Switching Maternal Dietary Intake at the End of the First Trimester Has Profound Effects on Placental Development and Fetal Growth in Adolescent Ewes Carrying Singleton Fetuses1

Background Maternal obesity may disrupt the developmental process of the fetus during gestation in rats. Recent evidence suggests that taurine can exert protective role against detrimental influence of obesogenic diets. This study aimed to examine the effect of maternal cafeteria diet and/or taurine supplementation on maternal dietary intake, plasma metabolites, fetal growth and development. Methods Female Wistar rats were fed a control diet (CON), CON supplemented with 1.5% taurine in drinking water (CONT), cafeteria diet (CAF) or CAF supplemented with taurine (CAFT) from weaning. After 8 weeks all animals were mated and maintained on the same diets during pregnancy and lactation. Results Dietary intakes were significantly different between the groups. Both CAF and CAFT fed dams consumed less water in comparison to CON and CONT dams. Taurine supplementation only increased plasma taurine concentrations in CONT group. Maternal plasma adiponectin concentrations increased in CAF and CAFT fed dams compared to CON and CONT fed dams and there was no effect of taurine. Hyperleptinemia was observed in CAF fed dams but not in CAFT fed dams. Malondialdehyde was significantly increased only in CAF fed dams. Litter size, sex ratio and birth weight were similar between the groups. There was an increase in neonatal mortality in CONT group. Discussion This study showed that maternal taurine supplementation exerted modest protective effects on cafeteria diet induced maternal obesity. The increased neonatal mortality in CONT neonates indicates possible detrimental effects of taurine supplementation in the setting of normal pregnancy. Therefore, future studies should investigate the optimal dose of taurine supplementation and long term potential effects on the offspring.

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Placental volume measurement by 3D-ultrasound in the first trimester and prediction of fetal growth

Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde ◽

10.1055/s-0028-1088601 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 68 (S 01) ◽

Author(s):

B Meurer ◽

N Dinkel ◽

N Hart ◽

J Siemer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fetal Growth ◽

First Trimester ◽

3D Ultrasound ◽

Volume Measurement ◽

Placental Volume

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Expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) and telomerase in choriocarcinomas

Surgical and Experimental Pathology ◽

10.1186/s42047-020-00080-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Luciana Pietro ◽

Fátima Bottcher-Luiz ◽

Lício Augusto Velloso ◽

Joseane Morari ◽

Marcelo Nomura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Transformation ◽

First Trimester ◽

Bewo Cell ◽

Placental Development ◽

Trimester Abortion ◽

Bewo Cells ◽

Culture Cells ◽

Bewo Cell Line ◽

Blastocyst Implantation ◽

First Trimester Of Pregnancy

Abstract Blastocyst implantation and neoplastic invasion have some common properties related to tissue invasion, mediated by various cytokines. Aim To compare the expression of IL-6, STAT-3 and telomerase in material of abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy, at term placentas and in choriocarcinomas. Methods Immunohistochemical reactions were performed on formalin fixed and included in paraffin samples from 3 groups: abortions, normal at term placentas and choriocarcinomas. Western Blot and Real-Time PCR assays were performed on fresh material from BeWo cell line and in primary culture cells of normal placenta. Results Immunohistochemical reactions: IL-6 expression was moderate in the first trimester abortion samples and high in at term placentas and choriocarcinomas. STAT-3 was strongly positive in all groups. Telomerase expression was absent in normal at term placentas but was increased in BeWo cells. Conclusion IL-6 and STAT-3 are present in the invasion process of the normal placental development and they are maintained during the malignant transformation to choriocarcinoma. The intense telomerase expression observed in BeWo cells was strongly associated with the malignant phenotype, confirming it as a good marker for cell transformation and tumor progression.

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Maternal bisphenol urine concentrations, fetal growth and adverse birth outcomes: A population-based prospective cohort

Environmental Health ◽

10.1186/s12940-021-00747-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chalana M. Sol ◽

Charissa van Zwol - Janssens ◽

Elise M. Philips ◽

Alexandros G. Asimakopoulos ◽

Maria-Pilar Martinez-Moral ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Outcomes ◽

Fetal Growth ◽

Head Circumference ◽

Lower Risk ◽

First Trimester ◽

Population Based ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Bisphenol S ◽

Fetal Head ◽

Urine Concentrations

Abstract Background Exposure to bisphenols may affect fetal growth and development. The trimester-specific effects of bisphenols on repeated measures of fetal growth remain unknown. Our objective was to assess the associations of maternal bisphenol urine concentrations with fetal growth measures and birth outcomes and identify potential critical exposure periods. Methods In a population-based prospective cohort study among 1379 pregnant women, we measured maternal bisphenol A, S and F urine concentrations in the first, second and third trimester. Fetal head circumference, length and weight were measured in the second and third trimester by ultrasound and at birth. Results An interquartile range increase in maternal pregnancy-averaged bisphenol S concentrations was associated with larger fetal head circumference (difference 0.18 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01 to 0.34) standard deviation scores (SDS), p-value< 0.05) across pregnancy. When focusing on specific critical exposure periods, any detection of first trimester bisphenol S was associated with larger second and third trimester fetal head circumference (difference 0.15 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.26) and 0.12 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.23) SDS, respectively) and fetal weight (difference 0.12 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.22) and 0.16 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.26) SDS, respectively). The other bisphenols were not consistently associated with fetal growth outcomes. Any detection of bisphenol S and bisphenol F in first trimester was also associated with a lower risk of being born small size for gestational age (Odds Ratio 0.56 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.74) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.85), respectively). Bisphenols were not associated with risk of preterm birth. Conclusions Higher maternal bisphenol S urine concentrations, especially in the first trimester, seem to be related with larger fetal head circumference, higher weight and a lower risk of being small size for gestational age at birth.

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Diabetes and pre-eclampsia affecting pregnancy: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Journal of Investigative Medicine ◽

10.1136/jim-2017-000537 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 728-732 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ram R Kalagiri ◽

Niraj Vora ◽

Jessica L Wilson ◽

Syeda H Afroze ◽

Venkata N Raju ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fetal Growth ◽

Fetal Growth Restriction ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Growth Restriction ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Placental Development ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Diabetes Status ◽

Elevated Glucose ◽

Post Hoc

The interaction between pre-eclampsia and diabetes mellitus (DM) is far from being completely understood. In this study, we compared normal pregnancies with those complicated with pre-eclampsia, gestational DM, and/or pre-existing diabetes to assess the effects of hyperglycemia on placental development. AnInstitutional Review Board (IRB) approved retrospective cross-sectional study with 621 subjects was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using Duncan’s post hoc test and analysis of variance. Regardless of diabetes status, patients with pre-eclampsia delivered prematurely. Patients in the group with pre-eclampsia and pregestational diabetes delivered much earlier, at 35.0±0.4 weeks, when compared with the patients that had pre-eclampsia with gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia with no diabetes (*P<0.05 for each). Additionally, patients with pre-existing diabetes who developed pre-eclampsia delivered smaller babies than those with pre-existing diabetes without pre-eclampsia (1.00±0.03, P<0.05 for each). Pre-existing diabetes with added insult of pre-eclampsia led to fetal growth restriction. This outcome validates the understanding that elevated glucose earlier in pregnancy alters placentogenesis and leads to fetal growth restriction.

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Differential Effects of Maternal Heroin and Methadone Use on Birthweight

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.58.5.681 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 681-685

Author(s):

Stephen R. Kandall ◽

Susan Albin ◽

Joyce Lowinson ◽

Beatrice Berle ◽

Arthur I. Eidelman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fetal Growth ◽

Growth Retardation ◽

Intrauterine Growth Retardation ◽

Methadone Maintenance ◽

First Trimester ◽

Control Group ◽

Fetal Growth Retardation ◽

Intrauterine Growth ◽

Methadone Dosage ◽

History Of

An analysis of birthweights of 337 neonates in relation to history of maternal narcotic usage was undertaken Mean birthweight of infants born to mothers abusing heroin during the pregnancy was 2,490 gm, an effect primarily of intrauterine growth retardation. Low mean birthweight (2,615 gm) was also seen in infants born to mothers who had abused heroin only prior to this pregnancy, and mothers who had used both heroin and methadone during the pregnancy (2,535 gm). Infants born to mothers on methadone maintenance during the pregnancy had significantly higher mean birthweights (2,961 gm), but lower than the control group (3,176 gm). A highly significant relationship was observed between maternal methadone dosage in the first trimester and birthweight, i.e., the higher the dosage, the larger the infant. Heroin causes fetal growth retardation, an effect which may persist beyond the period of addiction. Methadone may promote fetal growth in a dose-related fashion after maternal use of heroin.

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