Search results for "maternal"

Evolutionary ecology of the trans-generational immune priming in an insect

2012

Trans-generational immune priming (TGIP) is defined as the plastic enhancement of offspring's immunocompetence following an immune challenge of the females of the parental generation. In vertebrates, this phenomenon is well described, and is achieved by the maternal transfer of antibodies. In invertebrates however, it has only recently been described. Since invertebrates do not possess antibodies, the mechanism of this transmission remains unknown. If the offspring is exposed to the maternal infection, an elevated immunocompetence can help it cope better with it. Nonetheless, apart from this benefit, several cues indicate that the TGIP bears some fitness costs for individuals. The evolution…

Relationship between mothers' thoughts and behaviors and their daughters' development of the body image

2019

Behaviors related to body image are influenced by learning and sociocultural environment; the parents can contribute to their children’s food problems through social values that they are supporting. Furthermore, it is known that during the development of the body image of girls it is fundamental the identification with the parent of the same sex. However, the extent of maternal influence is unknown, so our aim is to analyze the relationship between thoughts and behaviors of mothers and the development of their daughters’ body image, specifically on the variables: perceived image and ideal image, satisfaction and concern about body image, and social network behaviors. The study involved 53 p…

Appréciation d'un aliment nouveau et contrôle de la prise énergétique chez l'enfant : Impact de l'apprentissage

2013

In a context of high rate of obesity, understanding early formation of child eating behaviour, in qualitative and quantitative terms, is crucial. This work shows that new vegetable acceptance is positively associated with the introduction of variety since the beginning of the complementary feeding, and would be more difficult in 2 year old children. Moreover, the liking of a new food (vegetable or beverage) increases after familiarisation by repeated exposure. A transitional association between the new food and calories induces more stable liking than repeated exposure. However, a high energy density could limit intake of the new food by learned satiation. This result supports an ability of…

Sex-specific transgenerational effects of early developmental conditions in a passerine

2007

Most studies dealing with the trade-off between offspring number and quality have overlooked the long-term consequences for the progeny. High investment in offspring number usually results in an increased competition among nest mates. The deterioration of the early developmental conditions, due to this increased competition, can impair individual quality over the long term, and subsequently affect survival and lifetime fecundity. Moreover, the consequences of the allocation rule to offspring number vs. quality can extend across generations and give raise to grandparental effects. These transgenerational trade-offs have been explored rarely. In the present study, we manipulated the breeding …

Maternal representations and risk factors for depression in the migration process.

2013

During pregnancy and after childbirth women develop specific representations, expectations and fantasies about themselves and their children. Pregnancy involves both physical changes and relational and affective ones. The mother’s role is a culturally transmitted element that conveys values, myths and rules; birth can be considered as a cultural event with unique characteristics. A multi-factorial model is useful for tackling motherhood and depressive symptoms in migrant women, before and after delivery. The aim of this study is to analyse the motherhood experience in migrant women; data were collected during pregnancy and after delivery in order to evaluate maternal representation (IRMAG, …

Corrigendum: Wired for motherhood: induction of maternal care but not maternal aggression in virgin female CD1 mice

2021

Prenatal exposure to cannabinoids evokes long-lasting functional alterations by targeting CB 1 receptors on developing cortical neurons

2015

The CB1 cannabinoid receptor, the main target of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most prominent psychoactive compound of marijuana, plays a crucial regulatory role in brain development as evidenced by the neurodevelopmental consequences of its manipulation in animal models. Likewise, recreational cannabis use during pregnancy affects brain structure and function of the progeny. However, the precise neurobiological substrates underlying the consequences of prenatal THC exposure remain unknown. As CB1 signaling is known to modulate long-range corticofugal connectivity, we analyzed the impact of THC exposure on cortical projection neuron development. THC administration to pregnant mice in…

Relationship between egg features and maternal body size in the simultaneous hermaphrodite Oxynoe olivacea (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia, Sacoglossa)

2005

This paper provides information on spawn morphology and egg features of the stenophagous planktotrophic Mediterranean sacoglossan Oxynoe olivacea. Smith and Fretwell’s hypothesis, predicting that individuals of the same population growing in the same environmental conditions and varying in size should spawn eggs of a constant size, was tested in a population of O. olivacea living in the Straits of Messina. To determine whether (a) spawn mass size, (b) total egg number per spawn, and (c) egg size were related to parent size of O. olivacea, 21 egg masses (seven egg masses deposited by seven different 20 mm animals, seven egg masses deposited by seven different 25 mm animals and seven egg mass…

Life in varying environments: experimental evidence for delayed effects of juvenile environment on adult life history

2011

Summary 1. The effects of environment experienced during early development on phenotype as an adult has started to gain vast amounts of interest in various taxa. Some evidence on long-term effects of juvenile environment is available, but replicated experimental studies in wild animals are still lacking. 2. Here we report the first replicated experiment in wild mammals which examines the long-term effects of juvenile and adult environments on individual fitness (reproduction, survival and health). The early development of bank vole (Myodes glareolus) individuals took place in either foodsupplemented or un-supplemented outdoor enclosures. After the summer, adult individuals were reciprocally…

Variation in egg size and offspring phenotype among and within seven Arctic charr morphs.

2022

Maternal effects have the potential to alter early developmental processes of offspring and contribute to adaptive diversification. Egg size is a major contributor to offspring phenotype, which can influence developmental trajectories and potential resource use. However, to what extent intraspecific variation in egg size facilitates evolution of resource polymorphism is poorly understood. We studied multiple resource morphs of Icelandic Arctic charr, ranging from an anadromous morph—with a phenotype similar to the proposed ancestral phenotype—to sympatric morphs that vary in their degree of phenotypic divergence from the ancestral anadromous morph. We characterized variation in egg size and…