Mitochondrial Damage Following Fetal Hypoxia Or Birth Asphyxia: Using Creatine To Preserve Mitochondrial Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$838,726.00
Summary
There is a need for a therapy that can be given before a mother gives birth to protect the baby should ‘oxygen starvation’ threaten the baby’s brain and other organs such as the heart, kidney, lungs, and the ability to breathe properly. We are suggesting that an increased intake of creatine is a very effective treatment against this threat, and its proven safety and ease of use recommends it for wide application, particularly in countries where the access to medical resources is poor.
Understanding Mitochondrial DNA Segregation And Transmission.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,449.00
Summary
We inherit our mitochondrial DNA from our mothers. Mutations to mitochondrial DNA can give rise to severely debilitating diseases that can be passed from one generation to the next. The aims of this application are to understand how mutant mitochondrial DNA is selected for; when it affects energy production during development; and to ensure that certain reproductive strategies do not result in the adverse transmission of mitochondrial DNA that will affect subsequent generations.
Vitamin D Deprivation In Early Life: Programming Of Vascular Function In Adulthood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,250.00
Summary
It is becoming increasing evident that appropriate nutrition in fetal-early life is important in programming the cardiovascular system of the offspring, influencing its function throughout life. Maternal deficiency in vitamin D is a recently-identified concern world-wide, including in Australian women. We have recently found that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats results in marked hypertension in the offspring, when only 7 weeks of age. This is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent ....It is becoming increasing evident that appropriate nutrition in fetal-early life is important in programming the cardiovascular system of the offspring, influencing its function throughout life. Maternal deficiency in vitamin D is a recently-identified concern world-wide, including in Australian women. We have recently found that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats results in marked hypertension in the offspring, when only 7 weeks of age. This is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilator function, increased smooth muscle tone and increased constriction to nerve stimulation. A combination of intracellular electrophysiological techniques and tension recordings will be used to investigate detailed mechanisms in arteries isolated from key vascular beds. In vivo studies will probe the role of vitamin D deficiency in the control of regional blood flow control, and its influence on the underlying regulatory mechanisms responsible for the cardiovascular dysfunction that we have observed. We will test whether the cardiovascular dysfunction in the offspring following vitamin D deficiency is reversible upon repletion, or is programmed and thus not reversible with repletion. Our early results suggest that the deleterious effects are not reversible. From this study we aim to be in a position of greater confidence from which to inform women as to the importance for their baby of ensuring adequate vitamin D repletion during pregnancy, to minimise risk of later cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less