Dexamethasone-induced intrauterine growth restriction impacts placental gene expression in mice.

AISEMBERG JULIETA; BARIANI MARÍA VICTORIA; SCHIARITI VICTORIA; DOMINGUEZ RUBIO ANA PAULA; FRANCHI ANA MARÍA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; VI Latin American Symposium on Maternal Fetal Interaction & Placenta (SLIMP) and V Latin American Symposium of Reproductive Immunology (LASRI).; 2015

SLIMP/LASRI

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Current evidence suggests that changes in fetal development are mediated by alterations in placental structure and/or function. Objectives: a) To evaluate whether prenatal dexamethasone (DEX) exposure compromises fetal growth. b) To analyze the effect of dexamethasone-induced intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on placental gene expression. Methods: BALB/c dams received DEX (1 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline solution (control) twice daily (0700 h/1900 h) at 14 and 15 days of gestation. The pups were weighed at postnatal day 1. We recorded both, placental and fetal weights at day 18 of gestation. Furthermore, placental mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); a primary angiogenic molecule, and the glucose transporter isoform 3 (GLUT3) were evaluated. Results: Birth body weight (postnatal day 1) of pups exposed in utero to dexamethasone was significantly reduced (control: 1.79 ± 0.19 g versus DEX: 1.58 ± 0.14 g, P