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Gusar V, Kan N, Leonova A, Chagovets V, Tyutyunnik V, Khachatryan Z, Yarotskaya E, Sukhikh G. Non-Invasive Assessment of Neurogenesis Dysfunction in Fetuses with Early-Onset Growth Restriction Using Fetal Neuronal Exosomes Isolating from Maternal Blood: A Pilot Study. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:1497. [PMID: 40003962 PMCID: PMC11855093 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26041497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2025] [Revised: 01/31/2025] [Accepted: 02/06/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025] Open
Abstract
The vector of modern obstetrics is aimed at finding ways to predict various placenta-associated complications, including those associated with neuronal dysfunction on in fetal growth restriction (FGR). The technology of fetal neuronal exosome (FNE) isolation from the maternal bloodstream opens up unique opportunities for detecting early signs of fetal brain damage. Using this method, FNEs were isolated from the blood of pregnant women with and without early-onset FGR, and the expression of a number of proteins in their composition was assessed (Western blotting). Significant changes in the level of proteins involved in neurogenesis (pro-BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), pro-NGF (nerve growth factor), TAG1/Contactin2) and presynaptic transmission (Synapsin 1, Synaptophysin) were revealed. The preliminary data on the expression of FNE proteins that perform post-translational modifications-sumoylation (SUMO 1, UBC9) and neddylation (NEDD8, UBC12)-were obtained. A relationship was established between altered protein expression and neonatal outcomes in newborns with growth restriction. Our study opens up new possibilities for non-invasive prenatal monitoring of fetal neurodevelopment disorders and possibilities of their correction in placenta-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislava Gusar
- Laboratory of Applied Transcriptomics, Federal State Budget Institution “National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 4, Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia Kan
- Federal State Budget Institution “National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 4, Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (N.K.); (E.Y.); (G.S.)
| | - Anastasia Leonova
- Department of Molecular Diagnostic Methods and Personalized Medicine, Federal State Budget Institution “National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 4, Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Vitaliy Chagovets
- Laboratory of Metabolomics and Bioinformatics, Federal State Budget Institution “National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 4, Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Victor Tyutyunnik
- Center for Scientific and Clinical Research, Federal State Budget Institution “National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 4, Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Zarine Khachatryan
- JSC “European Medical Center”, 35, Shchepkina Street, 129090 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Ekaterina Yarotskaya
- Federal State Budget Institution “National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 4, Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (N.K.); (E.Y.); (G.S.)
| | - Gennadiy Sukhikh
- Federal State Budget Institution “National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 4, Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (N.K.); (E.Y.); (G.S.)
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2
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Martinelli S, Rolfo A, Pace C, Canu L, Nuzzo AM, Giuffrida D, Gaglioti P, Todros T. Anatomical and functional changes of the fetal adrenal gland in intrauterine growth restriction. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2024; 166:1100-1107. [PMID: 38532440 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to demonstrate the establishment of adrenal sparing in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) human fetuses. IUGR fetuses are a subgroup of small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses that are unable to reach their own growth potential because of chronic hypoxia and undernutrition. We hypothesized that in IUGR fetuses the adrenal gland is relatively larger and secretion of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), and cortisol is increased. STUDY DESIGN This is a prospective observational study including 65 singleton pregnancies (42 IUGR and 23 controls). Using two-dimensional ultrasound, we measured fetal adrenal diameters and adrenal/abdominal circumference (AD/AC) ratio between 25 and 37 weeks. We considered only one measurement per fetus. In 21 pregnancies we also measured NA, A, and cortisol levels in arterial and venous fetal cord blood collected at the time of delivery. RESULTS The AD/AC ratio was significantly higher in IUGR fetuses than in controls. Cord NA and A levels were significantly higher in IUGR fetuses than in controls. An increase in cortisol secretion in IUGR fetuses was observed but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Adrenal sparing correlates with a relative increase in adrenal measurements and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Martinelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca e Innovazione sulle Patologie Surrenaliche, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
- European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors, (ENS@T) Center of Excellence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rolfo
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Carlotta Pace
- AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, Sant' Anna Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Letizia Canu
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca e Innovazione sulle Patologie Surrenaliche, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
- European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors, (ENS@T) Center of Excellence, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Nuzzo
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Gaglioti
- AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, Sant' Anna Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Tullia Todros
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, Sant' Anna Hospital, Turin, Italy
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Pattamathamakul S, Duangkum C, Chaiyarach S, Kongwattanakul K, Saksiriwuttho P, Komwilaisak R, Chantanavilai S, Pongsamakthai M, Sirikarn P. The Impact of Fetal Growth Restriction on Prenatal 2D Ultrasound and Doppler Study of the Fetal Adrenal Gland. J Pregnancy 2024; 2024:9968509. [PMID: 39238897 PMCID: PMC11377111 DOI: 10.1155/2024/9968509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Uteroplacental insufficiency in fetuses with growth restriction (FGR) leads to chronic hypoxia and stress, predominantly affecting the adrenal glands. However, the mechanisms of impact remain unclear. Objectives: This study is aimed at comparing the Doppler indices of the adrenal artery and the adrenal gland sizes between FGR and those with normal growth. Materials and Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted from February to December 2023. We compared 34 FGR to 34 with normal growth in terms of inferior adrenal artery (IAA) Doppler indices and adrenal gland volumes. Results: The IAA peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the FGR group was 14.9 ± 2.9 cm/s compared to 13.5 ± 2.0 cm/s in the normal group, with a mean difference of 1.4 cm/s (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27-2.65; p value = 0.017). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of IAA pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), or systolic/diastolic (S/D), with p values of 0.438, 0.441, and 0.658, respectively. The volumes of the corrected whole adrenal gland and the corrected neocortex were significantly larger in the FGR group, with p values of 0.031 and 0.020, respectively. Conclusion: Both increased IAA PSV and enlarged volumes of the corrected whole adrenal gland and neocortex were found in fetuses with FGR, suggesting significant adrenal gland adaptation in response to chronic intrauterine stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suphawan Pattamathamakul
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyFaculty of MedicineKhon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Chatuporn Duangkum
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyFaculty of MedicineKhon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Sukanya Chaiyarach
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyFaculty of MedicineKhon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Kiattisak Kongwattanakul
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyFaculty of MedicineKhon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Piyamas Saksiriwuttho
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyFaculty of MedicineKhon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Ratana Komwilaisak
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyFaculty of MedicineKhon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | | | | | - Prapassara Sirikarn
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsFaculty of Public HealthKhon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
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4
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Zhang S, Lock MC, Tie M, McMillen IC, Botting KJ, Morrison JL. Cardiac programming in the placentally restricted sheep fetus in early gestation. J Physiol 2024; 602:3815-3832. [PMID: 38975864 DOI: 10.1113/jp286702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) occurs in 8% of human pregnancies, and the growth restricted newborn is at a greater risk of developing heart disease in later adult life. In sheep, experimental restriction of placental growth (PR) from conception results in FGR, a decrease in cardiomyocyte endowment and an upregulation of pathological hypertrophic signalling in the fetal heart in late gestation. However, there is no change in the expression of markers of cellular proliferation nor in the level of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the heart of the PR fetus in late gestation. This suggests that FGR arises early in gestation and programs a decrease in cardiomyocyte endowment in early, rather than late, gestation. Here, control and PR fetal sheep were humanely killed at 55 days' gestation (term, 150 days). Fetal body and heart weight were lower in PR compared with control fetuses and there was evidence of sparing of fetal brain growth. While there was no change in the proportion of cardiomyocytes that were proliferating in the early gestation PR heart, there was an increase in measures of apoptosis, and markers of autophagy and pathological hypertrophy in the PR fetal heart. These changes in early gestation highlight that FGR is associated with evidence of early cell death and compensatory hypertrophic responses of cardiomyocytes in the fetal heart. The data suggest that early placental restriction results in a decrease in the pool of proliferative cardiomyocytes in early gestation, which would limit cardiomyocyte endowment in the heart of the PR fetus in late gestation. KEY POINTS: Placental restriction leading to fetal growth restriction (FGR) and chronic fetal hypoxaemia in sheep results in a decrease in cardiomyocyte endowment in late gestation. FGR did not change cardiomyocyte proliferation during early gestation but did result in increased apoptosis and markers of autophagy in the fetal heart, which may result in the decreased endowment of cardiomyocytes observed in late gestation. FGR in early gestation also results in increased hypoxia inducible factor signalling in the fetal heart, which in turn may result in the altered expression of epigenetic regulators, increased expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy during late gestation and after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Zhang
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Mitchell C Lock
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Michelle Tie
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - I Caroline McMillen
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kimberley J Botting
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Tsikouras P, Antsaklis P, Nikolettos K, Kotanidou S, Kritsotaki N, Bothou A, Andreou S, Nalmpanti T, Chalkia K, Spanakis V, Iatrakis G, Nikolettos N. Diagnosis, Prevention, and Management of Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR). J Pers Med 2024; 14:698. [PMID: 39063953 PMCID: PMC11278205 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14070698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR), or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), is still the second most common cause of perinatal mortality. The factors that contribute to fetal growth restriction can be categorized into three distinct groups: placental, fetal, and maternal. The prenatal application of various diagnostic methods can, in many cases, detect the deterioration of the fetal condition in time because the nature of the above disorder is thoroughly investigated by applying a combination of biophysical and biochemical methods, which determine the state of the embryo-placenta unit and assess the possible increased risk of perinatal failure outcome and potential for many later health problems. When considering the potential for therapeutic intervention, the key question is whether it can be utilized during pregnancy. Currently, there are no known treatment interventions that effectively enhance placental function and promote fetal weight development. Nevertheless, in cases with fetuses diagnosed with fetal growth restriction, immediate termination of pregnancy may have advantages not only in terms of minimizing perinatal mortality but primarily in terms of reducing long-term morbidity during childhood and maturity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Tsikouras
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Panos Antsaklis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical School, University Hospital Alexandra, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos Nikolettos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Sonia Kotanidou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Nektaria Kritsotaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Anastasia Bothou
- Department of Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of West Attica (UNIWA), 12243 Athens, Greece; (A.B.); (G.I.)
| | - Sotiris Andreou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Theopi Nalmpanti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Kyriaki Chalkia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Vlasis Spanakis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
| | - George Iatrakis
- Department of Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of West Attica (UNIWA), 12243 Athens, Greece; (A.B.); (G.I.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Rea Maternity Hospital, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Nikolettos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (K.N.); (S.K.); (N.K.); (S.A.); (T.N.); (K.C.); (V.S.); (N.N.)
