Maternal chewing during prenatal stress ameliorates stress-induced lower bone mass in adult offspring

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462916
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Prosthodontics/ Dental materials science and
• Research Institution: University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (2015-2016); Gifu University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Kagaku Azuma 産業医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (20273146)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 妊娠ストレス / 咀嚼刺激 / 骨粗鬆症 / ストレスホルモン / 骨代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined the effects of maternal chewing during prenatal stress on bone microstructure of the adult offspring. Pregnant mice were randomly divided into control, stress, and stress/chewing groups. Mice in the stress and stress/chewing groups were placed in a ventilated restraint tube, and initiated on day 12 of gestation and continued until delivery. Mice in the stress/chewing group were allowed to chew a wooden stick. The bone response of 5-month-old male offspring was evaluated. Prenatal stress resulted in significant decrease of bone mass in the offspring. Maternal chewing during prenatal stress improved the lower bone volume and bone microstructural deterioration induced by prenatal stress in the offspring. These findings indicate that maternal chewing during prenatal stress can ameliorate prenatal stress-induced lower bone mass in adult offspring. Chewing during prenatal stress in dams could be an effective coping strategy to prevent lower bone mass in their offspring.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学