Epigenetic Programming Of The Hypothalmo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,951.00
Summary
It has been shown that the pattern of nutrition in early pregnancy is important in determining the subsequent health of the fetus and newborn. Interestingly, the nutritional environment of the early embryo, when nutrient demands are minimal has been shown to be important in determining the development of the capacity of the fetus to respond to stress in the womb and the timing of delivery. This proposal seeks to understand the mechanisms that underlie these responses.
The Impact Of Severe Asthma During Pregnancy On Placental Function And Fetal Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$209,242.00
Summary
This study will examine whether the glucocorticoids administered for the control of severe asthma during pregnancy affects placental and fetal function. It is known that severe asthma during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight babies but the events that cause reduced growth of the baby are unknown. However in both animal and human pregnancies, increased exposure of the baby to glucocorticoids from the mother causes growth restriction of the baby. Therefore we propose that the increased ....This study will examine whether the glucocorticoids administered for the control of severe asthma during pregnancy affects placental and fetal function. It is known that severe asthma during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight babies but the events that cause reduced growth of the baby are unknown. However in both animal and human pregnancies, increased exposure of the baby to glucocorticoids from the mother causes growth restriction of the baby. Therefore we propose that the increased intake of glucocorticoids for the treatment of asthma during pregnancy changes how the placenta functions and allows the fetus to be exposed to maternal glucocorticoids causing changes in fetal development. We will examine placental blood flow and measure some placental enzymes that may be involved in the control of blood flow in placentas collected from women with mild, moderate and severe asthma and compare them to non-asthmatic women. We will look at placental blood flow in utero using Doppler ultrasound and also in vitro after the placenta is delivered. We want to see if the fetus is affected by increased intake of glucocorticoids by the mother by measuring a hormone estriol, which originates from the fetus. We will measure estriol throughout pregnancy as it can easily be detected in the mothers' urine. These studies will tell us if glucocorticoid intake for the treatment of asthma can exert effects on the placenta and baby during pregnancy. These studies will make a significant contribution both scientifically and clinically. At a scientific level we will be able to examine how increased maternal glucocorticoid intake during pregnancy affects placental mechanisms and whether these changes affect the fetus and clinically the outcome of this study will allow us to optimize asthma therapy during pregnancy so that we can improve the outcome for the baby.Read moreRead less
This study is investigating an autoimmune disease called lymphocytic hypophysitis, involving the master gland in the body, the pituitary. It often affects pregnant women and is under diagnosed. The aim of our study is to determine the cause of this disease and its unexplained link with pregnancy. We are also working on a new diagnostic test which will enable doctors to confirm the diagnosis by serological means. At present, invasive pituitary biopsy is needed. Whilst developing this new test, we ....This study is investigating an autoimmune disease called lymphocytic hypophysitis, involving the master gland in the body, the pituitary. It often affects pregnant women and is under diagnosed. The aim of our study is to determine the cause of this disease and its unexplained link with pregnancy. We are also working on a new diagnostic test which will enable doctors to confirm the diagnosis by serological means. At present, invasive pituitary biopsy is needed. Whilst developing this new test, we have identified three proteins and their genes. This information may have major implications for the study of pituitary gland function.Read moreRead less
A small number of babies die unexpectedly while still in the womb: the numbers are much higher than those dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Some of these babies slow their movements down in the days before death. It would be very helpful to be able to accurately monitor babies' movements in the womb so that we could help the few babies who need it, and so prevent poor outcomes. Mothers feel their babies moving, but it's often hard for them to pick up all the movements that do occur ....A small number of babies die unexpectedly while still in the womb: the numbers are much higher than those dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Some of these babies slow their movements down in the days before death. It would be very helpful to be able to accurately monitor babies' movements in the womb so that we could help the few babies who need it, and so prevent poor outcomes. Mothers feel their babies moving, but it's often hard for them to pick up all the movements that do occur. The best way of measuring babies' movements is during an ultrasound. However, that's expensive and means that the pregnant mother needs to lie still for about half an hour to have this testing done. We are developing a way of recording babies' movements, which still lets the pregnant woman continue with her normal activities. We will do this using an AMBULATORY FETAL ACTIVITY MONITOR, which is an accelerometer, like an advanced pedometer. The ambulatory fetal activity monitor will measure the activity of the unborn baby during pregnancy, looking at the number of times s-he moves and how simple or complex the movements are. We expect that the unborn baby who is not getting enough nutrition during the pregnancy will have fewer movements than other unborn babies. This project involves checking that movements picked up by the ambulatory fetal activity monitor are the same as movements seen on an ultrasound. We will then monitor a large number of pregnant women with healthy and possibly unhealthy babies, to help identify the babies who need help. Once we have this information, we will be able to use it in the future to possibly prevent poor outcomes in those babies who do need help.Read moreRead less
This project is about the way that the brain controls reproduction. It is important because there is no known cause for infertility in a significant number people with such a problem. The project should inform us on new ways to manage particular forms of reproductive failure.