, no studies have shown that the nutritional resveratrol intake by the parental generation has modified lipogenesis in an adult offspring. The aim of this study was to investigate whether maternal resveratrol intake during lactation affects lipogenesis in adult male rat offspring, and if it does, what is the molecular mechanistic basis. Six male pups born from mothers given a control diets during lactation (CC group) and six male pups born from mothers given a control diet as well as resveratrol during lactation (CR group) were fed a standard diet until sacrifice at 36 weeks. Adult male offspring from mothers given resveratrol during lactation (CR group) had lower body weight from the fourth week of lactation until adulthood, but no significant change was observed in the relative food intake. Low levels of plasma triacylglycerol were found in the CR group compared to the CC group. Histopathological analysis of the livers of adult male rat offspring revealed lipid accumulation in hepatocytes in the CC group, whereas lipid droplets were rare in the CR group. Hepatic protein levels of AMPK-phosphorylated at ser403, Sirt1, and Nampt in the CR group were upregulated significantly compared to the CC group. These results indicated the maternal resveratrol intake during lactation-induced activation of AMPK through Sirt1 upregulation. In this study, significant upregulation of the levels of precursor of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and downregulation of the ratio of active-SREBP-1c/precusor-SREBP-1c were observed in the CR group compared to the CC group. These results suggested that proteolytic processing of SREBP-1c was suppressed by AMPK in the livers of the CR group. It is well known that SREBP-1c regulates the lipogenic pathway by activating genes involved in triglyceride and fatty acid synthesis. The present study showed significant downregulation of hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) levels in the CR group. These results indicated that maternal resveratrol intake during lactation suppressed SREBP-1c cleavage and nuclear translocation and repressed SREBP-1c target gene expression such as FAS and ACC in the livers of adult male offspring. These changes attenuate hepatic triacylglycerol and fatty acid synthesis in adult male offspring

mRNA expression of SIRT1 and SIRT2 by real-time RT-PCR.

<p><b>A</b>) SIRT1 in the kidneys of 3 week old postnatal offspring, and <b>B</b>) SIRT2 in the kidneys of 3 week old postnatal offspring. Values are means ± S.E.M. (n = 3; error bars indicate S.E.M.). CC, control on control; LP, control on protein restricted; LPCL, 0.12% GTE diet on protein restricted; LPCH, 0.24% GTE diet on protein restricted. ^b* means P<0.05 against LP.</p

Schematic diagram of experimental design.

<p>Pregnant Wistar rats were fed control (20% casein) and low-protein (8% casein) diets during gestation. During lactation, each dam received a control or 0.12% or 0.24% green tea derived catechin-containing control diet.</p

Protein abundance of AMPK in the kidneys of 3 week old postnatal offspring using western blot analysis.

<p><b>A</b>) phosphorylated AMPK to β-actin, <b>B</b>) AMPK to β-actin and <b>C</b>) phosphorylated AMPK to total AMPK. Values are expressed as means ± S.E.M. (n = 4-7). CC, control on control; LP, control on protein restricted; LPCL, 0.12% GTE diet on protein restricted; LPCH, 0.24% GTE diet on protein restricted; and AMPK-p, phosphorylated AMPK. ^a*P < 0.05 compared with CC. ^b*P < 0.05 compared with LP. ^c*P < 0.05 compared with LPCL.</p