Project description:The placenta is a dynamic reproductive organ for cattle reproduction and is indispensable for embryonic blood supply, nutrition transportation, and fetal calf development, and it directly affects the development of fetal calf in utero. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of placenta act on fetal calf still remains unclear.In the present study,we used the proteome of placenta to identify the key gene and protein in Low weight(LW) fetal calves and High weight(HW) fetal calves, and reveal the fetal calf growth-related candidate biomarkers by integrative analysis.Placenta proteomics provide new insight into the physiological mechanisms and potential biomarkers for fetal calf development in utero,which can be employed to enhance breeding efficiency and genetic improvement in cattle.
Project description:Vitrification is replacing slow freezing as the most popular method for human embryo cryopreservation in clinics world-wide. Several studies demonstrated that cryopreservation alters gene expression of mammalian embryos, but none of them analysed what happen with those embryos that get implanted and follow with the gestation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitrification technique on rabbit embryonic and fetal development by performing a transcriptomic analysis of 6 day old embryos and 14 days old fetal placentas. Effect of vitrification on late blastocyst and fetal placenta transcriptome. Four indepent replicates were performed for each condition (control and vitrified) and for both tissues (embryo and fetal placenta).
Project description:Activation of the maternal immune system during pregnancy can fetal development, which can lead to postnatal susceptibility to a wide range of diseases, including cardiovascular, metabolic and psychiatric disorders. During maternal immune activation (MIA), the maternal body must balance its ressources between mounting an immune response and investing resources into continued metabolism and growth : both essential for survival of the fetus and a successful pregnancy. How the placenta responds to MIA over time and how it can protect the fetus is not well understood, and neither are the fetal consequences of MIA. Here, we characterised the response to an induced acute inflammation in maternal lungs over time across maternal and fetal organs, using a combination of omics-methods, imaging and integrative computational analysis. We found that the placenta, unlike other maternal organs, did not react by inducing a typical inflammatory response, but instead initially induced genes associated to strengthen tissue integrity and simultaneously reduced growth to prevent exposure to potential infections. Afterwards, a return to homeostasis was observed, with heightened biosynthesis and expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress genes. This mechanism likely protects the fetus from inflammation, as we observed no immune response in the fetal liver transcriptome. Instead, we observed metabolic adaptations in the fetus, including a release of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Notably, DHA has a crucial function for fetal brain development , and levels of triglyceride and phosphatidylcholine lipids that are necessary for transportation of DHA to the brain were also increased. This metabolic response is likely a combination of the placental MIA response and temporary maternal fasting, caused by MIA-induced fever and lack of nutrient intake. Our study shows, for the first time, the temporal and systemic response to MIA in lungs across maternal and fetal organs.
Project description:Iatrogenic preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes (iPPROM) following fetoscopic interventions remains a major barrier to the advancement of fetal therapies. The mechanisms underlying iPPROM are poorly understood, but the inability of fetal membrane (FM) defects to heal spontaneously likely plays a key role, contrasting with the regenerative potential of amniotic membranes in other contexts. To assess the impact of fetoscopic procedures on FMs, tissue samples from patients who underwent laser surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (16–27 weeks gestation, n=8) were collected after cesarean delivery at 29–35 weeks. Samples were categorized by proximity to the trocar site and analyzed using proteomic and histological methods. While differential expression analysis in the amnion revealed no significant changes, pathway enrichment indicated increased collagen deposition at defect sites. In the chorion, sevendifferentially expressed proteins were identified, largely linked to enhanced intercellular contact stability. These findings suggest the amnion may respond to mechanical stress by reinforcing structural integrity through collagen deposition, while the chorion may attempt to stabilize cell junctions. However, no other signs of tissue regeneration were observed. This study provides molecular and cellular evidence that FMs lacks a substantial healing response post-surgery, underscoring the need for biologically informed repair strategies.
Project description:Maternal obesity in mice negatively affects placental functionand maternal and fetal liver function. We performed a global proteomic analysis using a liquid-chromatography/mass-spectrometry system to investigate total and phosphorylated proteins in the placenta and fetal liver in a mouse model that combines maternal obesity with maternal androgen excess to identify changes in molecular pathways that might promote diseases in adulthood.
Project description:Vitrification is replacing slow freezing as the most popular method for human embryo cryopreservation in clinics world-wide. Several studies demonstrated that cryopreservation alters gene expression of mammalian embryos, but none of them analysed what happen with those embryos that get implanted and follow with the gestation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitrification technique on rabbit embryonic and fetal development by performing a transcriptomic analysis of 6 day old embryos and 14 days old fetal placentas.
Project description:Myostatin (gene symbol: <i>Mstn</i>) is an autocrine and paracrine inhibitor of muscle growth. Pregnant mice with genetically reduced levels of myostatin give birth to offspring with greater adult muscle mass and bone biomechanical strength. However, maternal myostatin is not detectable in fetal circulations. Fetal growth is dependent on the maternal environment, and the provisioning of nutrients and growth factors by the placenta. Thus, this study examined the effect of reduced maternal myostatin on maternal and fetal serum metabolomes, as well as the placental metabolome. Fetal and maternal serum metabolomes were highly distinct, which is consistent with the role of the placenta in creating a specific fetal nutrient environment. There was no effect from myostatin on maternal glucose tolerance or fasting insulin. In comparisons between pregnant control and <i>Mstn</i><sup>+/-</sup> mice, there were more significantly different metabolite concentrations in fetal serum, at 50, than in the mother's serum at 33, confirming the effect of maternal myostatin reduction on the fetal metabolic milieu. Polyamines, lysophospholipids, fatty acid oxidation, and vitamin C, in fetal serum, were all affected by maternal myostatin reduction.
Project description:The Ts1Cje mouse strain (Sago, 1998) contains a segmental trisomy of mouse chromosome 16 orthologous to the region of human chromosome 21 commonly associated with Down Syndrome. In this study, fetuses were obtained from wildtype mothers bred with either wildtype or Ts1Cje males. Gene expression profiles in fetal liver and placenta of wildtype and Ts1Cje fetuses were compared, to identify potential markers for application in human prenatal DS screening. A 48 array study with 24 arrays for placenta and 24 for fetal liver. For each tissue we used RNA from 24 individual embryos, i.e. six male and six female embryos from both genotypes.
Project description:Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a phthalate congener, is widely utilized in consumer products and medication coatings. Women of reproductive age have a significant burden of DBP exposure. Prenatal DBP exposure is associated with adverse pregnancy/fetal outcomes in the offspring. However, the role of fetal sex and the general mechanisms underlying DBP exposure-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes are unclear.
Project description:We aimed to investigate the effects of maternal heat stress on the expression of differentilally expressed genes in th placenta, fetal duodenum and jejunum