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Darby JRT, Saini BS, Holman SL, Hammond SJ, Perumal SR, Macgowan CK, Seed M, Morrison JL. Acute-on-chronic: using magnetic resonance imaging to disentangle the haemodynamic responses to acute and chronic fetal hypoxaemia. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1340012. [PMID: 38933113 PMCID: PMC11199546 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1340012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The fetal haemodynamic response to acute episodes of hypoxaemia are well characterised. However, how these responses change when the hypoxaemia becomes more chronic in nature such as that associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR), is less well understood. Herein, we utilised a combination of clinically relevant MRI techniques to comprehensively characterize and differentiate the haemodynamic responses occurring during acute and chronic periods of fetal hypoxaemia. Methods Prior to conception, carunclectomy surgery was performed on non-pregnant ewes to induce FGR. At 108-110 days (d) gestational age (GA), pregnant ewes bearing control (n = 12) and FGR (n = 9) fetuses underwent fetal catheterisation surgery. At 117-119 days GA, ewes underwent MRI sessions where phase-contrast (PC) and T2 oximetry were used to measure blood flow and oxygenation, respectively, throughout the fetal circulation during a normoxia and then an acute hypoxia state. Results Fetal oxygen delivery (DO2) was lower in FGR fetuses than controls during the normoxia state but cerebral DO2 remained similar between fetal groups. Acute hypoxia reduced both overall fetal and cerebral DO2. FGR increased ductus venosus (DV) and foramen ovale (FO) blood flow during both the normoxia and acute hypoxia states. Pulmonary blood flow (PBF) was lower in FGR fetuses during the normoxia state but similar to controls during the acute hypoxia state when PBF in controls was decreased. Conclusion Despite a prevailing level of chronic hypoxaemia, the FGR fetus upregulates the preferential streaming of oxygen-rich blood via the DV-FO pathway to maintain cerebral DO2. However, this upregulation is unable to maintain cerebral DO2 during further exposure to an acute episode of hypoxaemia. The haemodynamic alterations required at the level of the liver and lung to allow the DV-FO pathway to maintain cerebral DO2, may have lasting consequences on hepatic function and pulmonary vascular regulation after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Brahmdeep S. Saini
- Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stacey L. Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sarah J. Hammond
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sunthara Rajan Perumal
- Preclinical, Imaging & Research Laboratories, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Christopher K. Macgowan
- Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mike Seed
- Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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7
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Souza SPM, Colet N, Fujiwara M, Fernandes AP, Tobar N, Dertkigil SSJ, Takahashi MES, Amorim BJ, Silva LS, Yasuda CL, Cendes F, de Souza TF, Rodrigues JT, Zantut-Wittmann DE, Ramos CD. Evidence of brain metabolism redistribution from neocortex to primitive brain structures in early acute COVID-19 respiratory syndrome. EJNMMI Res 2024; 14:28. [PMID: 38472569 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-024-01089-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 have been widely documented in patients with severe neurological symptoms during the chronic or subacute phase of the disease. However, it remains unclear whether subclinical changes in brain metabolism can occur early in the acute phase of the disease. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify changes in brain metabolism in patients hospitalized for acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 with no or mild neurological symptoms. RESULTS Twenty-three non-intubated patients (13 women; mean age 55.5 ± 12.1 years) hospitalized with positive nasopharyngeal swab test (RT-PCR) for COVID-19, requiring supplemental oxygen and no or mild neurological symptoms were studied. Serum C-reactive protein measured at admission ranged from 6.43 to 189.0 mg/L (mean: 96.9 ± 54.2 mg/L). The mean supplemental oxygen demand was 2.9 ± 1.4 L/min. [18F]FDG PET/CT images were acquired with a median of 12 (4-20) days of symptoms. After visual interpretation of the images, semiquantitative analysis of [18F]FDG uptake in multiple brain regions was evaluated using dedicated software and the standard deviation (SD) of brain uptake in each region was automatically calculated in comparison with reference values of a normal database. Evolutionarily ancient structures showed positive SD mean values of [18F]FDG uptake. Lenticular nuclei were bilaterally hypermetabolic (> 2 SD) in 21/23 (91.3%) patients, and thalamus in 16/23 (69.6%), bilaterally in 11/23 (47.8%). About half of patients showed hypermetabolism in brainstems, 40% in hippocampi, and 30% in cerebellums. In contrast, neocortical regions (frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes) presented negative SD mean values of [18F]FDG uptake and hypometabolism (< 2 SD) was observed in up to a third of patients. Associations were found between hypoxia, inflammation, coagulation markers, and [18F]FDG uptake in various brain structures. CONCLUSIONS Brain metabolism is clearly affected during the acute phase of COVID-19 respiratory syndrome in neurologically asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic patients. The most frequent finding is marked hypermetabolism in evolutionary ancient structures such as lenticular nucleus and thalami. Neocortical metabolism was reduced in up to one third of patients, suggesting a redistribution of brain metabolism from the neocortex to evolutionary ancient brain structures in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan P M Souza
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nicoli Colet
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Fujiwara
- Endocrinology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alins P Fernandes
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia Tobar
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio S J Dertkigil
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Bárbara J Amorim
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas S Silva
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clarissa L Yasuda
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Cendes
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago F de Souza
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliano T Rodrigues
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denise E Zantut-Wittmann
- Endocrinology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Celso Dario Ramos
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Dhurvey V, Satoskar PR. Association of Cerebroplacental Ratio by Colour Doppler with Perinatal Outcome in Near Term and Term Foetuses. J Obstet Gynaecol India 2023; 73:103-107. [PMID: 37916006 PMCID: PMC10616045 DOI: 10.1007/s13224-023-01823-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vishakha Dhurvey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India
| | - Purnima R. Satoskar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India
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White MR, Yates DT. Dousing the flame: reviewing the mechanisms of inflammatory programming during stress-induced intrauterine growth restriction and the potential for ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intervention. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1250134. [PMID: 37727657 PMCID: PMC10505810 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1250134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) arises when maternal stressors coincide with peak placental development, leading to placental insufficiency. When the expanding nutrient demands of the growing fetus subsequently exceed the capacity of the stunted placenta, fetal hypoxemia and hypoglycemia result. Poor fetal nutrient status stimulates greater release of inflammatory cytokines and catecholamines, which in turn lead to thrifty growth and metabolic programming that benefits fetal survival but is maladaptive after birth. Specifically, some IUGR fetal tissues develop enriched expression of inflammatory cytokine receptors and other signaling cascade components, which increases inflammatory sensitivity even when circulating inflammatory cytokines are no longer elevated after birth. Recent evidence indicates that greater inflammatory tone contributes to deficits in skeletal muscle growth and metabolism that are characteristic of IUGR offspring. These deficits underlie the metabolic dysfunction that markedly increases risk for metabolic diseases in IUGR-born individuals. The same programming mechanisms yield reduced metabolic efficiency, poor body composition, and inferior carcass quality in IUGR-born livestock. The ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are diet-derived nutraceuticals with anti-inflammatory effects that have been used to improve conditions of chronic systemic inflammation, including intrauterine stress. In this review, we highlight the role of sustained systemic inflammation in the development of IUGR pathologies. We then discuss the potential for ω-3 PUFA supplementation to improve inflammation-mediated growth and metabolic deficits in IUGR offspring, along with potential barriers that must be considered when developing a supplementation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dustin T. Yates
- Stress Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
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10
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Uyan Hendem D, Oluklu D, Menekse Beser D, Yildirim M, Sakcak B, Turgut E, Sahin D. Evaluation of fetal adrenal artery Doppler velocimetry and fetal adrenal gland size in pregnancies after recovery from COVID-19. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2023; 49:2304-2309. [PMID: 37354108 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM Assessment of the fetal adrenal gland (FAG) size and middle adrenal artery (MAA) Doppler parameters in pregnancy recovered from Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and comparison of the values with the healthy control group. METHODS Thirty-eight pregnant women who had recovered from COVID-19 infection and 76 healthy control group between 33 and 35 weeks of gestation were involved in this case-control study. Fetuses were examined for fetal biometry, fetal well-being, adrenal gland dimensions, and Doppler parameters 4-6 weeks after the diagnosis of COVID 19 infection. FAG dimensions were measured in two planes and MAA blood flow velocity was evaluated with pulsed Doppler. Pregnant women with COVID-19 infection were grouped according to the National Institutes of Health for the severity of the disease, and those with mild and moderate infections were examined in the study. RESULTS The total adrenal gland (TAG) height, fetal zone (FZ) length and width, and MAA-Peak Systolic Velocity (MAA-PSV) were significantly higher, and the MAA-Pulsatility Index (MAA-PI) was significantly lower in the COVID-19 group (p < 0.05). The lower in MAA-PI and the higher in MAA-PSV, the width of the FZ, and width of the TAG were found to be significant in the moderate group compared to the mild groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION COVID-19 pregnancies might cause early maturation of the FAG and its vasculature depends on the intrauterine stress due to the hyper-inflammation, so fetuses exposed to maternal COVID-19 suggested to have an increase in blood flow to the adrenal gland and fetal adrenal size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derya Uyan Hendem
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
- Division of Perinatology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Deniz Oluklu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
- Division of Perinatology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Dilek Menekse Beser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
- Division of Perinatology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Muradiye Yildirim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
- Division of Perinatology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bedri Sakcak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
- Division of Perinatology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Turgut
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
- Division of Perinatology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Dilek Sahin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
- Division of Perinatology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
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11
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Shmueli A, Mor L, Blickstein O, Sela R, Weiner E, Gonen N, Schreiber L, Levy M. Placental pathology in pregnancies with late fetal growth restriction and abnormal cerebroplacental ratio. Placenta 2023; 138:83-87. [PMID: 37224646 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Late fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with mild growth restriction and normal or mild abnormal doppler flows. The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) has been demonstrated as more sensitive to hypoxia than its individual components in these fetuses. We hypothesized that abnormal CPR in late FGR is reflected in specific placental vascular malperfusion lesions. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of late FGR newborns between 2012 and 2022 in a tertiary hospital. Overall, 361 cases were included: 104 with pathological CPR (study group), and 257 with normal doppler flows (control group). The primary outcome was a composite of maternal vascular malperfusion lesions (MVM) and fetal vascular malperfusion lesions (FVM). Secondary outcomes were macroscopic placental characteristics and various obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS The study group had lower birthweight compared with the normal CPR group (2063.5 ± 470.5 vs. 2351.6 ± 387.4 g. P < 0.0001), higher rates of composite adverse neonatal outcomes (34.2% vs. 22.5%, p < 0.0001), lower mean placental weight (318 ± 71.6 vs. 356.6 ± 76.5 g, p < 0.0001), as well as a higher prevalence of Vascular lesions of MVM (15.3% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.002), villous lesions of FVM (37.5% vs. 24.9%, p = 0.02), and composite FVM lesions (36.5% vs. 25.6%, p = 0.04). On multivariate regression analysis for MVM lesions and composite FVM lesions, abnormal CPR was found as an independent risk factor (aOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.63-4.19, and aOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09-3.97, respectively). DISCUSSIONS Abnormal CPR in late FGR is reflected in placental histopathologic vascular malperfusion lesions, and the incidence of these lesions is higher than in FGR placentas with normal CPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Shmueli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
| | - Liat Mor
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Ophir Blickstein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Rinat Sela
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Eran Weiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Noa Gonen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Letizia Schreiber
- Department of Pathology, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Michal Levy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
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Li J, Li Y, Liang X, Yang Z, Peng Y, Zhang Y, Ning X, Zhang K, Ji J, Wang T, Zhang G, Yin S. Blood redistribution preferentially protects vital organs under hypoxic stress in Pelteobagrus vachelli. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 258:106498. [PMID: 37001201 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Blood redistribution occurs in mammals under hypoxia but has not been reported in fish. This study investigated the tissue damage, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activation level, and blood flow changes in the brain, liver, and muscle of Pelteobagrus vachelli during the hypoxia process for normoxia-hypoxia-asphyxia. The results showed that P. vachelli has tissue specificity in response to hypoxic stress. Cerebral blood flow increased with less damage than in the liver and muscle, suggesting that P. vachelli may also have a blood redistribution mechanism in response to hypoxia. It is worth noting that severe hypoxia can lead to a sudden increase in the degree of brain tissue damage. In addition, higher dissolved oxygen levels activate HIF and may have contributed to the reduced damage observed in the brain. This study provides basic data for investigating hypoxic stress in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Yao Li
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Xia Liang
- Key Laboratory for Physiology Biochemistry and Application, Heze University, Heze, 274015, China
| | - Zhiru Yang
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Ye Peng
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Yiran Zhang
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Xianhui Ning
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Jie Ji
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Tao Wang
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Guosong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Physiology Biochemistry and Application, Heze University, Heze, 274015, China.
| | - Shaowu Yin
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, 222005, China.
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Fung CM. Effects of intrauterine growth restriction on embryonic hippocampal dentate gyrus neurogenesis and postnatal critical period of synaptic plasticity that govern learning and memory function. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1092357. [PMID: 37008232 PMCID: PMC10064986 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1092357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) complicates up to 10% of human pregnancies and is the second leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality after prematurity. The most common etiology of IUGR in developed countries is uteroplacental insufficiency (UPI). For survivors of IUGR pregnancies, long-term studies consistently show a fivefold increased risk for impaired cognition including learning and memory deficits. Among these, only a few human studies have highlighted sex differences with males and females having differing susceptibilities to different impairments. Moreover, it is well established from brain magnetic resonance imaging that IUGR affects both white and gray matter. The hippocampus, composed of the dentate gyrus (DG) and cornu ammonis (CA) subregions, is an important gray matter structure critical to learning and memory, and is particularly vulnerable to the chronic hypoxic-ischemic effects of UPI. Decreased hippocampal volume is a strong predictor for learning and memory deficits. Decreased neuron number and attenuated dendritic and axonal morphologies in both the DG and CA are additionally seen in animal models. What is largely unexplored is the prenatal changes that predispose an IUGR offspring to postnatal learning and memory deficits. This lack of knowledge will continue to hinder the design of future therapy to improve learning and memory. In this review, we will first present the clinical susceptibilities and human epidemiology data regarding the neurological sequelae after IUGR. We will follow with data generated using our laboratory's mouse model of IUGR, that mimics the human IUGR phenotype, to dissect at the cellular and molecular alterations in embryonic hippocampal DG neurogenesis. We will lastly present a newer topic of postnatal neuron development, namely the critical period of synaptic plasticity that is crucial in achieving an excitatory/inhibitory balance in the developing brain. To our knowledge, these findings are the first to describe the prenatal changes that lead to an alteration in postnatal hippocampal excitatory/inhibitory imbalance, a mechanism that is now recognized to be a cause of neurocognitive/neuropsychiatric disorders in at-risk individuals. Studies are ongoing in our laboratory to elucidate additional mechanisms that underlie IUGR-induced learning and memory impairment and to design therapy aimed at ameliorating such impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille M. Fung
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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14
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Meakin AS, Amirmostofian M, Darby JRT, Holman SL, Morrison JL, Wiese MD. Characterisation of cytochrome P450 isoenzyme activity in sheep liver and placental microsomes. Placenta 2023; 131:82-89. [PMID: 36527743 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug metabolism during pregnancy is a complex process that involves maternal, placental and fetal sites of metabolism. Indeed, there is a lack of clarity provided from drug metabolism in human pregnancy due to ethical limitations. Large animal models of human pregnancy provide an opportunity to quantify activity of phase 1 drug metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the maternal, placental, and fetal compartments. Herein, we have validated a comprehensive assay to quantify maternal, placental, and fetal CYP activity. METHODS Isolated microsomes from sheep maternal liver, placenta, and fetal liver (140d gestation, term = 150d) were incubated with CYP-specific probe drugs to quantify the activity of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A. Inhibition studies were performed to validate specificity of probe drugs. The validated assay was developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A were active in maternal liver. In contrast, only CYP1A2, CYP2C8 and CYP2D6 were active in the placenta, whereas CYP2B6, CYP2C8 and CYP2D6 were active in the fetal liver. Of the placental-specific CYPs validated, CYP1A2 increased in type A compared with type D placentomes, whereas CYP2C8 activity increased in type B compared with type A and C. DISCUSSION This study has established conditions for compartment-specific CYP activity in the sheep maternal-placental-fetal unit using a validated and standardised experimental workflow. Compartment- and placentome type-specific CYP activity are important considerations when examining drug metabolism in the maternal-placental-fetal unit and in determining the impact of pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Marzieh Amirmostofian
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jack RT Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Michael D Wiese
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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15
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Misan N, Michalak S, Kapska K, Osztynowicz K, Ropacka-Lesiak M. Blood-Brain Barrier Disintegration in Growth-Restricted Fetuses with Brain Sparing Effect. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012349. [PMID: 36293204 PMCID: PMC9604432 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier adhere closely, which is provided by tight junctions (TJs). The aim of the study was to assess the damage to the endothelial TJs in pregnancy, complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR) and circulatory centralization (brain-sparing effect, BS). The serum concentrations of NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NR1), nucleoside diphosphate kinase A (NME1), S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), occludin (OCLN), claudin-5 (CLN5), and zonula occludens protein – 1 (zo-1), and the placental expressions of OCLN, claudin-4 (CLN4), CLN5, and zo-1 were assessed with ELISA. The significantly higher serum NME1 concentrations and the serum CLN5/zo-1 index were observed in FGR pregnancy with BS, as compared to the FGR group without BS. The FGR newborns with BS were about 20 times more likely to develop an intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) than the FGR infants without BS. The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) allowed to predict the IVH in growth-restricted fetuses. The significantly lower placental CLN4 expression was observed in the FGR group with BS and who postnatally developed an IVH, as compared to the growth-restricted infants with BS without IVH signs. Pregnancy complicated by FGR and BS is associated with the destabilization of the fetal blood-brain barrier. The IVH in newborns is reflected in the inhibition of the placental CLN4 expression, which may be a useful marker in the prediction of an IVH among growth-restricted fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Misan
- Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 33 Polna Street, 60-535 Poznan, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Sławomir Michalak
- Department of Neurochemistry and Neuropathology, Chair of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego Street, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kapska
- Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 33 Polna Street, 60-535 Poznan, Poland
| | - Krystyna Osztynowicz
- Department of Neurochemistry and Neuropathology, Chair of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego Street, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
| | - Mariola Ropacka-Lesiak
- Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 33 Polna Street, 60-535 Poznan, Poland
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16
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Altered Cord Blood Lipid Concentrations Correlate with Birth Weight and Doppler Velocimetry of Fetal Vessels in Human Fetal Growth Restriction Pregnancies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193110. [PMID: 36231072 PMCID: PMC9562243 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with short- and long-term morbidity, often with fetal compromise in utero, evidenced by abnormal Doppler velocimetry of fetal vessels. Lipids are vital for growth and development, but metabolism in FGR pregnancy, where fetuses do not grow to full genetic potential, is poorly understood. We hypothesize that triglyceride concentrations are increased in placentas and that important complex lipids are reduced in cord plasma from pregnancies producing the smallest babies (birth weight < 5%) and correlate with ultrasound Dopplers. Dopplers (umbilical artery, UA; middle cerebral artery, MCA) were assessed longitudinally in pregnancies diagnosed with estimated fetal weight (EFW) < 10% at ≥29 weeks gestation. For a subset of enrolled women, placentas and cord blood were collected at delivery, fatty acids were extracted and targeted lipid class analysis (triglyceride, TG; phosphatidylcholine, PC; lysophosphatidylcholine, LPC; eicosanoid) performed by LCMS. For this sub-analysis, participants were categorized as FGR (Fenton birth weight, BW ≤ 5%) or SGA "controls" (Fenton BW > 5%). FGRs (n = 8) delivered 1 week earlier (p = 0.04), were 29% smaller (p = 0.002), and had 133% higher UA pulsatility index (PI, p = 0.02) than SGAs (n = 12). FGR plasma TG, free arachidonic acid (AA), and several eicosanoids were increased (p < 0.05); docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-LPC was decreased (p < 0.01). Plasma TG correlated inversely with BW (p < 0.05). Plasma EET, non-esterified AA, and DHA correlated inversely with BW and directly with UA PI (p < 0.05). Placental DHA-PC and AA-PC correlated directly with MCA PI (p < 0.05). In fetuses initially referred for inadequate fetal growth (EFW < 10%), those with BW ≤ 5% demonstrated distinctly different cord plasma lipid profiles than those with BW > 5%, which correlated with Doppler PIs. This provides new insights into fetal lipidomic response to the FGR in utero environment. The impact of these changes on specific processes of growth and development (particularly fetal brain) have not been elucidated, but the relationship with Doppler PI may provide additional context for FGR surveillance, and a more targeted approach to nutritional management of these infants.
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Flouri D, Darby JRT, Holman SL, Cho SKS, Dimasi CG, Perumal SR, Ourselin S, Aughwane R, Mufti N, Macgowan CK, Seed M, David AL, Melbourne A, Morrison JL. Placental MRI Predicts Fetal Oxygenation and Growth Rates in Sheep and Human Pregnancy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2203738. [PMID: 36031385 PMCID: PMC9596844 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of fetal blood oxygen saturation (SO2 ) can transform the clinical management of high-risk pregnancies affected by fetal growth restriction (FGR). Here, a novel MRI method assesses the feasibility of identifying normally grown and FGR fetuses in sheep and is then applied to humans. MRI scans are performed in pregnant ewes at 110 and 140 days (term = 150d) gestation and in pregnant women at 28+3 ± 2+5 weeks to measure feto-placental SO2 . Birth weight is collected and, in sheep, fetal blood SO2 is measured with a blood gas analyzer (BGA). Fetal arterial SO2 measured by BGA predicts fetal birth weight in sheep and distinguishes between fetuses that are normally grown, small for gestational age, and FGR. MRI feto-placental SO2 in late gestation is related to fetal blood SO2 measured by BGA and body weight. In sheep, MRI feto-placental SO2 in mid-gestation is related to fetal SO2 later in gestation. MRI feto-placental SO2 distinguishes between normally grown and FGR fetuses, as well as distinguishing FGR fetuses with and without normal Doppler in humans. Thus, a multi-compartment placental MRI model detects low placental SO2 and distinguishes between small hypoxemic fetuses and normally grown fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Flouri
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 7EUUK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Stacey L. Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Steven K. S. Cho
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
- Department of PhysiologyThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5G 1X8Canada
| | - Catherine G. Dimasi
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Sunthara R. Perumal
- South Australian Health & Medical Research InstitutePreclinicalImaging & Research LaboratoriesAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Sebastien Ourselin
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 7EUUK
| | - Rosalind Aughwane
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's HealthUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6AUUK
| | - Nada Mufti
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's HealthUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6AUUK
| | - Christopher K. Macgowan
- Division of Translational MedicineThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5G 1X8Canada
- Department of Medical BiophysicsUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5S 1A1Canada
| | - Mike Seed
- Department of PaediatricsDivision of CardiologyThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5G 1X8Canada
- Department of Diagnostic ImagingThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5G 1X8Canada
| | - Anna L. David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's HealthUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6AUUK
- NIHR Biomedical Research CentreUniversity College London HospitalsLondonW1T 7DNUK
| | - Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 7EUUK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
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Bertholdt C, Dap M, Pillot R, Chavatte-Palmer P, Morel O, Beaumont M. Assessment of placental perfusion using contrast-enhanced ultrasound: A longitudinal study in pregnant rabbit. Theriogenology 2022; 187:135-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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19
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Vautier AN, Cadaret CN. Long-Term Consequences of Adaptive Fetal Programming in Ruminant Livestock. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.778440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental perturbations during gestation can alter fetal development and postnatal animal performance. In humans, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) resulting from adaptive fetal programming is known as a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and predisposes offspring to metabolic disease, however, the prevalence and impact in livestock is not characterized as well. Multiple animal models have been developed as a proxy to determine mechanistic changes that underlie the postnatal phenotype resulting from these programming events in humans but have not been utilized as robustly in livestock. While the overall consequences are similar between models, the severity of the conditions appear to be dependent on type, timing, and duration of insult, indicating that some environmental insults are of more relevance to livestock production than others. Thus far, maternofetal stress during gestation has been shown to cause increased death loss, low birth weight, inefficient growth, and aberrant metabolism. A breadth of this data comes from the fetal ruminant collected near term or shortly thereafter, with fewer studies following these animals past weaning. Consequently, even less is known about how adaptive fetal programming impacts subsequent progeny. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the postnatal phenotype of livestock resulting from different models of fetal programming, with a focus on growth, metabolism, and reproductive efficiency. We further describe what is currently known about generational impacts of fetal programming in production systems, along with gaps and future directions to consider.
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20
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Drake RR, Louey S, Thornburg KL. Intrauterine growth restriction elevates circulating acylcarnitines and suppresses fatty acid metabolism genes in the fetal sheep heart. J Physiol 2022; 600:655-670. [PMID: 34802149 PMCID: PMC9075772 DOI: 10.1113/jp281415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
At birth, the mammalian myocardium switches from using carbohydrates as the primary energy substrate to free fatty acids as the primary fuel. Thus, a compromised switch could jeopardize normal heart function in the neonate. Placental embolization in sheep is a reliable model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). It leads to suppression of both proliferation and terminal differentiation of cardiomyocytes. We hypothesized that the expression of genes regulating cardiac fatty acid metabolism would be similarly suppressed in IUGR, leading to compromised processing of lipids. Following 10 days of umbilicoplacental embolization in fetal sheep, IUGR fetuses had elevated circulating long-chain fatty acylcarnitines compared with controls (C14: CTRL 0.012 ± 0.005 nmol/ml vs. IUGR 0.018 ± 0.005 nmol/ml, P < 0.05; C18: CTRL 0.027 ± 0.009 nmol/mol vs. IUGR 0.043 ± 0.024 nmol/mol, P < 0.05, n = 12 control, n = 12 IUGR) indicative of impaired fatty acid metabolism. Uptake studies using fluorescently tagged BODIPY-C12-saturated free fatty acid in live, isolated cardiomyocytes showed lipid droplet area and number were not different between control and IUGR cells. mRNA levels of sarcolemmal fatty acid transporters (CD36, FATP6), acylation enzymes (ACSL1, ACSL3), mitochondrial transporter (CPT1), β-oxidation enzymes (LCAD, HADH, ACAT1), tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme (IDH), esterification enzymes (PAP, DGAT) and regulator of the lipid droplet formation (BSCL2) gene were all suppressed in IUGR myocardium (P < 0.05). However, protein levels for these regulatory genes were not different between groups. This discordance between mRNA and protein levels in the stressed myocardium suggests an adaptive protection of key myocardial enzymes under conditions of placental insufficiency. KEY POINTS: The fetal heart relies on carbohydrates in utero and must be prepared to metabolize fatty acids after birth but the effects of compromised fetal growth on the maturation of this metabolic system are unknown. Plasma fatty acylcarnitines are elevated in intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses compared with control fetuses, indicative of impaired fatty acid metabolism in fetal organs. Fatty acid uptake and storage are not different in IUGR cardiomyocytes compared with controls. mRNA levels of genes regulating fatty acid transporter and metabolic enzymes are suppressed in the IUGR myocardium compared with controls, while protein levels remain unchanged. Mismatches in gene and protein expression, and increased circulating fatty acylcarnitines may have long-term implications for offspring heart metabolism and adult health in IUGR individuals. This requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Drake
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Samantha Louey
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kent L Thornburg
- Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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21
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Chand K, Nano R, Wixey J, Patel J. OUP accepted manuscript. Stem Cells Transl Med 2022; 11:372-382. [PMID: 35485440 PMCID: PMC9052430 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) occurs when a fetus is unable to grow normally due to inadequate nutrient and oxygen supply from the placenta. Children born with FGR are at high risk of lifelong adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, such as cerebral palsy, behavioral issues, and learning and attention difficulties. Unfortunately, there is no treatment to protect the FGR newborn from these adverse neurological outcomes. Chronic inflammation and vascular disruption are prevalent in the brains of FGR neonates and therefore targeted treatments may be key to neuroprotection. Tissue repair and regeneration via stem cell therapies have emerged as a potential clinical intervention for FGR babies at risk for neurological impairment and long-term disability. This review discusses the advancement of research into stem cell therapy for treating neurological diseases and how this may be extended for use in the FGR newborn. Leading preclinical studies using stem cell therapies in FGR animal models will be highlighted and the near-term steps that need to be taken for the development of future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirat Chand
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rachel Nano
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Julie Wixey
- Julie Wixey, Faculty of Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Herston 4029 QLD, Australia.
| | - Jatin Patel
- Corresponding authors: Jatin Patel, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba 4102 QLD, Australia.
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22
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Tournier A, Beacom M, Westgate JA, Bennet L, Garabedian C, Ugwumadu A, Gunn AJ, Lear CA. Physiological control of fetal heart rate variability during labour: Implications and controversies. J Physiol 2021; 600:431-450. [PMID: 34951476 DOI: 10.1113/jp282276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The interpretation of fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns is the only available method to continuously monitor fetal wellbeing during labour. One of the most important yet contentious aspects of the FHR pattern is changes in FHR variability (FHRV). Some clinical studies suggest that loss of FHRV during labour is a sign of fetal compromise so this is reflected in practice guidelines. Surprisingly, there is little systematic evidence to support this observation. In this review we methodically dissect the potential pathways controlling FHRV during labour-like hypoxaemia. Before labour, FHRV is controlled by the combined activity of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, in part regulated by a complex interplay between fetal sleep state and behaviour. By contrast, preclinical studies using multiple autonomic blockades have now shown that sympathetic neural control of FHRV was potently suppressed between periods of labour-like hypoxaemia, and thus, that the parasympathetic system is the sole neural regulator of FHRV once FHR decelerations are present during labour. We further discuss the pattern of changes in FHRV during progressive fetal compromise and highlight potential biochemical, behavioural and clinical factors that may regulate parasympathetic-mediated FHRV during labour. Further studies are needed to investigate the regulators of parasympathetic activity to better understand the dynamic changes in FHRV and their true utility during labour. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexane Tournier
- Department of Obstetrics, Universite de Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS, Lille, F 59000, France
| | - Michael Beacom
- The Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jenny A Westgate
- The Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Laura Bennet
- The Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Charles Garabedian
- Department of Obstetrics, Universite de Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS, Lille, F 59000, France
| | - Austin Ugwumadu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's Hospital, St George's University of London, London, SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Alistair J Gunn
- The Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christopher A Lear
- The Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience Group, Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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23
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Dimasi CG, Lazniewska J, Plush SE, Saini BS, Holman SL, Cho SKS, Wiese MD, Sorvina A, Macgowan CK, Seed M, Brooks DA, Morrison JL, Darby JRT. Redox ratio in the left ventricle of the growth restricted fetus is positively correlated with cardiac output. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2021; 14:e202100157. [PMID: 34499415 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202100157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a result of limited substrate supply to the developing fetus in utero, and can be caused by either placental, genetic or environmental factors. Babies born IUGR can have poor long-term health outcomes, including being at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Limited substrate supply in the IUGR fetus not only changes the structure of the heart but may also affect metabolism and function of the developing heart. We have utilised two imaging modalities, two-photon microscopy and phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI), to assess alterations in cardiac metabolism and function using a sheep model of IUGR. Two-photon imaging revealed that the left ventricle of IUGR fetuses (at 140-141 d GA) had a reduced optical redox ratio, suggesting a reliance on glycolysis for ATP production. Concurrently, the use of PC-MRI to measure foetal left ventricular cardiac output (LVCO) revealed a positive correlation between LVCO and redox ratio in IUGR, but not control fetuses. These data suggest that altered heart metabolism in IUGR fetuses is indicative of reduced cardiac output, which may contribute to poor cardiac outcomes in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine G Dimasi
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joanna Lazniewska
- Mechanisms in Cell Biology and Disease Research Group, UniSA Cancer Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sally E Plush
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Brahmdeep S Saini
- Translational Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Steven K S Cho
- Translational Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael D Wiese
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alexandra Sorvina
- Mechanisms in Cell Biology and Disease Research Group, UniSA Cancer Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mike Seed
- Translational Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Doug A Brooks
- Mechanisms in Cell Biology and Disease Research Group, UniSA Cancer Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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24
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Hicks ZM, Yates DT. Going Up Inflame: Reviewing the Underexplored Role of Inflammatory Programming in Stress-Induced Intrauterine Growth Restricted Livestock. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021; 2. [PMID: 34825243 PMCID: PMC8612632 DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2021.761421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on health in humans is well-recognized. It is the second leading cause of perinatal mortality worldwide, and it is associated with deficits in metabolism and muscle growth that increase lifelong risk for hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. Comparatively, the barrier that IUGR imposes on livestock production is less recognized by the industry. Meat animals born with low birthweight due to IUGR are beset with greater early death loss, inefficient growth, and reduced carcass merit. These animals exhibit poor feed-to-gain ratios, less lean mass, and greater fat deposition, which increase production costs and decrease value. Ultimately, this reduces the amount of meat produced by each animal and threatens the economic sustainability of livestock industries. Intrauterine growth restriction is most commonly the result of fetal programming responses to placental insufficiency, but the exact mechanisms by which this occurs are not well-understood. In uncompromised pregnancies, inflammatory cytokines are produced at modest rates by placental and fetal tissues and play an important role in fetal development. However, unfavorable intrauterine conditions can cause cytokine activity to be excessive during critical windows of fetal development. Our recent evidence indicates that this impacts developmental programming of muscle growth and metabolism and contributes to the IUGR phenotype. In this review, we outline the role of inflammatory cytokine activity in the development of normal and IUGR phenotypes. We also highlight the contributions of sheep and other animal models in identifying mechanisms for IUGR pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zena M Hicks
- Stress Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Dustin T Yates
- Stress Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
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25
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McBride GM, Meakin AS, Soo JY, Darby JRT, Varcoe TJ, Bradshaw EL, Lock MC, Holman SL, Saini BS, Macgowan CK, Seed M, Berry MJ, Wiese MD, Morrison JL. Intrauterine growth restriction alters the activity of drug metabolising enzymes in the maternal-placental-fetal unit. Life Sci 2021; 285:120016. [PMID: 34614415 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ten percent of pregnancies are affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and evidence suggests that affected neonates have reduced activity of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) drug metabolising enzymes. Given that almost all pregnant individuals take medications and additional medications are often required during an IUGR pregnancy, we aimed to determine the impact of IUGR on hepatic CYP activity in sheep fetuses and pregnant ewes. METHODS Specific probes were used to determine the impact of IUGR on the activity of several CYP isoenzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A) in sheep fetuses and pregnant ewes. Probes were administered intravenously to the ewe at 132 days (d) gestation (term 150 d), followed by blood sampling from the maternal and fetal circulation over 24 h. Maternal and fetal liver tissue was collected at 139-140 d gestation, from which microsomes were isolated and incubated with probes. Metabolite and maternal plasma cortisol concentrations were measured using Liquid Chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS Maternal plasma cortisol concentration and maternal hepatic CYP1A2 and CYP3A activity was significantly higher in IUGR pregnancies. Maternal hepatic CYP activity was higher than fetal hepatic CYP activity for all CYPs tested, and there was minimal CYP1A2 or CYP3A activity in the late gestation fetus when assessed using in vitro methods. CONCLUSIONS The physiological changes to the maternal-placental-fetal unit in an IUGR pregnancy have significant effects on maternal drug metabolism, suggesting changes in medications and/or doses may be required to optimise maternal and fetal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace M McBride
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Ashley S Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Jia Yin Soo
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Tamara J Varcoe
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Emma L Bradshaw
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Mitchell C Lock
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | | | - Brahmdeep S Saini
- The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
| | | | - Mike Seed
- The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Mary J Berry
- University of Otago, Wellington, NZ 6242, New Zealand
| | - Michael D Wiese
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia.
