Hemochorial placentation: development, function, and adaptations†

Soares, Michael J.; Varberg, Kaela M.; Iqbal, Khursheed

doi:10.1093/biolre/ioy049

Cited by 142 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 259 publications

(332 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

158

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In mice and humans, recently duplicated genes are utilized at later stages of placentation to meet the metabolic needs of a diverse range of pregnancy physiologies (62), and neofunctionalization of duplicated genes also contributes to adaptive genome function (63). Indeed, several Prl family paralogs expressed specifically in the mouse placenta regulate placental adaptations to the physiologic stressor of hypoxia (64)(65)(66)(67).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for functional interactions between the placenta and brain in pregnant mice

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The placenta plays a pivotal role in the development of the fetal brain and also influences maternal brain function, but our understanding of communication between the placenta and brain remains limited. Using a gene expression and network analysis approach, we provide evidence that the placenta transcriptome is tightly interconnected with the maternal brain and fetal brain in d 15 pregnant C57BL/6J mice. Activation of serotonergic synapse signaling and inhibition of neurotrophin signaling were identified as potential mediators of crosstalk between the placenta and maternal brain and fetal brain, respectively. Genes encoding specific receptors and ligands were predicted to affect functional interactions between the placenta and brain. Paralogous genes, such as sex comb on midleg homolog 1/scm‐like with 4 mbt domains 2 and polycomb group ring finger (Pcgf) 2/Pcgf5, displayed antagonistic regulation between the placenta and brain. Additionally, conditional ablation of forkhead box a2 (Foxa2) in the glands of the uterus altered the transcriptome of the d 15 placenta, which provides novel evidence of crosstalk between the uterine glands and placenta. Furthermore, expression of cathepsin 6 and monocyte to macrophage differentiation associated 2 was significantly different in the fetal brain of Foxa2 conditional knockout mice compared with control mice. These findings provide a better understanding of the intricacies of uterus‐placenta‐brain interactions during pregnancy and provide a foundation and model system for their exploration.—Behura, S. K., Kelleher, A. M., Spencer, T. E. Evidence for functional interactions between the placenta and brain in pregnant mice. FASEB J. 33, 4261–4272 (2019). http://www.fasebj.org

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for functional interactions between the placenta and brain in pregnant mice

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A fundamental property of the placenta is its plasticity. 25 The placenta possesses the ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental challenges that could threaten pregnancy. 6 25 Adjustments in trophoblast-uterine spiral artery interactions are a key component of placental adaptations to environmental stressors.…”

Section: Hyperglycemia and Placenta Plasticitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus alters placental structure, efficiency, and plasticity

Nteeba

Varberg

Scott

et al. 2020

BMJ Open Diab Res Care

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionThe hemochorial placenta provides a critical barrier at the maternal–fetal interface to modulate maternal immune tolerance and enable gas and nutrient exchange between mother and conceptus. Pregnancy outcomes are adversely affected by diabetes mellitus; however, the effects of poorly controlled diabetes on placental formation, and subsequently fetal development, are not fully understood.Research design and methodsStreptozotocin was used to induce hyperglycemia in pregnant rats for the purpose of investigating the impact of poorly controlled diabetes on placental formation and fetal development. The experimental paradigm of hypoxia exposure in the pregnant rat was also used to assess properties of placental plasticity. Euglycemic and hyperglycemic rats were exposed to ambient conditions (~21% oxygen) or hypoxia (10.5% oxygen) beginning on gestation day (gd) 6.5 and sacrificed on gd 13.5. To determine whether the interaction of hyperglycemia and hypoxia was directly altering trophoblast lineage development, rat trophoblast stem (TS) cells were cultured in high glucose (25 mM) and/or exposed to low oxygen (0.5% to 1.5%).ResultsDiabetes caused placentomegaly and placental malformation, decreasing placental efficiency and fetal size. Elevated glucose disrupted rat TS cell differentiation in vitro. Evidence of altered trophoblast differentiation was also observed in vivo, as hyperglycemia affected the junctional zone transcriptome and interfered with intrauterine trophoblast invasion and uterine spiral artery remodeling. When exposed to hypoxia, hyperglycemic rats showed decreased proliferation and ectoplacental cone development on gd 9.5 and complete pregnancy loss by gd 13.5. Furthermore, elevated glucose concentrations inhibited TS cell responses to hypoxia in vitro.ConclusionsOverall, these results indicate that alterations in placental development, efficiency, and plasticity could contribute to the suboptimal fetal outcomes in offspring from pregnancies complicated by poorly controlled diabetes.

show abstract

“…Nutrition supply, endocrine/immune regulation and gas exchange are orchestrated by the placenta. All of this evidence makes the placenta a highly informative organ for the study of pregnancy 23…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three contaminated sites in southern Italy. The Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes cohort: protocol for a longitudinal birth cohort study

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionExposure to environmental contaminants during pregnancy is one of the determinants of child’s future health outcomes. The effect of environmental pollution on pregnant women living in heavily polluted areas is of special interest and, in this context, the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) cohort will focus on the investigation of (1) toxicants transferred from the environment to the mother and from the mother to the developing fetus and (2) the influence of toxicants on pregnancy outcomes, fetal development and health status during infancy. Because the human placenta is positioned at the interface between the maternal/external environment and the embryo, it can be considered a highly informative matrix regarding many key pregnancy events that can shape infant’s future health.Methods and analysisThe NEHO cohort will enrol an estimated total of 800 pregnant women in three selected National Priority Contaminated Sites in southern Italy. Epidemiological data, concerning maternal health status, lifestyle and pregnancy, are obtained through questionnaires provided to the mother starting from the last 2 months of pregnancy. At delivery, maternal blood, umbilical cord blood and placenta tissue are collected to assess contaminant levels and to clarify how toxicants interact with the placental domain. Furthermore, placental transcriptome is studied in order to explore the interferences of toxicants on the role of the placenta in maternal/fetal interplay. Regular follow-up is planned at 6, 12 and 24 months.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by all the Ethics Committees of the three National Priority Contaminated Sites involved: the Ethics Committee of the University Hospitals of Messina (18 September 2017, n. 9/2017); the Ethics Committee ‘Catania 2’ (11 July 2017, n. 38/2017/CECT2); the Ethics Committee of the Region of Calabria (20 July 2017, n. 173). Findings will be disseminated in the scientific community and on a regional basis for appropriate policy actions.

show abstract

Hemochorial placentation: development, function, and adaptations†

Cited by 142 publications

References 259 publications

Evidence for functional interactions between the placenta and brain in pregnant mice

Evidence for functional interactions between the placenta and brain in pregnant mice

Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus alters placental structure, efficiency, and plasticity

Three contaminated sites in southern Italy. The Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes cohort: protocol for a longitudinal birth cohort study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About