Prenatal Maternal Stress Alters Placental Endocrine Functions in Sex Dependent Manner
2016
INTRODUCTION:
Prenatal Maternal stress (PNMS) is associated with
reduced type 2 11
β
- hydroxysteroid deshydrogenase (11
β
-HSD2) and type
1 glucose transporter (GLUT1). Cortisol exerts its action by binding to
glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GR-
α
) that acts as a transcription factor.
The enzyme 11
β
-HSD2 protects the fetus from adverse cortisol levels
from the mother by converting cortisol to inactive cortisone. This study
aims to determine if the placenta mediates the effects of disaster-related
PNMS (i.e., 2011 Queensland Flooding, Australia) on placental endocrine
function. We hypothesize that: (i) Increased PNMS will be associated
with lower placental 11
β
-HSD2 gene expression which will be moderated
by fetal sex; and (ii) Increased PNMS will be associated with a lower
placental index (fetal weight to placental weight) which will be moderated
by placental 11
β
-HSD2, GLUT-1 and/or GR-
α
gene expression. METHODS:
We assessed the women’s level of objective hardship (i.e.,
events they experienced) and subjective distress (i.e., their psychological
reaction to the flooding) shortly after the flooding. Placental villi
(trophoblastic tissues) from 96 placentas were processed and samples
flash frozen immediately after delivery. Gene expression was evaluated by
RT-qPCR. Regression and moderation were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS:
Results indicate that a higher level of subjective distress is
associated with greater 11
β
-HSD2 gene expression in male fetuses and
lower 11
β
-HSD2 gene expression in female fetuses (
∆
R
2
=0.074). Results
also indicate that high levels of objective hardship coupled with high levels
of 11
β
-HSD2 gene expression (R
2
=0.092), low levels of GLUT-1 gene
expression (R
2
=0,126), or low levels of GR-
α
gene expression (R
2
=0.117)
is associated with higher placental index. CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that disaster-related PNMS
influences placental gene expression in a sex dependent manner. These
changes in placental gene/protein expression demonstrate the different
survival strategies of the feto-placental unit in case of PNMS depending
on fetal sex.
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