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26
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Abstract
Heart disease remains one of the greatest killers. In addition to genetics and traditional lifestyle risk factors, we now understand that adverse conditions during pregnancy can also increase susceptibility to cardiovascular disease in the offspring. Therefore, the mechanisms by which this occurs and possible preventative therapies are of significant contemporary interest to the cardiovascular community. A common suboptimal pregnancy condition is a sustained reduction in fetal oxygenation. Chronic fetal hypoxia results from any pregnancy with increased placental vascular resistance, such as in preeclampsia, placental infection, or maternal obesity. Chronic fetal hypoxia may also arise during pregnancy at high altitude or because of maternal respiratory disease. This article reviews the short- and long-term effects of hypoxia on the fetal cardiovascular system, and the importance of chronic fetal hypoxia in triggering a developmental origin of future heart disease in the adult progeny. The work summarizes evidence derived from human studies as well as from rodent, avian, and ovine models. There is a focus on the discovery of the molecular link between prenatal hypoxia, oxidative stress, and increased cardiovascular risk in adult offspring. Discussion of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant therapy offers potential targets for clinical intervention in human pregnancy complicated by chronic fetal hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dino A Giussani
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience; The Barcroft Centre; Cambridge Cardiovascular British Heart Foundation Centre for Research Excellence; and Cambridge Strategic Research Initiative in Reproduction, University of Cambridge, UK
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27
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Fung C, Zinkhan E. Short- and Long-Term Implications of Small for Gestational Age. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2021; 48:311-323. [PMID: 33972068 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) describes a fetus' inability to attain adequate weight gain based on genetic potential and gestational age and is the second most common cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality after prematurity. Infants who have suffered fetal growth restriction are at the greatest risks for short- and long-term complications. This article specifically details the neurologic and cardiometabolic sequalae associated with fetal growth restriction, as well as the purported mechanisms that underlie their pathogenesis. We end with a brief discussion about further work that is needed to gain a more complete understanding of fetal growth restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Fung
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
| | - Erin Zinkhan
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
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28
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Bar J, Weiner E, Levy M, Gilboa Y. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis: The association between ultrasound and Doppler studies in fetal growth restriction and the development of adult disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2021; 3:100473. [PMID: 34481995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2021.100473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Barker pioneered the idea that the epidemic of coronary heart disease in Western countries in the 20th century, which paradoxically coincided with improved standards of living and nutrition, has its origin in fetal life. Indeed, there is substantial evidence associating low birthweight because of fetal growth restriction with an increased risk of vascular disease in later adult life. These conclusions led to the second part of the Barker hypothesis, the thrifty phenotype, in which adaptation to undernutrition in fetal life leads to permanent metabolic and endocrine changes. Such changes are beneficial if the undernutrition persists after birth but may predispose the individual to obesity and impaired glucose tolerance if conditions improve. The hypothesis assumes that a poor nutrient supply during a critical period of in utero life may "program" a permanent structural or functional change in the fetus, thereby altering the distribution of cell types, gene expression, or both. The fetus, in response to placental undernutrition and to maintain sufficient vascular supply to the brain, decreases resistance to blood flow in the middle cerebral artery. Simultaneously, because of the limited blood supply to the fetus, the arterial redistribution process is accompanied by increased resistance to flow to other fetal vital organs, such as the heart, kidneys, liver, and pancreas. It may explain why individuals exposed to ischemic changes in utero develop dyslipidemia, lower nephron number, and impaired glucose tolerance, all factors contributing to metabolic syndrome later in life. Nevertheless, support for the hypotheses comes mainly from studies in rodents and retrospective epidemiologic studies. This review focused on ultrasound and Doppler studies of human fetal growth restriction in several fetal organs: the placenta, fetal circulation, brain, heart, kidneys, adrenal glands, liver, and pancreas. Support for the hypothesis was provided by animal studies involving conditions that create fetuses with growth restriction with effects on various fetal organs and by human studies that correlate impaired fetal circulation with the in utero development and function of fetal organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Bar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel (Dr. Bar, Dr Weiner, and Dr. Levy); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (Dr. Bar, Dr. Weiner, Dr. Levy, and Dr. Gilboa)
| | - Eran Weiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel (Dr. Bar, Dr Weiner, and Dr. Levy); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (Dr. Bar, Dr. Weiner, Dr. Levy, and Dr. Gilboa).
| | - Michal Levy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel (Dr. Bar, Dr Weiner, and Dr. Levy)
| | - Yinon Gilboa
- Ultrasound Unit, Helen Schneider Comprehensive Women's Health Center, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel (Dr. Gilboa); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (Dr. Bar, Dr. Weiner, Dr. Levy, and Dr. Gilboa)
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29
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Rozance PJ, Wesolowski SR, Jonker SS, Brown LD. Anemic hypoxemia reduces myoblast proliferation and muscle growth in late-gestation fetal sheep. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 321:R352-R363. [PMID: 34287074 PMCID: PMC8530759 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00342.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fetal skeletal muscle growth requires myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and fusion into myofibers in addition to protein accretion for fiber hypertrophy. Oxygen is an important regulator of this process. Therefore, we hypothesized that fetal anemic hypoxemia would inhibit skeletal muscle growth. Studies were performed in late-gestation fetal sheep that were bled to anemic and therefore hypoxemic conditions beginning at ∼125 days of gestation (term = 148 days) for 9 ± 0 days (n = 19) and compared with control fetuses (n = 16). A metabolic study was performed on gestational day ∼134 to measure fetal protein kinetic rates. Myoblast proliferation and myofiber area were determined in biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscles. mRNA expression of muscle regulatory factors was determined in BF. Fetal arterial hematocrit and oxygen content were 28% and 52% lower, respectively, in anemic fetuses. Fetal weight and whole body protein synthesis, breakdown, and accretion rates were not different between groups. Hindlimb length, however, was 7% shorter in anemic fetuses. TA and FDS muscles weighed less, and FDS myofiber area was smaller in anemic fetuses compared with controls. The percentage of Pax7+ myoblasts that expressed Ki67 was lower in BF and tended to be lower in FDS from anemic fetuses indicating reduced myoblast proliferation. There was less MYOD and MYF6 mRNA expression in anemic versus control BF consistent with reduced myoblast differentiation. These results indicate that fetal anemic hypoxemia reduced muscle growth. We speculate that fetal muscle growth may be improved by strategies that increase oxygen availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Rozance
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal Research Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Stephanie R. Wesolowski
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal Research Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Sonnet S. Jonker
- 2Center for Developmental Health, Knight Cardiovascular Institute,
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Laura D. Brown
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal Research Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
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30
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Wang KCW, James AL, Noble PB. Fetal Growth Restriction and Asthma: Is the Damage Done? Physiology (Bethesda) 2021; 36:256-266. [PMID: 34159809 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00042.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Trajectories of airway remodeling and functional impairment in asthma are consistent with the notion that airway pathology precedes or coincides with the onset of asthma symptoms and may be present at birth. An association between intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and asthma development has also been established, and there is value in understanding the underlying mechanism. This review considers airway pathophysiology as a consequence of IUGR that increases susceptibility to asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley C W Wang
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Alan L James
- Department of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, West Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Peter B Noble
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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Blue NR, Hoffman M, Allshouse AA, Grobman WA, Simhan HN, Turan OM, Parry S, Chung JH, Reddy U, Haas DM, Myers S, Mercer B, Saade GR, Silver RM. Antenatal Fetal Adrenal Measurements at 22 to 30 Weeks' Gestation, Fetal Growth Restriction, and Perinatal Morbidity. Am J Perinatol 2021; 38:676-682. [PMID: 31756754 PMCID: PMC7708295 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3400308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our objective was to test the association of fetal adrenal size with perinatal morbidity among fetuses with fetal growth restriction (FGR; estimated fetal weight [EFW] < 10th percentile). STUDY DESIGN This was a secondary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-be (nuMoM2b) adrenal study, which measured fetal adrenal gland size at 22 to 30 weeks' gestation. We analyzed the transverse adrenal area (TAA) and fetal zone area (absolute measurements and corrected for fetal size) and the ratio of the fetal zone area to the total transverse area using a composite perinatal outcome of stillbirth, neonatal intensive care unit admission, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, seizure, or death. Among fetuses with FGR, adrenal measurements were compared between those that did and did not experience the composite perinatal outcome. RESULTS There were 1,709 eligible neonates. Seven percent (n = 120) were diagnosed with FGR at the time of adrenal measurement, and 14.7% (n = 251) experienced perinatal morbidity. EFW-corrected and absolute adrenal measurements were similar among fetuses with and without FGR as well as among those who did and did not experience morbidity. The area under the curve for corrected TAA was 0.52 (95% confidence interval 0.38-0.67). CONCLUSION In our cohort, adrenal size was not associated with risk of morbidity among fetuses with FGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Blue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Matthew Hoffman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, Delaware
| | - Amanda A Allshouse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - William A Grobman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Hyagriv N Simhan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ozhan M Turan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Samuel Parry
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Judith H Chung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine, Orange, California
| | - Uma Reddy
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - David M Haas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Stephen Myers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Brian Mercer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - George R Saade
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Robert M Silver
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
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The Enigma of the Adrenarche: Identifying the Early Life Mechanisms and Possible Role in Postnatal Brain Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094296. [PMID: 33919014 PMCID: PMC8122518 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated metabolite (DHEAS) are dynamically regulated before birth and the onset of puberty. Yet, the origins and purpose of increasing DHEA[S] in postnatal development remain elusive. Here, we draw attention to this pre-pubertal surge from the adrenal gland—the adrenarche—and discuss whether this is the result of intra-adrenal gene expression specifically affecting the zona reticularis (ZR), if the ZR is influenced by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and the possible role of spino-sympathetic innervation in prompting increased ZR activity. We also discuss whether neural DHEA[S] synthesis is coordinately regulated with the developing adrenal gland. We propose that DHEA[S] is crucial in the brain maturation of humans prior to and during puberty, and suggest that the function of the adrenarche is to modulate, adapt and rewire the pre-adolescent brain for new and ever-changing social challenges. The etiology of DHEA[S] synthesis, neurodevelopment and recently described 11-keto and 11-oxygenated androgens are difficult to investigate in humans owing to: (i) ethical restrictions on mechanistic studies, (ii) the inability to predict which individuals will develop specific mental characteristics, and (iii) the difficulty of conducting retrospective studies based on perinatal complications. We discuss new opportunities for animal studies to overcome these important issues.
