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In the rat, before the establishment of the chorioallantoic placenta, the nutritional requirements of the post-implantation embryo, are met solely by the visceral yolk sac and therefore a study of its structure and functions is essential to a full understanding of early embryonic nutrition. A method has been developed for maintaining the rat visceral yolk sac in organ culture over a prolonged period, having first removed the embryo by microsurgery at 9.5 days or alternatively allowing it to die within its own amnion. The yolk sac continues to grow as a closed vesicle, and can reach a diameter of 2cm. The system has been called the 'giant' yolk sac. The 'giant' yolk sac and in vivo yolk sac have been compared using various criteria. A detailed morphological study was made, including a quantitative analysis of the vacuolar compartment. The endocytic capacity of both systems was studied using three different substrates; those used were 125I-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a non-degradable macromolecule, taken up in the fluid phase and accumulated within the yolk sac tissue, 125I-bovine serum albumin (BSA) taken up by adsorptive pinocytosis and digested within the lysosomes and 125I-IgG (and colloidal gold-IgG) taken up with great efficiency by specific receptor mediated endocytosis. Also a preliminary study of 14C-amino acid uptake was made. In many instances the 'giant' yolk sac functioned very similarly to the in vivo yolk sac and therefore seems an ideal model for studying transport across an epithelial sheet. It is particularly useful as its continuous epithelium separates the exocoelom from the external culture medium. The fluid maintained within the exocoelom of the 'giant' yolk sac should be an excellent source of processed histiotroph essential for embryonic nutrition during organogenesis. Experiments carried out indicate that some of the trophic factors necessary for growth are present in this fluid.

The ion, energy, lipid, nitrogen and fat-soluble vitamin contents of freshly ovulated eggs and neonates of the viviparous lizard Niveoscincus metallicus were measured to quantify uptake of nutrients across the placenta. This species is particularly interesting because it has a chorio-allantoic placenta that is intermediate in complexity compared to viviparous species that have been the focus of other studies. Newly ovulated eggs have a wet mass of 79.6±4.6 mg and a dry mass of 41.8±2.8 mg, compared to the neonates that have a wet mass of 224.2±8.2 mg and dry mass of 37.9±1.2 mg. Thus, there is no significant net uptake of dry matter across the placenta. Neonates have significantly less lipid (6.2±0.4 mg) than eggs (12.7±0.5 mg) but no significant difference in nitrogen (4.1±0.3 mg) compared to eggs (4.5±0.2 mg). Energy densities reflect the protein and lipid composition and the relative dry masses of the eggs and neonates. There is significantly more energy (1029.1±80.0 J) in the egg than in the neonate (858.2±36.6 J). The increase in the ash content of the neonates (2.9±0.2 mg) compared to fresh eggs (2.1±0.3 mg) was not significant, even though there was an approximately threefold increase in the amount of sodium (0.11±0.01 mg in neonates, 0.34±0.01 mg in eggs) and potassium (0.12±0.017 in neonates, 0.40±0.01 mg in eggs) in neonates compared to eggs. There was no significant uptake of calcium and magnesium during development. The egg lipids consisted of triacylglycerol (66.7±2.3%), phospholipid (18.9±0.7%), cholesteryl ester (4.9±1.6%) and free cholesterol (5.6±1.5%). The egg phospholipid contained comparatively high proportions of arachidonic and eicosapentanoic acids but low levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), whereas the phospholipid of the neonate was greatly enriched in DHA. In the egg, the predominant vitamin E was α-tocopherol (62.6±3.4 mg g-1), although there was some γ-tocotrienol (3.5±0.3 mg g-1), and vitamin A was present (1.5±0.2 mg g-1). The ratio of neonate dry mass to egg dry mass of N. metallicus (0.91) lies between that of species with type I (0.78) and type III (1.70) chorio-allantoic placentae, confirming our conclusion that the placenta of N. metallicus is functionally intermediate, as well as intermediate in complexity, between these other two types.

