Table 1 Significant results from the untargeted metabolomic screen of liver from female Dex exposed offspring compared to their saline controls. Compounds identified as ** indicate metabolites that reached the two cut-off criteria (p < 0.05 and fold change > 2 or < 0.5) while compounds identifed as * indicate metabolites that reach the p < 0.05 criteria only. Upregulations are presented first in descending order with downregulations following (n = 8).

From: Untargeted metabolomics reveals sex-specific differences in lipid metabolism of adult rats exposed to dexamethasone in utero

Name

Fold change

p value

Description

Pathway(s)

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxypentanal**

6.228

1.31E−07

Heterosaccharide

Upstream of glycerol metabolism

Ophthalmic acid**

4.303

3.55E−04

L-glutamine derivative; analogue of glutathione

Cys and Met metabolism

Propionylcarnitine**

2.059

0.0269

Acylcarnitine; a fatty ester lipid molecule

Lipid/fatty acid (FA) metabolism; lipid transport, oxidation of branched chain FAs

Adenosine*

1.970

0.0047

Component of DNA and RNA; neurotransmitter and potent vasodilator

Purine metabolism; cAMP signaling pathway

Adenine*

1.911

0.0109

Purine nucleobase

Purine metabolism

Creatinine*

1.905

0.0012

Product of creatine phosphate

Arg and Pro metabolism

Spermidine*

1.869

8.44E−05

Polyamine; helps stabilize membranes and nucleic acid structures

Arg, Pro, Ala, and glutathione metabolism; bile secretion

Glutathione disulfide*

1.775

0.0416

Oxidized form of glutathione

Glutathione metabolism

Choline*

1.683

0.0221

Precursor of acetylcholine

Many pathways

L-(−)-methionine*

1.667

0.0493

Essential amino acid

Cys and Met metabolism

Hypoxanthine*

1.634

0.0354

Purine derivative

Purine metabolism

L-(+)-Ergothioneine*

1.558

0.0385

Metabolite of His; antioxidant properties

Histidine metabolism

3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine*

1.486

0.0186

Intermediate of FA oxidation

Lipid/FA metabolism; lipid transport

Nicotinamide*

1.464

0.0433

Pyridine derivative; precursor for NAD + /NADH and NADP + /NADPH

Nicotinate/Nicotinamide metabolism

Phosphatidylethanol-amine (18:2/18:2)**

0.006

6.18E-05

Phosphatidylethanol-amine lipid

Glycerophospholipid metabolism; lipid transport

Lactosylceramide (d18:1/12:0)**

0.216

0.0018

Important ceramide; assists in stabilizing plasma membrane

Phospholipid/ sphingolipid and lipid/FA metabolism; lipid transport

Linolenelaidic acid**

0.308

0.0116

Polyunsaturated omega-6 long chain fatty acid

Lipid/FA metabolism; lipid transport

Phosphatidylserine (14:0/14:1)**

0.491

0.0012

Phosphatidylserine lipid

Glycerophospholipid and lipid metabolism; lipid transport

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