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Lazniewska J, Darby JRT, Holman SL, Sorvina A, Plush SE, Massi M, Brooks DA, Morrison JL. In utero substrate restriction by placental insufficiency or maternal undernutrition decreases optical redox ratio in foetal perirenal fat. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2021; 14:e202000322. [PMID: 33389813 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202000322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can result from reduced delivery of substrates, including oxygen and glucose, during pregnancy and may be caused by either placental insufficiency or maternal undernutrition. As a consequence of IUGR, there is altered programming of adipose tissue and this can be associated with metabolic diseases later in life. We have utilised two sheep models of IUGR, placental restriction and late gestation undernutrition, to determine the metabolic effects of growth restriction on foetal perirenal adipose tissue (PAT). Two-photon microscopy was employed to obtain an optical redox ratio, which gives an indication of cell metabolism. PAT of IUGR foetuses exhibited higher metabolic activity, altered lipid droplet morphology, upregulation of cytochrome c oxidase subunit genes and decreased expression of genes involved in growth and differentiation. Our results indicate that there are adaptations in PAT of IUGR foetuses that might be protective and ensure survival in response to an IUGR insult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Lazniewska
- Mechanisms in Cell Biology and Disease Research Group, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alexandra Sorvina
- Mechanisms in Cell Biology and Disease Research Group, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sally E Plush
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Massimiliano Massi
- Department of Chemistry, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Doug A Brooks
- Mechanisms in Cell Biology and Disease Research Group, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Morrison JL, Ayonrinde OT, Care AS, Clarke GD, Darby JRT, David AL, Dean JM, Hooper SB, Kitchen MJ, Macgowan CK, Melbourne A, McGillick EV, McKenzie CA, Michael N, Mohammed N, Sadananthan SA, Schrauben E, Regnault TRH, Velan SS. Seeing the fetus from a DOHaD perspective: discussion paper from the advanced imaging techniques of DOHaD applications workshop held at the 2019 DOHaD World Congress. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021; 12:153-167. [PMID: 32955011 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420000884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Advanced imaging techniques are enhancing research capacity focussed on the developmental origins of adult health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, and consequently increasing awareness of future health risks across various subareas of DOHaD research themes. Understanding how these advanced imaging techniques in animal models and human population studies can be both additively and synergistically used alongside traditional techniques in DOHaD-focussed laboratories is therefore of great interest. Global experts in advanced imaging techniques congregated at the advanced imaging workshop at the 2019 DOHaD World Congress in Melbourne, Australia. This review summarizes the presentations of new imaging modalities and novel applications to DOHaD research and discussions had by DOHaD researchers that are currently utilizing advanced imaging techniques including MRI, hyperpolarized MRI, ultrasound, and synchrotron-based techniques to aid their DOHaD research focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Oyekoya T Ayonrinde
- Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, WA, Australia
- Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Alison S Care
- The Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Geoffrey D Clarke
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Anna L David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Justin M Dean
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stuart B Hooper
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marcus J Kitchen
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Erin V McGillick
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Charles A McKenzie
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute and Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Navin Michael
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nuruddin Mohammed
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Suresh Anand Sadananthan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eric Schrauben
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Timothy R H Regnault
- Lawson Health Research Institute and Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - S Sendhil Velan
- Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
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Pini N, Lucchini M, Esposito G, Tagliaferri S, Campanile M, Magenes G, Signorini MG. A Machine Learning Approach to Monitor the Emergence of Late Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Front Artif Intell 2021; 4:622616. [PMID: 33889841 PMCID: PMC8057109 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2021.622616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Late intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a fetal pathological condition characterized by chronic hypoxia secondary to placental insufficiency, resulting in an abnormal rate of fetal growth. This pathology has been associated with increased fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. In standard clinical practice, late IUGR diagnosis can only be suspected in the third trimester and ultimately confirmed at birth. This study presents a radial basis function support vector machine (RBF-SVM) classification based on quantitative features extracted from fetal heart rate (FHR) signals acquired using routine cardiotocography (CTG) in a population of 160 healthy and 102 late IUGR fetuses. First, the individual performance of each time, frequency, and nonlinear feature was tested. To improve the unsatisfactory results of univariate analysis we firstly adopted a Recursive Feature Elimination approach to select the best subset of FHR-based parameters contributing to the discrimination of healthy vs. late IUGR fetuses. A fine tuning of the RBF-SVM model parameters resulted in a satisfactory classification performance in the training set (accuracy 0.93, sensitivity 0.93, specificity 0.84). Comparable results were obtained when applying the model on a totally independent testing set. This investigation supports the use of a multivariate approach for the in utero identification of late IUGR condition based on quantitative FHR features encompassing different domains. The proposed model allows describing the relationships among features beyond the traditional linear approaches, thus improving the classification performance. This framework has the potential to be proposed as a screening tool for the identification of late IUGR fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Pini
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Maristella Lucchini
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Giuseppina Esposito
- Department of Obstetrical Gynaecological and Urological Science, Federico II University, Napoli, Italy
| | - Salvatore Tagliaferri
- Department of Obstetrical Gynaecological and Urological Science, Federico II University, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marta Campanile
- Department of Obstetrical Gynaecological and Urological Science, Federico II University, Napoli, Italy
| | - Giovanni Magenes
- Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria G Signorini
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Flouri D, Darby JRT, Holman SL, Perumal SR, David AL, Morrison JL, Melbourne A. Magnetic resonance imaging of placentome development in the pregnant Ewe. Placenta 2021; 105:61-69. [PMID: 33549925 PMCID: PMC7611430 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Novel imaging measurements of placental development are difficult to validate due to the invasive nature of gold-standard procedures. Animal studies have been important in validation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in invasive preclinical studies, as they allow for controlled experiments and analysis of multiple time-points during pregnancy. This study characterises the longitudinal diffusion and perfusion properties of sheep placentomes using MRI, measurements that are required for future validation studies. METHODS Pregnant ewes were anaesthetised for a MRI session on a 3T scanner. Placental MRI was used to classify placentomes morphologically into three types based on their shape and size at two gestational ages. To validate classification accuracy, placentome type derived from MRI data were compared with placentome categorisation results after delivery. Diffusion-Weighted MRI and T2-relaxometry were used to measure a broad range of biophysical properties of the placentomes. RESULTS MRI morphological classification results showed consistent gestational age changes in placentome shape, as supported by post-delivery gold standard data. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient was significantly higher at 110 days gestation than at late gestation (~140 days; term, 150 days). Mean T2 was higher at mid gestation (152.2 ± 58.1 ms) compared to late gestation (127.8 ms ± 52.0). Significantly higher perfusion fraction was measured in late gestation placentomes that also had a significantly higher fractional anisotropy when compared to the earlier gestational age. DISCUSSION We report baseline measurements of techniques common in placental MRI for the sheep placenta. These measurements are essential to support future validation measurements of placental MRI techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Flouri
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sunthara R Perumal
- South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Preclinical, Imaging & Research Laboratories, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Anna L David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, London, United Kingdom; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
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Darby JRT, Varcoe TJ, Holman SL, McMillen IC, Morrison JL. The reliance on α-adrenergic receptor stimuli for blood pressure regulation in the chronically hypoxaemic fetus is not dependent on post-ganglionic activation. J Physiol 2020; 599:1307-1318. [PMID: 33347615 DOI: 10.1113/jp280693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Chronic hypoxaemia is associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and a predisposition to the development of hypertension in adult life. IUGR fetuses exhibit a greater reliance on α-adrenergic activation for blood pressure regulation. The fetal blood pressure response to post-ganglionic blockade is not different between control and IUGR fetuses. The decrease in mean arterial pressure is greater in the IUGR sheep fetus after α-adrenergic receptor blockade at the level of the vasculature and this is inversely related to fetal P O 2 . The increased reliance that the IUGR fetus has on α-adrenergic activation for maintenance of mean arterial pressure is not a result of increased post-ganglionic sympathetic activation. ABSTRACT Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adult life. Placental restriction (PR) in sheep results in chronic hypoxaemia and early onset IUGR with increased circulating plasma noradrenaline concentrations. These IUGR fetuses exhibit a greater decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) during α-adrenergic blockade. We aimed to determine the role of post-ganglionic sympathetic activation with respect to regulating MAP in IUGR fetal sheep. PR was induced by carunclectomy surgery prior to conception. Fetal vascular catheterization was performed at 110-126 days gestational age (GA) (term, 150 days) in nine control and seven PR-IUGR fetuses. The fetal blood pressure response to both a post-ganglionic and an α-adrenergic receptor blocker was assessed at 116-120 days GA and/or 129-131 days GA. The effect of both post ganglionic and α-adrenergic blockade on fetal blood pressure was then compared between control and IUGR fetuses at both GAs. There was no difference in the effect of post-ganglionic blockade on MAP in control and IUGR fetal sheep at either 116-120 days GA or 129-131 days GA. α-adrenergic receptor blockade decreased MAP to the same extent in both control and IUGR fetuses at 116-120 days GA. At 129-131 days GA, the drop in MAP in response to α-adrenergic receptor blockade was greater in IUGR fetuses than controls. There was a significant inverse relationship between the drop in MAP in response to α-adrenergic receptor blockade at both GAs with fetal P O 2 . Thus, the increased dependence on α-adrenergic activation for blood pressure regulation in the chronically hypoxaemic IUGR fetus is not a result of increased post-ganglionic sympathetic activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Tamara J Varcoe
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - I Caroline McMillen
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Xu R, Zhu Z, Tang W, Zhou Q, Zeng S. Inferior Adrenal Artery PI in Fetuses with IUGR: Value Indicating Early Blood Redistribution and Steroidogenic Response. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:5908703. [PMID: 32946562 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize the inferior adrenal artery (IAA) pulsatility index (PI) in intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses without brain sparing. METHODS Twenty-three IUGR fetuses with a normal Doppler cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and 23 normal controls were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. The PI of the IAA was recorded using routine transabdominal Doppler ultrasound. The differences in Doppler characteristics, perinatal outcomes, and steroidogenesis in the umbilical vein at birth (adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH] and cortisol [F] levels) were compared between the 2 groups. The correlations between IAA-PI and steroidogenesis were assessed in the IUGR group. RESULTS IAA-PI was significantly lower in IUGR fetuses than in normal controls (0.85 vs 1.18 at first scan, 0.78 vs 0.92 at last scan; both P < 0.001). The plasma F and ACTH levels in IUGR cases were significantly higher than those of the normal controls (18.2 vs 12.4 µg/dL and 280.5 vs 125.6 pg/mL for F and ACTH, respectively; both P < 0.001). There were negative correlations between IAA-PI and plasma F values and between IAA-PI and ACTH values in the IUGR group (r = -0.774 and -0.82 at first scan, r = -0.525 and -0.45 at last scan, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Increased adrenal gland blood flow with concomitant increases in ACTH and F levels were observed in IUGR fetuses. IAA-PI is useful to assess early blood redistribution and may be beneficial for evaluating the steroidogenic response in high-risk pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Xu
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ziling Zhu
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wenjuan Tang
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qichang Zhou
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shi Zeng
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Inocencio IM, Polglase GR, Nitsos I, Miller SL, Allison BJ. Maternal sildenafil impairs the cardiovascular adaptations to chronic hypoxaemia in fetal sheep. J Physiol 2020; 598:4405-4419. [PMID: 32754905 PMCID: PMC7589206 DOI: 10.1113/jp279248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Fetal growth restriction induces a haemodynamic response that aims to maintain blood flow to vital organs such as the brain, in the face of chronic hypoxaemia Maternal sildenafil treatment impairs the hypoxaemia-driven haemodynamic response and potentially compromises fetal development. ABSTRACT Inadequate substrate delivery to a fetus results in hypoxaemia and fetal growth restriction (FGR). In response, fetal cardiovascular adaptations redirect cardiac output to essential organs to maintain oxygen delivery and sustain development. However, FGR infants remain at risk for cardiovascular and neurological sequelae. Sildenafil citrate (SC) has been examined as a clinical therapy for FGR, but also crosses the placenta and may exert direct effects on the fetus. We investigated the effects of maternal SC administration on maternal and fetal cardiovascular physiology in growth-restricted fetal sheep. Fetal sheep (0.7 gestation) underwent sterile surgery to induce growth restriction by single umbilical artery ligation (SUAL) or sham surgery (control, AG). Fetal catheters and flow probes were implanted to measure carotid and femoral arterial blood flows. Ewes containing SUAL fetuses were randomized to receive either maternal administration of saline or SC (36 mg i.v. per day) beginning 4 days after surgery, and continuing for 20 days. Physiological recordings were obtained throughout the study. Antenatal SC treatment reduced body weight by 32% and oxygenation by 18% in SUAL compared to AG. SC did not alter maternal or fetal heart rate or blood pressure. Femoral blood flow and peripheral oxygen delivery were increased by 49% and 30% respectively in SUALSC compared to SUAL, indicating impaired cardiovascular adaptation to chronic hypoxaemia. Antenatal SC directly impairs the fetal haemodynamic response to chronic hypoxaemia. Consideration of the consequences upon the fetus should be paramount when administering interventions to the mother during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishmael M. Inocencio
- The Ritchie CentreHudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyMonash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Graeme R. Polglase
- The Ritchie CentreHudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyMonash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Ilias Nitsos
- The Ritchie CentreHudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyMonash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Suzanne L. Miller
- The Ritchie CentreHudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyMonash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Beth J. Allison
- The Ritchie CentreHudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyMonash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
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Schrauben EM, Darby JRT, Saini BS, Holman SL, Lock MC, Perumal SR, Seed M, Morrison JL, Macgowan CK. Technique for comprehensive fetal hepatic blood flow assessment in sheep using 4D flow MRI. J Physiol 2020; 598:3555-3567. [PMID: 32533704 DOI: 10.1113/jp279631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS The comprehensive visualization and quantification of in vivo fetal hepatic haemodynamics, particularly the shunting of ductus venosus blood, has been elusive and is not yet fully understood. We introduce the combination of chronically instrumented fetal sheep and 4D flow MRI of the whole fetal liver, which allows retrospective blood flow measurement in all visible vessels as well as qualitative assessment. The applicability and usefulness of this technique is exhibited in normally grown fetal Merino sheep in mid- and late-gestation with detailed dynamic distribution of hepatic blood flow presented. The feasibility of this approach in clinical pathology is demonstrated in two growth-restricted fetuses at mid-gestation. Further exemplification of blood flow quantification is performed over major hepatic vessels. ABSTRACT Although the fetal vasculature has been demarcated and well understood for several decades, the corresponding haemodynamics permitting oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood delivery to the fetal organs has been comparatively difficult to study. We married two well-established methods: 4D flow MRI, a volumetric and dynamic blood-flow measurement technique, and chronically instrumented sheep to broadly assess fetal hepatic circulation. We performed this technique in mid- and late-gestation fetal Merino sheep under normoxemic conditions and major hepatic vasculature was segmented to quantify blood flow and related parameters. Dynamic blood flow was visualized, exhibiting an acceleration of umbilical vein blood through the ductus venosus as well as spiralling into the inferior vena cava where its stream remained separate from that of the hepatic veins and lower body. Ductus venosus changes from mid- to late-gestation included larger diameter (mid: 5.8 ± 0.9 vs. late: 7.1 ± 1.1 mm; P = 0.003) and cross-sectional area (mid: 27.1 ± 8.6 vs. late: 40.4 ± 11.8 mm2 ; P = 0.003), and lower velocity averaged over the cardiac cycle (mid: 15.7 ± 5.4 vs. late: 9.8 ± 7.0 cm s-1 ; P = 0.020). This resulted in higher magnitude blood flow (indexed to umbilical vein input) at mid-gestation in the ductus venosus (mid: 0.73 ± 0.21; late: 0.46 ± 0.21; P = 0.008). The visualization and quantification results support the further use of this technique to better understand regional blood flow changes during normal or abnormal fetal growth, as well as to observe acute haemodynamic responses to physiological challenges or drug interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia
| | - Brahmdeep S Saini
- Heart Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia
| | - Mitchell C Lock
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia
| | - Sunthara R Perumal
- Preclinical Imaging and Research Laboratories, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
| | - Mike Seed
- Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
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Sennaiyan UN, Melov SJ, Arcus C, Kirby A, Alahakoon TI. Fetal adrenal gland: Total gland volume and fetal zone to total gland ratio as markers of small for gestational age. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2020; 48:377-387. [PMID: 32333815 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fetal adrenal gland changes have previously been investigated as novel markers of preterm labor and small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses. We aimed to compare the fetal adrenal gland parameters in SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses. METHODS A prospective cohort study was conducted on SGA fetuses with estimated fetal weight (EFW) ≤10th centile and AGA (EFW >10th centile) at 17 to 34 weeks gestation. Fetal adrenal total gland volume (TGV), TGV corrected for EFW (cTGV), fetal zone volume (FZV), FZV corrected for EFW (cFZV), and FZV:TGV ratio were compared and correlated with gestational age and EFW. Receiver operator curves assessed FZV:TGV ratio, cTGV, and cFZV in detecting SGA. RESULTS Ultrasound examinations from 103 AGA and 50 SGA fetuses showed that (a) SGA fetuses had higher TGV (P = .002), FZV (P = .001), and FZV:TGV (P = .036) compared to AGA fetuses; (b) fetal adrenal TGV, FZV, cFZV, and FZV:TGV increase with advancing gestational age and EFW while cTGV does not; (c) Fetal adrenal changes in cTGV, cFZV, and FZV:TGV have ability to differentiate SGA; (d) FZV:TGV ratio 10 and 25 may be used to identify or exclude SGA in antenatally suspected SGA. CONCLUSIONS We investigated the concept that SGA fetuses have measurable changes to the adrenal gland. We have shown that fetal TGV, TGV, and FZV:TGV ratio show differences between AGA and SGA with TGV remaining significant after accounting for GA at scan. These findings may be useful as potential biomarkers for diagnosing or excluding SGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usha N Sennaiyan
- Westmead Institute for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sarah J Melov
- Westmead Institute for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- The University of Sydney Westmead Clinical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Charles Arcus
- Westmead Institute for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adrienne Kirby
- NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Thushari I Alahakoon
- Westmead Institute for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
- The University of Sydney Westmead Clinical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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42
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Fetal Growth Restriction and Hypertension in the Offspring: Mechanistic Links and Therapeutic Directions. J Pediatr 2020; 224:115-123.e2. [PMID: 32450071 PMCID: PMC8086836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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43
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The impact of intrauterine growth restriction on cytochrome P450 enzyme expression and activity. Placenta 2020; 99:50-62. [PMID: 32755725 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
With the increased prevalence of non-communicable disease and availability of medications to treat these and other conditions, a pregnancy free from prescribed medication exposure is rare. Up to 99% of women take at least one medication during pregnancy. These medications can be divided into those used to improve maternal health and wellbeing (e.g., analgesics, antidepressants, antidiabetics, antiasthmatics), and those used to promote the baby's wellbeing in either fetal (e.g., anti-arrhythmics) or postnatal life (e.g., antenatal glucocorticoids). These medications are needed for pre-existing or coincidental illnesses in the mother, maternal conditions induced by the pregnancy itself through to conditions that arise in the fetus or that will be encountered by the newborn. Thus, medications administered to the mother may be used to treat the mother, the fetus or both. Metabolism of medications is regulated by a range of physiological processes that change during pregnancy. Other pathological processes such as placental insufficiency can in turn have both immediate and lifelong adverse health consequences for babies. Individuals born growth restricted are more likely to require medications but may also have an altered ability to metabolise these medications in fetal and postnatal life. This review aims to determine the effect of suboptimal fetal growth on the fetal expression of the drug metabolising enzymes (DMEs) that convert medications into active or inactive metabolites, and the transporters that remove both these medications and their metabolites from the fetal compartment.
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44
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Thompson LP, Turan S, Aberdeen GW. Sex differences and the effects of intrauterine hypoxia on growth and in vivo heart function of fetal guinea pigs. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2020; 319:R243-R254. [PMID: 32639864 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00249.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We hypothesized that the physiological adaptations of the fetus in response to chronic intrauterine hypoxia depend on its sex and the gestational age of exposure. Pregnant guinea pigs were exposed to room air (normoxia, NMX) or 10.5% O2 (hypoxia, HPX) at either 25 days (early onset) or 50 days (late onset) of gestation until term (~65 days). We evaluated the effects of HPX on hemodynamic and cardiac function indices using Doppler ultrasound and determined sex-related differences in near-term fetuses. Indices of uterine/umbilical artery pulsatility (PI index) and fetal heart systolic and diastolic function [Tei index and passive filling (E-wave) to filling due to atrial contraction (A-wave) (E/A ratios), respectively] were measured in utero and fetal body (FBW) and organ weights measured from extracted fetuses. Both early- and late-onset HPX decreased FBW in both males and females, had no effect on placenta weights, and increased placenta weight-to-FBW ratios. Early- but not late-onset HPX increased uterine artery PI, but neither HPX condition affected umbilical artery PI. Early-onset HPX increased left ventricle E/A ratios in both males and females, whereas late-onset HPX increased the right ventricle E/A ratio in females only. Hypoxia had no effect on the Tei index in either sex. Early- and late-onset HPX induce placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction and increase diastolic filling depending on the sex, with female fetuses having a greater capacity than males to compensate for intrauterine hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren P Thompson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Shifa Turan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Graham W Aberdeen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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45
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Cho SKS, Darby JRT, Saini BS, Lock MC, Holman SL, Lim JM, Perumal SR, Macgowan CK, Morrison JL, Seed M. Feasibility of ventricular volumetry by cardiovascular MRI to assess cardiac function in the fetal sheep. J Physiol 2020; 598:2557-2573. [PMID: 32378201 DOI: 10.1113/jp279054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS The application of fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) to assess fetal cardiovascular physiology and cardiac function through the quantification of ventricular volumes has previously been investigated, but the approach has not yet been fully validated. Ventricular output measurements calculated from heart rate and stroke volumes (SV) of the right and left ventricles measured by ventricular volumetry (VV) exhibited a high level of agreement with phase-contrast (PC) blood flow measurements in the main pulmonary artery and ascending aorta, respectively. Ejection fraction of the right ventricle, which is lower than that of the left ventricle in postnatal subjects, was similar to the left ventricular ejection fraction in the fetus; probably due to the different loading conditions present in the fetal circulation. This study provides evidence to support the reliability of VV in the sheep fetus, providing evidence for its use in animal models of human diseases affecting the fetal circulation. ABSTRACT The application of ventricular volumetry (VV) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in the fetus remains challenging due to the small size of the fetal heart and high heart rate. The reliability of this technique in utero has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and reliability of VV in a fetal sheep model of human pregnancy. Right and left ventricular outputs by stroke volume (SV) measured using VV were compared with 2D phase-contrast (PC) CMR measurements of blood flow in the main pulmonary artery (MPA) and ascending aorta (AAo). At 124-140 days (d) gestation, singleton bearing Merino ewes underwent CMR under general anaesthesia using fetal femoral artery catheters, implanted at 109-117d, to trigger cine steady state free precession acquisitions of ventricular short-axis stacks. The short-axis cine stacks were segmented at end-systole and end-diastole, yielding right and left ventricular SV, ejection fraction, and cardiac outputs (SV × heart rate). PC cine acquisitions of MPA and AAo were analysed to measure blood flow, which served as comparators for the right and left cardiac outputs by VV. There was good correlation and agreement between VV and PC measures of ventricular outputs with no significant bias (r2 = 0.926; P < 0.0001; Bias = -4.7 ± 10.5 ml min-1 kg-1 ; 95% limits of agreement: -15.9 to 25.2 ml min-1 kg-1 ). This study validates fetal VV by CMR in a large animal model of human pregnancy and provides preliminary reference values of fetal sheep right and left ventricles in late gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven K S Cho
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.,Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Brahmdeep S Saini
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mitchell C Lock
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Jessie Mei Lim
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sunthara Rajan Perumal
- Preclinical, Imaging & Research Laboratories, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Mike Seed
- Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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46
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Saini BS, Darby JRT, Portnoy S, Sun L, van Amerom J, Lock MC, Soo JY, Holman SL, Perumal SR, Kingdom JC, Sled JG, Macgowan CK, Morrison JL, Seed M. Normal human and sheep fetal vessel oxygen saturations by T2 magnetic resonance imaging. J Physiol 2020; 598:3259-3281. [PMID: 32372463 DOI: 10.1113/jp279725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Human fetal Doppler ultrasound and invasive blood gas measurements obtained by cordocentesis or at the time of delivery reveal similarities with sheep (an extensively used model for human fetal cardiovascular physiology). Oxygen saturation (SO2 ) measurements in human fetuses have been limited to the umbilical and scalp vessels, providing little information about normal regional SO2 differences in the fetus. Blood T2 MRI relaxometry presents a non-invasive measure of SO2 in the major fetal vessels. This study presents the first in vivo validation of fetal vessel T2 oximetry against the in vitro T2-SO2 relationship using catheterized sheep fetuses and compares the normal SO2 in the major vessels between the human and sheep fetal circulations. Human fetal vessel SO2 by T2 MRI confirms many similarities with the sheep fetal circulation and is able to demonstrate regional differences in SO2 ; in particular the significantly higher SO2 in the left versus right heart. ABSTRACT Blood T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxometry non-invasively measures oxygen saturation (SO2 ) in major vessels but has not been validated in fetuses in vivo. We compared the blood T2-SO2 relationship in vitro (tubes) and in vivo (vessels) in sheep, and measured SO2 across the normal human and sheep fetal circulations by T2. Singleton pregnant ewes underwent surgery to implant vascular catheters. In vitro and in vivo sheep blood T2 measurements were related to corresponding SO2 measured using a blood gas analyser, as well as relating T2 and SO2 of human fetal blood in vitro. MRI oximetry was performed in the major vessels of 30 human fetuses at 36 weeks (term, 40 weeks) and 10 fetal sheep (125 days; term, 150 days). The fidelity of in vivo fetal T2 oximetry was confirmed through comparison of in vitro and in vivo sheep blood T2-SO2 relationships (P = 0.1). SO2 was similar between human and sheep fetuses, as was the fetal oxygen extraction fraction (human, 33 ± 11%; sheep, 34 ± 7%; P = 0.798). The presence of streaming in the human fetal circulation was demonstrated by the SO2 gradient between the ascending aorta (68 ± 10%) and the main pulmonary artery (49 ± 9%; P < 0.001). Human and sheep fetal vessel MRI oximetry based on T2 is a validated approach that confirms the presence of streaming of umbilical venous blood towards the heart and brain. Streaming is important in ensuring oxygen delivery to these organs and its disruption may have important implications for organ development, especially in conditions such as congenital heart disease and fetal growth restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahmdeep S Saini
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Sharon Portnoy
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Liqun Sun
- Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Joshua van Amerom
- Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Mitchell C Lock
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Jia Yin Soo
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Stacey L Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Sunthara R Perumal
- Preclinical Imaging and Research Laboratories, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, 5086, Australia
| | - John C Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1E2, Canada
| | - John G Sled
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Mike Seed
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1E2, Canada
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47
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Darby JRT, Varcoe TJ, Orgeig S, Morrison JL. Cardiorespiratory consequences of intrauterine growth restriction: Influence of timing, severity and duration of hypoxaemia. Theriogenology 2020; 150:84-95. [PMID: 32088029 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
At birth, weight of the neonate is used as a marker of the 9-month journey as a fetus. Those neonates born less than the 10th centile for their gestational age are at risk of being intrauterine growth restricted. However, this depends on their genetic potential for growth and the intrauterine environment in which they grew. Alterations in the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus will decrease fetal growth, but these alterations occur due to a range of causes that are maternal, placental or fetal in nature. Consequently, IUGR neonates are a heterogeneous population. For this reason, it is likely that these neonates will respond differently to interventions compared not only to normally grown fetuses, but also to other neonates that are IUGR but have travelled a different path to get there. Thus, a range of models of IUGR should be studied to determine the effects of IUGR on the development and function of the heart and lung and subsequently the impact of interventions to improve development of these organs. Here we focus on a range of models of IUGR caused by manipulation of the maternal, placental or fetal environment on cardiorespiratory outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tamara J Varcoe
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sandra Orgeig
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Australia; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
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48
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Varcoe TJ, Darby JRT, Holman SL, Bradshaw EL, Kuchel T, Vaughan L, Seed M, Wiese MD, Morrison JL. Fetal cardiovascular response to acute hypoxia during maternal anesthesia. Physiol Rep 2020; 8:e14365. [PMID: 32026576 PMCID: PMC7002532 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical imaging studies of fetal hemodynamics require anesthesia to immobilize the animal. This may induce cardiovascular depression and confound measures under investigation. We compared the impact of four anesthetic regimes upon maternal and fetal blood gas and hemodynamics during baseline periods of normoxia, and in response to an acute hypoxic challenge in pregnant sheep. Merino ewes were surgically prepared with maternal and fetal vascular catheters and a fetal femoral artery flow probe at 105-109 days gestation. At 110-120 days gestation, ewes were anesthetized with either isoflurane (1.6%), isoflurane (0.8%) plus ketamine (3.6 mg·kg-1 ·h-1 ), ketamine (12.6 mg·kg-1 ·h-1 ) plus midazolam (0.78 mg·kg-1 ·h-1 ), propofol (30 mg·kg-1 ·h-1 ), or remained conscious. Following 60 min of baseline recording, nitrogen was administered directly into the maternal trachea to displace oxygen and induce maternal and thus fetal hypoxemia. During normoxia, maternal PaO2 was ~30 mmHg lower in anesthetized ewes compared to conscious controls, regardless of the type of anesthesia (p < .001). There was no effect of anesthesia on fetal mean arterial blood pressure (MAP; p > .05), but heart rate was 32 ± 8 bpm lower in fetuses from ewes administered isoflurane (p = .044). During maternal hypoxia, fetal MAP increased, and peripheral blood flow decreased in all fetuses except those administered propofol (p < .05). Unexpectedly, hypoxemia also induced fetal tachycardia regardless of the anesthetic regime (p < .05). These results indicate that despite maternal anesthesia, the fetus can mount a cardiovascular response to acute hypoxia by increasing blood pressure and reducing peripheral blood flow, although the heart rate response may differ from when no anesthesia is present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara J. Varcoe
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
- School of Pharmacy and Medical SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
- School of Pharmacy and Medical SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Stacey L. Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
- School of Pharmacy and Medical SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Emma L. Bradshaw
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
- School of Pharmacy and Medical SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Tim Kuchel
- South Australian Health and Medical Research InstituteAdelaideAustralia
| | - Lewis Vaughan
- South Australian Health and Medical Research InstituteAdelaideAustralia
| | | | - Michael D. Wiese
- School of Pharmacy and Medical SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
- School of Pharmacy and Medical SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideAustralia
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49
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Bell AH, Miller SL, Castillo-Melendez M, Malhotra A. The Neurovascular Unit: Effects of Brain Insults During the Perinatal Period. Front Neurosci 2020; 13:1452. [PMID: 32038147 PMCID: PMC6987380 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a relatively recent concept in neuroscience that broadly describes the relationship between brain cells and their blood vessels. The NVU incorporates cellular and extracellular components involved in regulating cerebral blood flow and blood-brain barrier function. The NVU within the adult brain has attracted strong research interest and its structure and function is well described, however, the NVU in the developing brain over the fetal and neonatal period remains much less well known. One area of particular interest in perinatal brain development is the impact of known neuropathological insults on the NVU. The aim of this review is to synthesize existing literature to describe structure and function of the NVU in the developing brain, with a particular emphasis on exploring the effects of perinatal insults. Accordingly, a brief overview of NVU components and function is provided, before discussion of NVU development and how this may be affected by perinatal pathologies. We have focused this discussion around three common perinatal insults: prematurity, acute hypoxia, and chronic hypoxia. A greater understanding of processes affecting the NVU in the perinatal period may enable application of targeted therapies, as well as providing a useful basis for research as it expands further into this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H. Bell
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Suzanne L. Miller
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Margie Castillo-Melendez
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Atul Malhotra
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Monash Newborn, Monash Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Inocencio IM, Polglase GR, Miller SL, Sehgal A, Sutherland A, Mihelakis J, Li A, Allison BJ. Effects of Maternal Sildenafil Treatment on Vascular Function in Growth-Restricted Fetal Sheep. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 39:731-740. [PMID: 30841708 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.119.312366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective- The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of intravenous maternal sildenafil citrate (SC) administration on vascular function in growth-restricted fetal sheep. Approach and Results- Fetal growth restriction (FGR) results in cardiovascular adaptations that redistribute cardiac output to optimize suboptimal intrauterine conditions. These adaptations result in structural and functional cardiovascular changes, which may underlie postnatal neurological and cardiovascular sequelae. Evidence suggests SC, a potent vasodilator, may improve FGR. In contrast, recent clinical evidence suggests potential for adverse fetal consequence. Currently, there is limited data on SC effects in the developing fetus. We hypothesized that SC in utero would improve vascular development and function in an ovine model of FGR. Preterm lambs (0.6 gestation) underwent sterile surgery for single umbilical artery ligation or sham (control, appropriately grown) surgery to replicate FGR. Ewes received continuous intravenous SC (36 mg/24 h) or saline from surgery until 0.83 gestation. Fetuses were delivered and immediately euthanized for collection of femoral and middle cerebral artery vessels. Vessel function was assessed via in vitro wire myography. SC exacerbated growth restriction in growth-restricted fetuses and resulted in endothelial dysfunction in the cerebral and femoral vasculature, irrespective of growth status. Dysfunction in the cerebral circulation is endothelial, whereas smooth muscle in the periphery is the origin of the deficit. Conclusions- SC crosses the placenta and alters key fetal vascular development. Extensive studies are required to investigate the effects of SC on fetal development to address safety before additional use of SC as a treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishmael M Inocencio
- From the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (I.M.I., G.R.P., S.L.M., A. Sutherland, J.M., A.L., B.J.A.), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Graeme R Polglase
- From the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (I.M.I., G.R.P., S.L.M., A. Sutherland, J.M., A.L., B.J.A.), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Suzanne L Miller
- From the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (I.M.I., G.R.P., S.L.M., A. Sutherland, J.M., A.L., B.J.A.), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Arvind Sehgal
- Monash Children's Hospital (A. Sehgal), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Amy Sutherland
- From the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (I.M.I., G.R.P., S.L.M., A. Sutherland, J.M., A.L., B.J.A.), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jamie Mihelakis
- From the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (I.M.I., G.R.P., S.L.M., A. Sutherland, J.M., A.L., B.J.A.), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anqi Li
- From the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (I.M.I., G.R.P., S.L.M., A. Sutherland, J.M., A.L., B.J.A.), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Beth J Allison
- From the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (I.M.I., G.R.P., S.L.M., A. Sutherland, J.M., A.L., B.J.A.), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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