cytochrome-c-t and Fetal-Growth-Retardation

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Caspases; Cell Proliferation; Cytochromes c; Female; Fetal Development; Fetal Growth Retardation; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Liver; Malnutrition; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Sheep

The retarded development of fetal thymus in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) from maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy destroys the tridimensional structure and modifies the development of fetal T lymphocytes. The mechanisms, however, remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of IUGR during late pregnancy on the development of the ovine fetal thymus and the T-lymphocyte subpopulation.. Eighteen time-mated ewes with singleton fetuses were allocated to three groups at day 90 of pregnancy: restricted group 1 (RG1, 0.18 MJ ME/BW(0.75) /day, n = 6), restricted group 2 (RG2, 0.33 MJ ME/BW(0.75) /day, n = 6) and a control group (CG, ad libitum, 0.67 MJ ME/BW(0.75) /day, n = 6). Fetuses were recovered at slaughter on day 140.. Fetuses in RG1 exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) thymic weight, cortical thickness, cortical:medullary, DNA content, total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase; intermediate changes were found in RG2 fetuses, including decreased thymic weight, cortical thickness, and DNA content (P < 0.05). The reductions (P < 0.05) of CD4(+) CD8(+) T cells, relative mRNA expression of keratin 8, recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were found in both restricted groups. In addition, there was reduced mRNA expression (P < 0.05) of T-cell receptor, apoptosis antigen 1 ligand, and RAG2 in the RG1 group. In contrast, increases in glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, caspase-3, Cytochrome c, and CD4(+) T cells were observed (P < 0.05), and higher mRNA expressions (P < 0.05) of protein 53, Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), and apoptosis antigen 1 (Fas) were found in RG1 fetuses; and thymuses of RG2 fetuses had increased caspase-3, and expression of Fas and Bax (P < 0.05), relative to control fetuses.. These results indicate that reduced cell proliferation, oxidative stress, and increased cell apoptosis were the potential mechanisms for impaired development and microenvironment of IUGR fetal thymus, and for modifying the maturation of CD4(+) CD8(+) thymocytes underlying their reduced numbers .

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspase 8; Caspase 9; Cell Proliferation; Cytochromes c; Female; Fetal Development; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetus; Malnutrition; Molecular Sequence Data; Oxidative Stress; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; Sheep; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Thymus Gland

Prenatal diagnosis of disorders due to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) tRNA gene mutations is problematic. Experience in families harboring the protein-coding ATPase 6 m.8993T>G mutation suggests that the mutant load is homogeneous in different tissues, thus allowing prenatal diagnosis. We have encountered a novel protein-coding gene mutation, m.10198C>T in MT-ND3. A baby girl homoplasmic for this mutation died at 3 months after severe psychomotor regression and respiratory arrest. The mother had no detectable mutation in accessible tissues. The product of a second pregnancy showed only wild-type mt genomes in amniocytes, chorionic villi, and biopsied fetal muscle. This second girl is now 18 months old and healthy. Our observations support the concept that the pathogenic mutation in this patient appeared de novo and that fetal muscle biopsy is a useful aide in prenatal diagnosis.

Topics: Biopsy; Cytochromes c; DNA Mutational Analysis; DNA, Mitochondrial; Family Health; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Humans; Infant; Male; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases; Muscle, Skeletal; Mutation; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis

Adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2) is a recently discovered member of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide family with an exon-intron structure similar to that of ADM. The mRNA of ADM2 is expressed in several tissues, including uterus and ovary. The present study was designed to assess the effects of ADM2 antagonist (ADM2(17-47)) infusion to pregnant rats on fetal and placental growth. On Day 15 of gestation, rats were implanted s.c. with osmotic minipumps delivering 50 and 200 mug per rat per day of ADM2(17-47) and were killed on Gestational Day 18. In ADM2(17-47)-treated rats, placental weights were significantly inhibited in a dose-related manner, with an 11% reduction in the group of rats receiving 200 microg/day, whereas the fetal weights were reduced by 17% without significant differences between the two doses. 2 In ADM2(17-47)-infused rats, increased apoptosis was demonstrated in the labyrinth and junctional zones of rat placenta by the TUNEL method compared with the control animals. Western blot analysis demonstrated that in ADM2(17-47)-treated rats Bcl-2, mitochondrial cytochrome c, and active caspase-9 and caspase-3 were significantly increased compared with the controls. No significant treatment-associated changes were observed in Bax, Bid, p53, and caspase-8 and caspase-10 proteins in the treated placentas. In addition, infusion of ADM2(17-47) caused a significant decline in the transcripts of nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) and NOS2. These findings show that ADM2(17-47) infusion in rats during midpregnancy cause fetoplacental growth restriction through the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. This study demonstrates for the first time (to our knowledge) a potential role for ADM2 in placental functions during pregnancy.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Animals; Apoptosis; Caspase 10; Caspase 3; Caspase 8; Cytochromes c; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Gestational Age; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Mitochondria; Neuropeptides; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Peptide Fragments; Peptide Hormones; Placenta; Pregnancy; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Rats; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Adrenomedullin (AM), a potent vasorelaxant peptide, has been shown to function as an angiogenic and growth factor. The present study investigated whether antagonism of endogenous AM in rats during early gestation results in diminished placental and fetal growth and whether this occurs through induction of apoptosis. Rats on Gestational Day 8 were implanted s.c. with osmotic minipumps delivering 125 and 250 microg rat(-1) day(-1) of AM(22-52) and were killed on Gestational Day 15. In AM(22-52)-treated rats, both placental and fetal weights were dose-dependently inhibited, with 50% reduction in the group receiving 250 microg rat(-1) day(-1). In these animals, fetal resorption sites were also increased. Apoptosis was demonstrated in placenta and uterus by the TUNEL method. Apoptotic changes were more apparent in trophoblast cells in the labyrinth zone of placenta and uterine decidua of AM(22-52)-treated rats when compared with vehicle-control rats. Immunoreactivity to active caspase-3 protein was abundant in the placenta and uterus of the AM(22-52)-treated group. Western blot analysis demonstrated that in homogenates of both the placenta and uterus of AM(22-52)-treated rats, levels of active caspase-9 and -3 as well as of Poly ADP ribose polymerase were significantly increased, whereas levels of Bcl-2 protein decreased, compared with controls. However, no significant treatment-associated changes were observed in Bid, Fas, Fas ligand, p53, and caspase-8 and -10 proteins in either placenta or uterus. Bad protein was undetectable in either tissue. In mitochondrial fractions from both placenta and uterus, the levels of Bax increased with decreases in cytochrome c on AM(22-52) treatment. Conversely, in the cytosol, Bax levels decreased with increases in cytochrome c, demonstrating translocation of Bax from cytosol to mitochondria and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria with AM(22-52) treatment. In conclusion, these findings show that antagonism of AM in rats during early pregnancy caused fetoplacental growth restriction through the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.

Topics: Adrenomedullin; Animals; Apoptosis; Caspases; Cytochromes c; Enzyme Activation; Fas Ligand Protein; fas Receptor; Female; Fetal Development; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetal Resorption; Fetal Weight; Gestational Age; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins; Mitochondria; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Organ Size; Peptide Fragments; Peptides; Placenta; Placentation; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Rats; Signal Transduction; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Uterus