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The research, conducted by Cambridge University and published in the Journal of Physiology, used pregnant mice to see how, or if, high stress levels affected their offspring. During the experiment, the pregnant mice were given glucocorticoid corticosterone – a natural stress hormone – in their drinking water. They were allowed to eat freely, or limited to the normal food intake of untreated mice. It was discovered that when the levels of the hormone increased, it caused the mother to eat more, but also reduced the ability of the placenta to transport glucose to her fetus.
Tracer technology was used to measure the amount of glucose crossing the placenta in a specific period and how this relates to feto-placental growth.
The research was designed to produce glucocorticoid levels similar to those seen in stressful conditions in expectant mothers, such as during food shortage, for approximately the last quarter of pregnancy.
Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones. These are important in regulating metabolism in adults as well as in the fetus, and the levels can be changed by stress related to disease, pregnancy or the physical or social environment.
Explaining the findings, lead author Dr Owen Vaughan said: "Together with previous work, the findings show that maternal glucocorticoids regulate fetal nutrition. Higher glucocorticoid hormone levels in the mother (as seen in stressful conditions) can reduce glucose transport across the placenta and lead to a decrease in fetal weight.
"Glucocorticoid levels in pregnant women may determine the specific combination of nutrients received by the fetus and influence the long-term metabolic health of their children as a result."
He added: "Our research showed that under stress, certain genes in the placenta were modified. One of the genes shown to be altered in the placenta by maternal stress hormones was Redd1. This gene is believed to signal availability of other substances, like oxygen, and to interact with intracellular pathways regulating growth and nutrient uptake in other tissues of the body.
"Future studies may prove this molecule is important in the placenta, in linking environmental cues to the nutrition of the fetus."
(JP/CD)
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Stress Could Affect Fetal Development
A new study has found that stress during pregnancy would affect fetal development.The research, conducted by Cambridge University and published in the Journal of Physiology, used pregnant mice to see how, or if, high stress levels affected their offspring. During the experiment, the pregnant mice were given glucocorticoid corticosterone – a natural stress hormone – in their drinking water. They were allowed to eat freely, or limited to the normal food intake of untreated mice. It was discovered that when the levels of the hormone increased, it caused the mother to eat more, but also reduced the ability of the placenta to transport glucose to her fetus.
Tracer technology was used to measure the amount of glucose crossing the placenta in a specific period and how this relates to feto-placental growth.
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The research was designed to produce glucocorticoid levels similar to those seen in stressful conditions in expectant mothers, such as during food shortage, for approximately the last quarter of pregnancy.
Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones. These are important in regulating metabolism in adults as well as in the fetus, and the levels can be changed by stress related to disease, pregnancy or the physical or social environment.
Explaining the findings, lead author Dr Owen Vaughan said: "Together with previous work, the findings show that maternal glucocorticoids regulate fetal nutrition. Higher glucocorticoid hormone levels in the mother (as seen in stressful conditions) can reduce glucose transport across the placenta and lead to a decrease in fetal weight.
"Glucocorticoid levels in pregnant women may determine the specific combination of nutrients received by the fetus and influence the long-term metabolic health of their children as a result."
He added: "Our research showed that under stress, certain genes in the placenta were modified. One of the genes shown to be altered in the placenta by maternal stress hormones was Redd1. This gene is believed to signal availability of other substances, like oxygen, and to interact with intracellular pathways regulating growth and nutrient uptake in other tissues of the body.
"Future studies may prove this molecule is important in the placenta, in linking environmental cues to the nutrition of the fetus."
(JP/CD)
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