Topic
Fetus
About: Fetus is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 21567 publications have been published within this topic receiving 646380 citations. The topic is also known as: foetus & fœtus.
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01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: In this article, the distribution of mR-NAs encoding leptin and the leptin receptor (which has at least six splice variants) in the 14.5-day postcoitus mouse fetus and in the placenta using reverse transcription-PCR and in situ hybridization.
Abstract: Leptin is a 167-aa protein that is secreted from adipose tissue and is important in the regulation of energy balance. It also functions in hematopoiesis and repro- duction. To assess whether leptin is involved in fetal growth and development we have examined the distribution of mR- NAs encoding leptin and the leptin receptor (which has at least six splice variants) in the 14.5-day postcoitus mouse fetus and in the placenta using reverse transcription-PCR and in situ hybridization. High levels of gene expression for leptin, the leptin receptor, and the long splice variant of the leptin receptor with an intracellular signaling domain were observed in the placenta, fetal cartilageybone, and hair follicles. Re- ceptor expression also was detected in the lung, as well as the leptomeninges and choroid plexus of the fetal brain. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry, using specific antibodies, demonstrated the presence of leptin and leptin receptor protein in these tissues. These results suggest that leptin may play a role in the growth and development of the fetus, both through placental and fetal expression of the leptin and leptin receptor genes. In the fetus, leptin may be multifunctional and have both paracrine and endocrine effects.
475 citations
TL;DR: This study provides a rich and diverse picture of the molecular variation in the placenta from healthy pregnancies and identifies sets of genes whose expression in Placenta was significantly correlated with the sex of the fetus.
Abstract: The placenta is the principal metabolic, respiratory, excretory, and endocrine organ for the first 9 months of fetal life. Its role in fetal and maternal physiology is remarkably diverse. Because of the central role that the placenta has in fetal and maternal physiology and development, the possibility that variation in placental gene expression patterns might be linked to important abnormalities in maternal or fetal health, or even variations in later life, warrants investigation. As an initial step, we used DNA microarrays to analyze gene expression patterns in 72 samples of amnion, chorion, umbilical cord, and sections of villus parenchyma from 19 human placentas from successful full-term pregnancies. The umbilical cord, chorion, amnion, and villus parenchyma samples were readily distinguished by differences in their global gene-expression patterns, many of which seemed to be related to physiology and histology. Differentially expressed genes have roles that include placental trophoblast secretion, signal transduction, metabolism, immune regulation, cell adhesion, and structure. We found interindividual differences in expression patterns in villus parenchyma and systematic differences between the maternal, fetal, and intermediate layers. A group of genes that was expressed in both the maternal and fetal villus parenchyma sections of placenta included genes that may be associated with preeclampsia. We identified sets of genes whose expression in placenta was significantly correlated with the sex of the fetus. This study provides a rich and diverse picture of the molecular variation in the placenta from healthy pregnancies.
473 citations
TL;DR: A systemic fetal inflammatory response, as determined by an elevated fetal plasma interleukin-6 value, is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of severe neonatal morbidity.
Abstract: The fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is a condition characterized by systemic inflammation and an elevation of fetal plasma interleukin-6. This syndrome has been observed in fetuses with preterm labor with intact membranes, preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes, and also fetal viral infections such as cytomegalovirus. FIRS is a risk factor for short-term perinatal morbidity and mortality after adjustment for gestational age at delivery and also for the development of long-term sequelae such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and brain injury. Multiorgan involvement in FIRS has been demonstrated in the hematopoietic system, thymus, adrenal glands, skin, kidneys, heart, lung, and brain. This article reviews the fetal systemic inflammatory response as a mechanism of disease. Potential interventions to control an exaggerated inflammatory response in utero are also described.
472 citations
TL;DR: In patients with beta-hemoglobinopathies butyrate, a natural fatty acid, can significantly and rapidly increase fetal-globin production to levels that can ameliorate beta- globin disorders.
Abstract: Background Fetal-globin (γ-globin) chains inhibit the polymerization of hemoglobin S (sickle hemoglobin) and can functionally substitute for the β-globin chains that are defective or absent in patients with the β-thalassemias. Identifying safe mechanisms to stimulate fetal-hemoglobin production is therefore of great interest. Previous studies have shown that administering butyrate selectively stimulates the promoter of the human fetal-globin gene and leads to increases in γ-globin-gene expression in the developing fetus, cultured cells, and animal models. Methods To determine whether butyrate can stimulate fetal-globin production in humans, we treated three patients (3 to 13 years old) with sickle cell anemia and three patients (7 to 27 years old) with β-thalassemia syndromes with a short course of intravenous infusions of arginine butyrate. The drug was infused continuously for either two or three weeks; the initial dose was 500 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. Globin-chain ratios, proportions of ...
467 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that leptin may play a role in the growth and development of the fetus, both through placental and fetal expression of the leptin and leptin receptor genes, which may be multifunctional and have both paracrine and endocrine effects.
Abstract: Leptin is a 167-aa protein that is secreted from adipose tissue and is important in the regulation of energy balance. It also functions in hematopoiesis and reproduction. To assess whether leptin is involved in fetal growth and development we have examined the distribution of mRNAs encoding leptin and the leptin receptor (which has at least six splice variants) in the 14.5-day postcoitus mouse fetus and in the placenta using reverse transcription–PCR and in situ hybridization. High levels of gene expression for leptin, the leptin receptor, and the long splice variant of the leptin receptor with an intracellular signaling domain were observed in the placenta, fetal cartilage/bone, and hair follicles. Receptor expression also was detected in the lung, as well as the leptomeninges and choroid plexus of the fetal brain. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry, using specific antibodies, demonstrated the presence of leptin and leptin receptor protein in these tissues. These results suggest that leptin may play a role in the growth and development of the fetus, both through placental and fetal expression of the leptin and leptin receptor genes. In the fetus, leptin may be multifunctional and have both paracrine and endocrine effects.
465 citations