Intrauterine development is impaired in offspring of mothers exposed to placental endocrine malfunction in utero

Objective: Exposure to particulate matter 2.5 μm (PM2.5) during intrauterine development is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes at adulthood. Deteriorations in cardiac function are observed with increased myocardial demand in PM2.5-exposed individuals. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of in utero PM2.5exposure on exercise training capacity and cardiac function in adult mice. Methods: Female FVB mice were exposed either to filtered air (FA) or PM2.5at an average concentration of 73.61μg/m 3 for 6h/day, 7days/wk throughout pregnancy. 12wk old male offspring from exposed dams were assigned to in utero FA (n=5) or PM2.5 (n=5) exposed groups which underwent exercise training for 3 weeks (housed with running wheels for 3 weeks). We measured total distance travelled and performed echocardiography at baseline, 1, 2 and 3 weeks. Results: There was a progressive decrease in total distance travelled each week in the in utero PM2.5 exposed mice (Week 1: 12.2±3.46 Km FA, 5.32±2.06 Km PM2.5; Week 2: 41.4±9.62 Km FA, 17.28±6.60 Km PM2.5; Week 3: 61.8±16.59 Km FA, 25.92.±8.62 Km PM2.5) compared to the in utero FA exposed mice. When comparing to their respective sedentary counterparts, the FA exercise group showed increased fractional shortening (%FS), left ventricular end systolic (LVESd) and diastolic (LVEDd) diameters, suggesting eccentric hypertrophy. There was a modest decrease in %FS and marked increase in posterior wall thickness during diastole (PWTd) in the PM2.5 exercise group suggesting concentric hypertrophy. Comparison of in utero FA vs PM2.5 exercise groups after 3 weeks of exercise training showed reduced %FS and marked decrease in LVEDd in the PM2.5 exercise group compared to the FA exercise group. Furthermore, a decrease in PWTs and increased PWTd was also observed in the PM2.5 group compared to FA controls. Conclusions: In utero PM2.5exposure reduced exercise capacity at adulthood and the development of both systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Thus, our study showed that individuals residing in high pollution areas are predisposed to develop cardiac dysfunction under conditions of increased myocardial demand.

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Prenatally Diagnosed Testicular Torsion: A Rare Condition That Causes Dilemma in Management

Case Reports in Pediatrics ◽

10.1155/2021/8825763 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Michael Gerbo ◽

Chad Crigger ◽

Yasamin Samadi ◽

Michael C. Ost ◽

Osama Al-Omar

Keyword(s):

Testicular Torsion ◽

Surgical Intervention ◽

Rare Condition ◽

In Utero ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Intrauterine Development ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Surgical Exploration ◽

Diagnosis And Management

Background. Prenatal testicular torsion (PTT) is exceedingly rare in intrauterine development, often diagnosed at the time of birth and very rarely diagnosed in utero during routine gestational ultrasound. As a result, incidence is unknown, and there exists no consensus regarding the pathophysiology of this phenomenon nor universally recognized algorithms and guidelines regarding its diagnosis and management. Case Presentation. We present the case of an antenatally diagnosed torsion and our subsequent management which included ipsilateral orchiectomy and prophylactic contralateral orchiopexy via a scrotal approach. Conclusion. While controversy regarding surgical intervention in patients with unilateral PTT exists due to poor salvage rates—estimated to be less than 1%—the risk of anorchia is higher in affected patients due to limitations in the accuracy of detecting bilateral testicular involvement. Risk of misdiagnosis of bilaterality may lead to lasting sequelae such as infertility and devastating psychological consequences for affected patients, supporting the need for surgical exploration, as was performed in our case.

