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Pregnancy Day (pregnancy + day)

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Medical Sciences50%

Selected Abstracts

Pregnancy and lactation have anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects in Ay/a mice

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 2 2010
E. N. Makarova
Abstract Aim:, Dominant ,yellow' mutation at the mouse agouti locus (Ay) results in obesity. Pregnancy and lactation are characterized by large energy demand. The aim of this study was to investigate whether obesity would develop in pregnant and suckling Ay mice. Methods:, Body weight and food intake in pregnancy, lactation, and after weaning, plasma leptin, insulin, corticosterone and blood glucose concentrations on days 7, 13 and 18 of pregnancy, days 1, 10, 21 and 80 postpartum, glucose and insulin tolerance on pregnancy days 7 and 18 were measured in C57Bl/6J mice of a/a (normal metabolism) and Ay/a genotypes. The same parameters were also measured in age-matched virgin females. Results:, Virgin Ay/a females exhibited hyperphagia, enhanced body weight, glucose intolerance and normal blood parameters at the mating age. With age, they developed obesity, hyperleptinaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia. Obesity did not develop in mated Ay/a mice; during suckling, they had equal food intake and body weight as a/a mice. During pregnancy, glucose tolerance was enhanced in Ay/a mice and became equal in both genotypes. In both genotypes, concentrations of hormones increased, and glucose decreased from pregnancy day 7 to day 18 and returned to normal values after parturition. Ay/a mice did not differ from a/a in corticosterone, insulin and glucose levels during pregnancy and lactation, in leptin levels during suckling; however, Ay/a mice had two times higher leptin levels than a/a during pregnancy. After weaning, Ay/a mice began to eat and weigh more than a/a exhibiting normal metabolic parameters for 50 days. Conclusion:, Pregnancy and lactation retard obesity and diabetes development in Ay mice. [source]

Intracerebroventricular Injections of Prolactin Counteract the Antagonistic Effect of Bromocriptine on Rabbit Maternal Behaviour

JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 12 2004
G. González-Mariscal
Abstract To investigate the participation of prolactin in nest-building and maternal behaviour in rabbits, we administered (from pregnancy day 26 to parturition) rabbit prolactin (rbPRL; or vehicle) intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) to primiparous animals injected with bromocriptine subcutaneously (s.c.). Control females (given vehicle s.c. and i.c.v.) built a maternal nest (of straw and body hair) in 77% of cases. This proportion decreased to 19% in the bromocriptine-only group (P < 0.05) and increased to 93% in the group given bromocriptine plus rbPRL (P > 0.05). Maternal behaviour (i.e. the adoption of a crouching posture over the litter inside the nest box) was expressed by 77% of control rabbits, 19% of bromocriptine-only animals (P < 0.05) and 57% of females given bromocriptine plus rbPRL (P > 0.05). Values of nonmaternal activities (i.e. scent-marking, ambulation in an open field) were similar among the three studied groups. These results suggest that prolactin, acting in late pregnancy, plays a major role in the stimulation of nest-building and maternal behaviour in rabbits. [source]

Pregnancy and lactation have anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects in Ay/a mice

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 2 2010
E. N. Makarova
Abstract Aim:, Dominant ,yellow' mutation at the mouse agouti locus (Ay) results in obesity. Pregnancy and lactation are characterized by large energy demand. The aim of this study was to investigate whether obesity would develop in pregnant and suckling Ay mice. Methods:, Body weight and food intake in pregnancy, lactation, and after weaning, plasma leptin, insulin, corticosterone and blood glucose concentrations on days 7, 13 and 18 of pregnancy, days 1, 10, 21 and 80 postpartum, glucose and insulin tolerance on pregnancy days 7 and 18 were measured in C57Bl/6J mice of a/a (normal metabolism) and Ay/a genotypes. The same parameters were also measured in age-matched virgin females. Results:, Virgin Ay/a females exhibited hyperphagia, enhanced body weight, glucose intolerance and normal blood parameters at the mating age. With age, they developed obesity, hyperleptinaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia. Obesity did not develop in mated Ay/a mice; during suckling, they had equal food intake and body weight as a/a mice. During pregnancy, glucose tolerance was enhanced in Ay/a mice and became equal in both genotypes. In both genotypes, concentrations of hormones increased, and glucose decreased from pregnancy day 7 to day 18 and returned to normal values after parturition. Ay/a mice did not differ from a/a in corticosterone, insulin and glucose levels during pregnancy and lactation, in leptin levels during suckling; however, Ay/a mice had two times higher leptin levels than a/a during pregnancy. After weaning, Ay/a mice began to eat and weigh more than a/a exhibiting normal metabolic parameters for 50 days. Conclusion:, Pregnancy and lactation retard obesity and diabetes development in Ay mice. [source]

Uterine Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Family During the Course of Pregnancy in Pigs

REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 5 2009
Y-J Kim
Contents To stably maintain pregnancy, several genes are expressed in the uterus. In particular, the endometrial expression of genes encoding growth factors appears to play a key role in maternal,foetal communication. The previous studies characterized the endometrial expression kinetics of the genes encoding epidermal growth factor (EGF), its receptor (EGFR), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-,), amphiregulin (Areg), heparin-binding (Hb) EGF and calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) in pigs during implantation. Here, we further characterized the expression patterns of these molecules during the entire porcine pregnancy. Porcine uteri were collected at pregnancy days (PD) 12, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 110 and subjected to RT-PCR. EGF and EGFR showed similar expression patterns, being highly expressed around implantation and then disappearing. TGF-, and Areg expression levels rose steadily until they peaked at PD30, after which they gradually decreased to PD12 levels. This Areg mRNA expression pattern was confirmed by real-time PCR and similar Areg protein expression patterns were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis of PD60 uteri revealed Areg in the glandular and luminal epithelial cells. Hb EGF was steadily expressed throughout the entire pregnancy, while CaBP-9k was expressed strongly on PD12, and then declined sharply on PD15 before recovering slightly for the remainder of the pregnancy. Thus, the EGF family may play a key role during implantation in pigs. In addition, CaBP-9k may help to maintain uterine quiescence during pregnancy by sequestering cytoplasmic Ca2+. [source]