Transcription profiling of mouse placenta to determine the relative effects of maternal and fetal genotype on the placental transcriptome at E18.5

ABSTRACT: The placenta plays a crucial role in the normal growth and development in mammals by serving as an interface for nutrients, respiratory gases and physiological signals between the mother and fetus. Here we use a novel embryo transfer system in mice to identify the major physiological pathways in the placenta that are principally influenced by altered maternal environment. Embryos of identical genotype were transferred at the one cell stage into surrogate mothers either of the same strain or from a different strain. We analyzed the relative effects of maternal and fetal genotype on fetal weight, placental weight and the placental transcriptome at E18.5. The results show that maternal genotype overrides fetal genotype as the principal regulator of fetal weight (p<0.0001). Microarray analysis of the transcriptome in placentas revealed that a small fraction (0.25%) of placental genes are specifically regulated by maternal genotype (p<0.05, FDR<0.10). Pathway analysis of these genes using the programs Gene Ontology and MetaCore from GeneGO inc. revealed highest statistical significance in signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and lipid metabolism. These results provide a mechanistic understanding of important molecular pathways involved in maternal regulation of fetal growth and development.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Maureen Sartor 

PROVIDER: E-MEXP-2479 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress