Project description:Effects of Intrauterine Growth Restriction on Ribosomal Subunit mRNA and Protein Expression in the Frontal Cortex of Near-Term Fetal Baboons
Project description:Poor maternal nutrition causes intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); however, its effects on fetal cardiac development are unclear. We have developed a baboon model of moderate maternal undernutrition, leading to IUGR. We hypothesized that the IUGR affects fetal cardiac structure and metabolism. Six control pregnant baboons ate ad-libitum (CTRL)) or 70% CTRL from 0.16 of gestation (G). Fetuses were euthanized at C-section at 0.9G under general anesthesia. Male but not female IUGR fetuses showed left ventricular fibrosis inversely correlated with birth weight. Expression of extracellular matrix protein TSP-1 was increased (p<0.05) in male IUGR. Expression of cardiac fibrotic markers TGFß, SMAD3 and ALK-1 were downregulated in male IUGRs with no difference in females. Autophagy was present in male IUGR evidenced by upregulation of ATG7 expression and lipidation LC3B. Global miRNA expression profiling revealed 56 annotated and novel cardiac miRNAs exclusively dysregulated in female IUGR, and 38 cardiac miRNAs were exclusively dysregulated in males (p<0.05). Fifteen (CTRL) and 23 (IUGR) miRNAs, were differentially expressed between males and females (p<0.05) suggesting sexual dimorphism, which can be at least partially explained by differential expression of upstream transcription factors (e.g. HNF4a, and NF?B p50). Lipidomics analysis of fetal cardiac tissue exhibited a net increase in diacylglycerol and plasmalogens and a decrease in triglycerides and phosphatidylcholines. In summary, IUGR resulting from decreased maternal nutrition is associated with sex-dependent dysregulations in cardiac structure, miRNA expression, and lipid metabolism. If these changes persist postnatally, they may program offspring for higher later life cardiac risk.
Project description:Maternal over- and undernutrition in pregnancy plays a critical role in fetal brain development and function. The effects of different maternal diet compositions on intrauterine programming of the fetal brain in the absence of maternal obesity or maternal undernutrition is a lesser-explored area. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of two different maternal diets on fetal brain gene expression signatures, fetal/neonatal growth, and neonatal behavior in a mouse model. Female C57Bl/6J mice were fed one of two commercially-available chow diets (pelleted vs. powdered) with differing micronutrient and carbohydrate compositions throughout pregnancy and lactation. The powdered chow diet was richer in carbohydrates and lower in micronutrients than the pelleted chow diet, among other differences. On embryonic day 15.5, embryos were weighed and measured. Fetal brains were snap frozen. RNA was extracted from fetal forebrains for five fetuses per diet group and hybridized to whole genome expression microarrays. Functional analyses identified significant upregulation of canonical pathways and upstream regulators involved in cell cycle regulation, synaptic plasticity, and sensory nervous system development in the fetal brain, and significant downregulation of pathways related to cell and embryo death. Pathways related to DNA damage response, humoral and cell-mediated immune response, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, small molecule biosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism were also dysregulated. Maternal dietary content is an important variable for researchers evaluating fetal brain development and offspring behavior to consider. Selection of a chow diet matched for micronutrients is crucial to avoid unexpected or undesired effects on offspring brain development and behavior.