scholarly journals The expression of ovine placental lactogen, StAR and progesterone-associated steroidogenic enzymes in placentae of overnourished growing adolescent ewes

Reproduction ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 785-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G Lea ◽  
Peter Wooding ◽  
Ian Stewart ◽  
Lisa T Hannah ◽  
Stephen Morton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Hepatic Clearance ◽  
Transcript Abundance ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Placental Lactogen ◽  
Steroidogenic Enzymes ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Pregnant Adolescent ◽  
Singleton Pregnancies

Overnourishing pregnant adolescent sheep promotes maternal growth but reduces placental mass, lamb birth weight and circulating progesterone. This study aimed to determine whether altered progesterone reflected transcript abundance forStAR(cholesterol transporter) and the steroidogenic enzymes (Cyp11A1,Hsd3bandCyp17). Circulating and placental expression of ovine placental lactogen (oPL) was also investigated. Adolescent ewes with singleton pregnancies were fed high (H) or moderate (M) nutrient intake diets to restrict or support placental growth. Experiment 1: peripheral progesterone and oPL concentrations were measured in H (n=7) and M (n=6) animals across gestation (days 7–140). Experiment 2: progesterone was measured to mid- (day 81; M:n=11, H:n=13) or late gestation (day 130; M:n=21, H:n=22), placental oPL,StARand steroidogenic enzymes were measured by qPCR and oPL protein by immunohistochemistry. Experiment 1: in H vs M animals, term placental (P<0.05), total cotyledon (P<0.01) and foetal size (P<0.05) were reduced. Circulating oPL and progesterone were reduced at mid- (P<0.001,P<0.01) and late gestation (P<0.01,P<0.05) and oPL detection was delayed (P<0.01). Experiment 2: placental oPL was not altered by nutrition. In day 81 H animals, progesterone levels were reduced (P<0.001) but not related to placental or foetal size. Moreover, placental steroidogenic enzymes were unaffected. Day 130 progesterone (P<0.001) andCyp11A1(P<0.05) were reduced in H animals with intrauterine growth restriction (H+IUGR). Reduced mid-gestation peripheral oPL and progesterone may reflect altered placental differentiation and/or increased hepatic clearance respectively. Restricted placental growth and reduced biosynthesis may account for reduced progesterone in day 130 H+IUGR ewes.

scholarly journals Alterations in placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD) activities and fetal cortisol:cortisone ratios induced by nutritional restriction prior to conception and at defined stages of gestation in ewes

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (6) ◽  
pp. 717-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
S McMullen ◽  
J C Osgerby ◽  
L M Thurston ◽  
T S Gadd ◽  
P J Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Programming ◽  
Enzyme Activities ◽  
Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Fetal Plasma ◽  
Nutritional Restriction

In the placenta, cortisol is inactivated by NADP+- and NAD+-dependent isoforms of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD). Decreased placental 11βHSD activities have been implicated in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and fetal programming of adult diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate whether placental 11βHSD activities and fetal plasma cortisol:cortisone ratios could be affected by nutritional restriction of ewes (70% maintenance diet) throughout gestation, for specific stages of gestation, or prior to mating. Chronic nutritional restriction from day 26 of gestation onwards decreased NAD+-dependent 11βHSD activities by 52 ± 4% and 45 ± 6% on days 90 and 135 of gestation respectively. Although the decreases in enzyme activities were associated with fetal IUGR, the cortisol:cortisone ratio in fetal plasma was unaffected by chronic nutritional restriction throughout pregnancy. Nutritional restriction confined to early (days 26–45), mid- (days 46–90) and late gestation (days 91–135), or the 30 days prior to mating, had no significant effect on NAD+-dependent, placental 11βHSD activities, nor was there evidence of IUGR. However, nutritional restriction at each stage of pregnancy and prior to mating was associated with significant decreases in the fetal plasma cortisol:cortisone ratio (3.2 ± 0.7 in control fetuses; 1.0 to 1.6 in fetuses carried by nutritionally restricted ewes). We conclude that nutritional restriction of pregnant ewes for more than 45 consecutive days can significantly decrease NAD+-dependent placental 11βHSD activities in association with IUGR. While the cortisol:cortisone ratio in fetal plasma is sensitive to relatively acute restriction of nutrient intake, even prior to mating, this ratio does not reflect direct ex vivo measurements of placental 11βHSD activities.

scholarly journals Identification of Pathways Associated with Placental Adaptation to Maternal Nutrient Restriction in Sheep

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1031
Author(s):  
Ashley K. Edwards ◽  
Kathrin A. Dunlap ◽  
Thomas E. Spencer ◽  
M. Carey Satterfield
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Nutrient Restriction ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Adaptive Mechanisms ◽  
Singleton Pregnancies

Maternal nutrient restriction impairs placental growth and development, but available evidence suggests that adaptive mechanisms exist, in a subset of nutrient restricted (NR) ewes, that support normal fetal growth and do not result in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This study utilized Affymetrix GeneChip Bovine and Ovine Genome 1.0 ST Arrays to identify novel placental genes associated with differential fetal growth rates within NR ewes. Singleton pregnancies were generated by embryo transfer and, beginning on Day 35 of pregnancy, ewes received either a 100% National Research Council (NRC) (control-fed group; n = 7) or 50% NRC (NR group; n = 24) diet until necropsy on Day 125. Fetuses from NR ewes were separated into NR non-IUGR (n = 6) and NR IUGR (n = 6) groups based on Day 125 fetal weight for microarray analysis. Of the 103 differentially expressed genes identified, 15 were upregulated and 88 were downregulated in NR non-IUGR compared to IUGR placentomes. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that upregulated gene clusters in NR non-IUGR placentomes associated with cell membranes, receptors, and signaling. Downregulated gene clusters associated with immune response, nutrient transport, and metabolism. Results illustrate that placentomal gene expression in late gestation is indicative of an altered placental immune response, which is associated with enhanced fetal growth, in a subpopulation of NR ewes.

scholarly journals Extrinsic Factors Influencing Fetal Deformations and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Moh ◽  
John M. Graham ◽  
Isha Wadhawan ◽  
Pedro A. Sanchez-Lara
Keyword(s):  
Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Tissue Response ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Fetal Head ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Uterine Malformation

The causes of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are multifactorial with both intrinsic and extrinsic influences. While many studies focus on the intrinsic pathological causes, the possible long-term consequences resulting from extrinsic intrauterine physiological constraints merit additional consideration and further investigation. Infants with IUGR can exhibit early symmetric or late asymmetric growth abnormality patterns depending on the fetal stage of development, of which the latter is most common occurring in 70–80% of growth-restricted infants. Deformation is the consequence of extrinsic biomechanical factors interfering with normal growth, functioning, or positioning of the fetus in utero, typically arising during late gestation. Biomechanical forces play a critical role in the normal morphogenesis of most tissues. The magnitude and direction of force impact the form of the developing fetus, with a specific tissue response depending on its pliability and stage of development. Major uterine constraining factors include primigravida, small maternal size, uterine malformation, uterine fibromata, early pelvic engagement of the fetal head, aberrant fetal position, oligohydramnios, and multifetal gestation. Corrective mechanical forces similar to those that gave rise to the deformation to reshape the deformed structures are often used and should take advantage of the rapid postnatal growth to correct form.

Human Placental Lactogen and dU-Estrogen Levels in Normal Twin Pregnancies

1985 ◽  
Vol 34 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 59-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Kappel ◽  
K. Hansen ◽  
J. Moller ◽  
J. Faaborg-Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Reference Intervals ◽  
Placental Lactogen ◽  
Human Placental Lactogen ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Twin Pregnancies ◽  
Normal Twin ◽  
Singleton Pregnancies

AbstractReference intervals for human placental lactogen (hPL) and dU-estrogens (dU-E) in uncomplicated twin pregnancies are found to be higher than singleton pregnancies and considerably wider. Significantly more monozygotic than dizygotic pregnancies, and significantly more monoplacental than diplacental pregnancies showed hPL values below the median on the normal range curve. The same was not found for dU-E. Significantly more growth-retarded fetuses were found in monoplacental than diplacental pregnancies. The benefit of measuring the two parameters in order to identify the intrauterine growth retarded fetuses were evaluated in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Both parameters were found less suitable for the purpose.

scholarly journals Forage allowances offered to pregnant ewes until middle and late gestation: Organ priorities on foetus development

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-480
Author(s):  
M. J. Abud ◽  
A. Bielli ◽  
J. Ithurralde ◽  
A. Freitas-de-Melo ◽  
A. Álvarez-Oxiley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽  
Adrenal Glands ◽  
External Genitalia ◽  
Liver Weight ◽  
Reproductive Organ ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Organ Weights ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
High Forage

Effect of forage allowance before conception and until mid or late gestation was evaluated for effects on foetal and neonatal weights, carcass, nervous systems, metabolic and reproductive organ weights, body dimensions, and variation in intensity of the effects among organs. Effects of two forage allowances, HFA: high forage allowance (2.9 - 3.8 kg of dry matter (DM)/kg bodyweight (BW)) and LFA: low forage allowance (1.4 - 2.6 kg DM/kg BW) were evaluated from 23 days before conception until 70 or 122 days postpartum. On gestation day 70, nine ewes per treatment, each carrying one male foetus, were euthanized and their foetuses were removed. The foetuses were weighed, their carcass and organ weights were recorded, and their external genitalia dimensions were measured. Nine additional lambs per treatment were euthanized 12 hours after birth and the same data were recorded. Hearts from day 70 LFA foetuses were lighter, their external genitalia were smaller, and their foetal weight tended to be less than in HFA. Newborn lambs from LFA ewes had lighter carcasses, livers, kidneys, adrenal glands and testes, shorter penises, but higher brain to liver weight ratios than in HFA. The cerebellum, brain, and heart weights of LFA and HFA newborn lambs did not differ. Low forage allowance until late gestation influenced both foetal and lamb weights and affected organ weights differentially. Thus, the treatments induced differences in prioritization of nutrients, with the central nervous system receiving the highest priority, and carcass and external genitalia the lowest. Keywords: foetal programming, intrauterine growth restriction, lambs, undernutrition

scholarly journals Placental fatty acid transport across late gestation in a baboon model of intrauterine growth restriction

2020 ◽  
Vol 598 (12) ◽  
pp. 2469-2489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie S. Chassen ◽  
Veronique Ferchaud‐Roucher ◽  
Claire Palmer ◽  
Cun Li ◽  
Thomas Jansson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Fatty Acid Transport ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Baboon Model
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