Maternal obesity alters brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling in the placenta in a sexually dimorphic manner.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Obesity is a major clinical problem in obstetrics being associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and fetal programming. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a validated miR-210 target, is necessary for placental development, fetal growth, glucose metabolism, and energy homeostasis. Plasma BDNF levels are reduced in obese individuals; however, placental BDNF has yet to be studied in the context of maternal obesity. In this study, we investigated the effect of maternal obesity and sexual dimorphism on placental BDNF signaling.

Methods

BDNF signaling was measured in placentas from lean (pre-pregnancy BMI < 25) and obese (pre-pregnancy BMI>30) women at term without medical complications that delivered via cesarean section without labor. MiRNA-210, BDNF mRNA,

SUBMITTER: Prince CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5193148 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature