Effect of Postnatal Epigallocatechin-Gallate Treatment on Cardiac Function in Mice Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether postnatal EGCG treatment could mitigate cardiac dysfunction caused by prenatal alcohol exposure in mice.
Results Summary
Postnatal EGCG therapy restored physiological levels of cardiac biomarkers (BNP, Hif1α, Nrf2, Bcl-2, Troponin I, glutathione peroxidase, Bax) and improved cardiac dysfunction (ejection fraction, left ventricle posterior wall thickness, Tei index) in mice prenatally exposed to alcohol.
Population
C57BL/6J mice prenatally exposed to alcohol (Mediterranean or binge patterns).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (EGCG-supplemented water).
Duration
From birth to postnatal Day 60.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
prenatal alcohol exposure (Mediterranean pattern) | increase | BNP | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | increased | #1 |
prenatal alcohol exposure (Mediterranean pattern) | increase | Hif1α | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | increased | #2 |
prenatal alcohol exposure (Mediterranean pattern) | decrease | Nrf2 | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | decreased | #3 |
prenatal alcohol exposure (binge pattern) | decrease | Bcl-2 | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | downregulated | #4 |
prenatal alcohol exposure (both patterns) | increase | Troponin I | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | increased | #5 |
prenatal alcohol exposure (both patterns) | increase | glutathione peroxidase | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | increased | #6 |
prenatal alcohol exposure (both patterns) | increase | Bax | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | increased | #7 |
prenatal alcohol exposure | decrease | cardiac dysfunction | exposed mice | - | led to | #8 |
prenatal alcohol exposure | decrease | ejection fraction | exposed mice | - | reduced | #9 |
prenatal alcohol exposure | decrease | left ventricle posterior wall thickness at diastole | exposed mice | - | reduced | #10 |
prenatal alcohol exposure | decrease | Tei index | exposed mice | - | reduced | #11 |
EGCG postnatal therapy | neutral | physiological levels of these biomarkers | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | restored | #12 |
EGCG postnatal therapy | increase | cardiac dysfunction | mice prenatally exposed to alcohol | - | improved | #13 |
postnatal EGCG treatment | decrease | cardiac damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure | the offspring | - | attenuates | #14 |
Prenatal alcohol exposure affects the cardiovascular health of the offspring. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may be a protective agent against it, but no data are available regarding its impact on cardiac dysfunction. We investigated the presence of cardiac alterations in mice prenatally exposed to alcohol and the effect of postnatal EGCG treatment on cardiac function and related biochemical pathways. C57BL/6J pregnant mice received 1.5 g/kg/day (Mediterranean pattern), 4.5 g/kg/day (binge pattern) of ethanol, or maltodextrin until Day 19 of pregnancy. Post-delivery, treatment groups received EGCG-supplemented water. At post-natal Day 60, functional echocardiographies were performed. Heart biomarkers of apoptosis, oxidative stress, and cardiac damage were analyzed by Western blot. BNP and Hif1α increased and Nrf2 decreased in mice prenatally exposed to the Mediterranean alcohol pattern. Bcl-2 was downregulated in the binge PAE drinking pattern. Troponin I, glutathione peroxidase, and Bax increased in both ethanol exposure patterns. Prenatal alcohol exposure led to cardiac dysfunction in exposed mice, evidenced by a reduced ejection fraction, left ventricle posterior wall thickness at diastole, and Tei index. EGCG postnatal therapy restored the physiological levels of these biomarkers and improved cardiac dysfunction. These findings suggest that postnatal EGCG treatment attenuates the cardiac damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure in the offspring.