From the Soma Lab
The Soma lab has recently published two papers; “Glucocorticoid production in the thymus and brain: Immunosteroids and neurosteroids” and “Maternal sucrose consumption alters behaviour and steroids in adult rat offspring”.
Glucocorticoid production in the thymus and brain
The study analyzed glucocorticoid measurements in clinical and research studies. The data was examined for differences between systemic and local GC levels, with focus on local production in the thymus and brain. Additionally, they suggest topics for future research looking more specifically at the roles of immunosteroids and neurosteroids in neonatal programming and the clinical relevance of local GC modulators.
Maternal sucrose consumption alters behaviour and steroids in adult rat offspring
The study involved feeding female rats a sucrose diet or isocaloric control diet before, during, and after pregnancy. After birth, offspring were fed a low-sucrose diet. The major findings of this study indicated different outcomes for offspring that were male or female. Male offspring from maternal sucrose diets had reduced body mass and visceral adipose tissue. Additionally, they preferred high-sucrose and high-fat diets and exhibited higher motivation for sugar rewards. Female offspring of the maternal sucrose diet showed higher basal corticosterone levels.
Read the full papers here:
Glucorticoid Production in the Thymus and Brain
Maternal Sucrose Consumption