Fetal ovine skeletal and cardiac muscle transcriptomics are differentially altered by increased maternal cortisol during gestation.

ABSTRACT: We have previously found that in utero exposure to excess maternal cortisol (1 mg/kg/day) in late gestation increases the incidence of stillbirth during labor and produces fetal bradycardia at birth. In the interventricular septum, mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) was decreased, and transcriptomics and metabolomics were consistent with altered mitochondrial metabolism. The present study uses transcriptomics to model effects of increased maternal cortisol on fetal biceps femoris. Transcriptomic modeling revealed that pathways related to mitochondrial metabolism were downregulated, whereas pathways for regulation of reactive oxygen species and activation of the apoptotic cascade were upregulated. Mt-DNA and the protein levels of cytochrome C were significantly decreased in the biceps femoris. RT-P

SUBMITTER: Joseph S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7191423 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature