rapid-isolation-of-human-breast-milk-derived-extracellular-vesicles

Rapid Isolation of Human Breast Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanosized particles approximately 20-1000 nm in size, are rapidly garnering attention for their therapeutic potential. ...

Washington University-St. Louis

The growth and function of the vertebrate brain are impacted by environmental stimuli and early life stress. Adults who experience chronic stress during early life are more likely to suffer various neurodevelopmental and health issues. However, our understanding of how these specific environmental signals at different developmental stages affect brain development is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated if stress in parents prior to conception modulates neurodevelopment in offspring. We used a chronic unpredictable stress model adapted to zebrafish, which is an increasingly popular vertebrate model in neuroscience research to investigate the effects of both maternal and paternal preconception stress on offspring behavior. We evaluated the responsiveness of three anxiety-related behavioral paradigms in zebrafish: the novel tank test, thigmotaxis, and shoaling behavior. We found larvae from stressed females exhibited anxiety-like behavior in a thigmotaxis assay. As these larvae matured into adults, they continued to exhibit anxiety-like behavior in a novel tank and shoaling behavioral assay. These studies indicate preconception stress exposure in parents can induce life-long alterations in offspring neurodevelopment. Further, these results expand the hypothesis that chronically elevated glucocorticoid signaling not only in stressed mothers, but also stressed dads can affect neurodevelopment in offspring. We propose that zebrafish may be a useful model to study the transgenerational effects of chronic stress mediated via the maternal and paternal line.

Parental preconception stress in zebrafish induces long-lasting anxiety in offspring.

Report of the Annual Meeting of the 2023 AAP Section on Surgery (SoSu).

The mammalian intestine is a highly organized and complex system essential for nutrient absorption, immune response, and homeostasis. Disruptions in its development can lead to various gut diseases, ranging from congenital anomalies to inflammatory and neoplastic disorders. Caenorhabditis elegans (C elegans) has emerged as a valuable model organism for studying intestinal development and gut diseases due to its genetic tractability and transparent body. This review explores the significant contributions of C elegans research to our understanding of intestinal biology, examining historical milestones, anatomical and physiological insights, and its utility in modeling gut diseases and drug discovery. We also draw comparative insights into mammalian systems and propose future research directions. The findings highlight the potential of C elegans as an essential model system for advancing our knowledge of intestinal development and its implications for human health.

Article	Year
Parental preconception stress in zebrafish induces long-lasting anxiety in offspring. Physiology & behavior\| PubMed ID: 38301945	2024
Report of the Annual Meeting of the 2023 AAP Section on Surgery (SoSu). Journal of pediatric surgery\| PubMed ID: 38653669	2024
Intestinal Development and Gut Disease: Contributions From the Caenorhabditis elegans Model. The Journal of surgical research\| PubMed ID: 39730237	2025
Roses & Thorns of academic surgery: Paving the way for others with Dr. Colin Martin. American journal of surgery\| PubMed ID: 39765450	2025

Colin Martin

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