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Abstract 184: Exposure To Air Pollution In Utero Causes Persistent Cardiovascular Dysfunction

Circulation Research ◽

10.1161/res.115.suppl_1.184 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 115 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Loren Wold ◽

Matthew Gorr ◽

Clayton Eichenseer ◽

Dane Youtz ◽

Markus Velten

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Intrauterine Growth Retardation ◽

In Utero ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Ambient Particulate Matter ◽

Intrauterine Development ◽

Intrauterine Growth ◽

And Function ◽

Fractional Shortening

Exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy can have devastating effects on offspring, inducing intrauterine growth retardation and maturation deficits. These developmental insufficiencies can affect the formation and function of the adult heart. We hypothesized that exposure to air pollution in utero would induce abnormal cardiac function at adulthood. FVB mice were exposed (6h/day, 7d/wk) to environmentally relevant concentrations of ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) or filtered air (FA) beginning when animals were paired for breeding. After birth, both groups remained in FA. Cardiac echocardiography was performed at 10 weeks of age. Birth weight was reduced in pups exposed to PM2.5 during intrauterine development compared to FA exposed pups, and litter size did not differ significantly between groups. Echocardiography revealed reduced left ventricular fractional shortening with greater left ventricular end systolic diameter in PM2.5 exposed mice at 10 weeks of age. These results were similar to data from mice exposed perinatally (until weaning). This study supports the hypothesis that exposure to air pollution in utero can lead to heart dysfunction at adulthood.

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Genomic imprinting, action, and interaction of maternal and fetal genomes

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1411253111 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 112 (22) ◽

pp. 6834-6840 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Eric B. Keverne

Keyword(s):

Genomic Imprinting ◽

Purifying Selection ◽

Gene Families ◽

In Utero ◽

Imprinted Genes ◽

Intrauterine Development ◽

Leading Role ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

In Utero Development ◽

And Behavior

Mammalian viviparity (intrauterine development of the fetus) introduced a new dimension to brain development, with the fetal hypothalamus and fetal placenta developing at a time when the fetal placenta engages hypothalamic structures of the maternal generation. Such transgenerational interactions provide a basis for ensuring optimal maternalism in the next generation. This success has depended on genomic imprinting and a biased role of the matriline. Maternal methylation imprints determine parent of origin expression of genes fundamental to both placental and hypothalamic development. The matriline takes a further leading role for transgenerational reprogramming of these imprints. Developmental errors are minimized by the tight control that imprinted genes have on regulation of downstream evolutionary expanded gene families important for placental and hypothalamic development. Imprinted genes themselves have undergone purifying selection, providing a framework of stability for in utero development with most growth variance occurring postnatally. Mothers, not fathers, take the lead in the endocrinological and behavior adaptations that nurture, feed, and protect the infant. In utero coadaptive development of the placenta and hypothalamus has thus required a concomitant development to ensure male masculinization. Only placental male mammals evolved the sex determining SRY, which activates Sox9 for testes formation. SRY is a hybrid gene of Dgcr8 expressed in the developing placenta and Sox3 expressed in hypothalamic development. This hybridization of genes that take their origin from the placenta and hypothalamus has enabled critical in utero timing for the development of fetal Leydig cells, and hence testosterone production for hypothalamic masculinization.

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Alterations in Ultrastructure of Skeletal Muscle From Newborn Guinea Pigs Following in Utero Exposure to Ethanol

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100120126 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 686-687

Author(s):

C. Uphoff ◽

C. Nyquist-Battie ◽

T.B. Cole

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Muscle Development ◽

In Utero ◽

Ethanol Exposure ◽

Prenatally Exposed ◽

Chronic Alcoholic ◽

Test Kit ◽

Food And Water Intake ◽

Post Intubation

Ultrastructural alterations of skeletal muscle have been observed in adult chronic alcoholic patients. However, no such study has been performed on individuals prenatally exposed to ethanol. In order to determine if ethanol exposure in utero in the latter stages of muscle development was deleterious, skeletal muscle was obtained from newborn guinea pigs treated in the following manner. Six Hartly strain pregnant guinea pigs were randomly assigned to either the ethanol or the pair-intubated groups. Twice daily the 3 ethanol-treated animals were intubated with Ensure (Ross Laboratories) liquid diet containing 30% ethanol (6g/Kg pre-pregnant body weight per day) from day 35 of gestation until parturition at day 70±1 day. Serum ethanol levels were determined at 1 hour post-intubation by the Sigma alcohol test kit. For pair-intubation the Ensure diet contained sucrose substituted isocalorically for ethanol. Both food and water intake were monitored.

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