Fetal manipulation of maternal metabolism is a critical function of the imprinted Igf2 gene.

Maternal-offspring interactions in mammals involve both cooperation and conflict. The fetus has evolved ways to manipulate maternal physiology to enhance placental nutrient transfer, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. The imprinted Igf2 gene is highly expressed in murine placental endocrine cells.

Diet-induced maternal obesity impacts feto-placental growth and induces sex-specific alterations in placental morphology, mitochondrial bioenergetics, dynamics, lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in mice.

Aim: The current study investigated the impact of maternal obesity on placental phenotype in relation to fetal growth and sex.

Methods: Female C57BL6/J mice were fed either a diet high in fat and sugar or a standard chow diet, for 6 weeks prior to, and during, pregnancy. At day 19 of gestation, placental morphology and mitochondrial respiration and dynamics were assessed using high-resolution respirometry, stereology, and molecular analyses.

Mitochondrial augmentation of CD34 cells from healthy donors and patients with mitochondrial DNA disorders confers functional benefit.

Mitochondria are cellular organelles critical for numerous cellular processes and harboring their own circular mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Most mtDNA associated disorders (either deletions, mutations, or depletion) lead to multisystemic disease, often severe at a young age, with no disease-modifying therapies. Mitochondria have a capacity to enter eukaryotic cells and to be transported between cells.

Placental secretome characterization identifies candidates for pregnancy complications.

Alterations in maternal physiological adaptation during pregnancy lead to complications, including abnormal birthweight and gestational diabetes. Maternal adaptations are driven by placental hormones, although the full identity of these is lacking. This study unbiasedly characterized the secretory output of mouse placental endocrine cells and examined whether these data could identify placental hormones important for determining pregnancy outcome in humans.

Exploring the causes and consequences of maternal metabolic maladaptations during pregnancy: Lessons from animal models.

Pregnancy is a remarkable physiological state, during which the metabolic system of the mother adapts to ensure that nutrients are made available for transfer to the fetus for growth and development. Adaptations of maternal metabolism during pregnancy are influenced by the metabolic and nutritional status of the mother and the production of endocrine factors by the placenta that exert metabolic effects. Insufficient or inappropriate adaptations in maternal metabolism during pregnancy may lead to pregnancy complications with important short- and long-term effects for both the health of the child and mother.

Author Correction: Advanced maternal age compromises fetal growth and induces sex-specific changes in placental phenotype in rats.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Advanced maternal age compromises fetal growth and induces sex-specific changes in placental phenotype in rats.

Advanced maternal age is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications. It programmes sex-specific cardiovascular dysfunction in rat offspring, however the intrauterine mechanisms involved remain unknown. This study in the rat assessed the impact of advanced maternal age on placental phenotype in relation to the growth of female and male fetuses.

High-resolution contrast-enhanced microCT reveals the true three-dimensional morphology of the murine placenta.

Genetic engineering of the mouse genome identified many genes that are essential for embryogenesis. Remarkably, the prevalence of concomitant placental defects in embryonic lethal mutants is highly underestimated and indicates the importance of detailed placental analysis when phenotyping new individual gene knockouts. Here we introduce high-resolution contrast-enhanced microfocus computed tomography (CE-CT) as a nondestructive, high-throughput technique to evaluate the 3D placental morphology.

The Role of Placental Hormones in Mediating Maternal Adaptations to Support Pregnancy and Lactation.

During pregnancy, the mother must adapt her body systems to support nutrient and oxygen supply for growth of the baby and during the subsequent lactation. These include changes in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune and metabolic systems of the mother. Failure to appropriately adjust maternal physiology to the pregnant state may result in pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and abnormal birth weight, which can further lead to a range of medically significant complications for the mother and baby.

Zebularine induces prolonged apoptosis effects via the caspase-3/PARP pathway in head and neck cancer cells.

Zebularine, a potent DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, is potentially able to influence gene regulation and thereby alters cell behavior. This study illustrates the effect of zebularine on human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC-9 and SCC-25) in vitro. The results indicated that zebularine significantly (P<0.