Introdução: o timo é importante órgão linfoide do sistema imunológico. Estudos mostraram que, durante o período fetal, a atrofia desse órgão faz parte da resposta adaptativa do feto ao ambiente intrauterino adverso, como a desnutrição crônica causada pela insuficiência placentária. Essa situação pode explicar a associação entre restrição de crescimento intrauterino e as alterações no sistema imunológico após o nascimento, na infância e na adolescência. Objetivos: analisar as dimensões do timo fetal pela ultrassonografia em gestações com insuficiência placentária, comparando com gestações de alto risco sem insuficiência placentária e gestações de baixo risco. Métodos: estudo prospectivo com 30 gestações com insuficiência placentária (Doppler de artéria umbilical com índice de pulsatilidade > p95) comparadas com 30 de alto risco e 30 de baixo risco (grupo controle). Os critérios de inclusão foram: idade gestacional entre 26 e 37 semanas, feto único e vivo, ausência de malformações fetais, membranas íntegras, ausência de sinais de trabalho de parto, ausência de infecção materna ou fetal e não realização de corticoterapia antes da avaliação ultrassonográfica fetal. O timo fetal foi identificado na interface com os pulmões, na altura dos três vasos da base do coração, no corte do tórax fetal. Foram realizadas três medidas do diâmetro transverso (DT) e do perímetro (P) do timo, e as médias foram utilizadas para análise, transformadas em escores zeta, de acordo com a idade gestacional em que se efetuou a medida. Foram realizadas as medidas ultrassonográficas da circunferência cefálica (CC) e do comprimento do fêmur (CF) fetal, com as quais se calculou as relações DT/CF, DT/CC, P/CF e P/CC. Resultados: o grupo com insuficiência placentária apresentou mediana significativamente maior do escore zeta do IP da artéria umbilical quando comparado ao grupo de alto risco e controle (4,6 vs. -0,5 vs. -0,2, p < 0,001). As medidas do timo fetal no grupo com insuficiência placentária [escore zeta do DT (média=-0,69; DP=0,83) e escore zeta do P (média=-0,73; DP=0,68)] foram significativamente (p < 0,001) menores quando comparadas aos grupos de alto risco [escore zeta do DT (média=0,49; DP=1,13) e escore zeta do P (média=0,45; DP=0,96)] e controle [escore zeta do DT (média=0,83; DP=0,85) e escore zeta do P (média=0,26; DP=0,89)]. Nas relações estudadas, houve diferença significativa (p < 0,05) na média dos grupos: insuficiência placentária (DT/CC=0,10, P/CF=1,32 e P/CC=0,26); alto risco (DT/CC=0,11, P/CF=1,40 e P/CC=0,30) e controle (DT/CC=0,11, P/CF=1,45 e P/CC=0,31). Conclusão: em gestações complicadas pela insuficiência placentária, ocorre redução das dimensões do timo fetal sugerindo que pode ser decorrente da adaptação fetal ao ambiente intrauterino adverso / Introduction: thymus gland is an important lymphoid organ involved in immune response. Studies have shown that during fetal life, thymus atrophy is part of an adaptive response to a compromised intrauterine environment, like chronic malnutrition due to placental insufficiency. This may explain the association between intrauterine growth restriction and later altered immune function. Objective: to evaluate fetal thymus by ultrasonography in pregnancies with placental insufficiency and compare to high risk pregnancies without placental insufficiency and low risk pregnancies. Methods: a prospective study with 30 pregnancies with placental insufficiency (umbilical artery Doppler with pulsatility index > p95), compared to 30 high risk pregnancies and 30 low risk pregnancies (control group). The inclusion criteria were: gestational age ranging from 26 to 37 weeks, singleton pregnancies, absence of fetal malformations, intact membranes, not in labor, no signs of maternal or fetal infection, and no corticotherapy before the ultrasound evaluation. Fetal thymus was identified in its interface with the lungs, at the level of the tree-vessel view of the fetal thorax. Three measures of thymus transverse diameter (TD) and perimeter (P) were made, and the media were converted into zeta score according to the gestational age. Head circumference (HC) and femur length (F) were also measured and used in the calculation of the relations TD/F, TD/HC, P/F, P/HC. Results: the group with placental insufficiency presented median of umbilical artery PI elevated, when compared to high risk pregnancies and low risk pregnancies (4.6 vs. -0.5 vs. -0.2, p < 0.001). Fetal thymus measurements were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in pregnancies with placental insufficiency [TD zeta score (media=-0.69; SD=0.83) and P zeta score (media=-0.73; SD=0.68)] when compared to high risk pregnancies [TD zeta score (media=0.49; SD=1.13) and P zeta score (media=0.45; DP=0.96)] and control group [TD zeta score (media=0.83; SD=0.85) and P zeta score (media=0.26; SD=0.89)]. There was significant difference (p < 0,05) in the relations studied among the groups: pregnancies with placental insufficiency (TD/HC=0.10, P/F=1.32 e P/HC=0.26), high risk pregnancies (TD/HC=0.11, P/F=1.40, P/HC=0.30) and control group (DT/HC=0.11, P/F=1.45, P/HC=0.31). Conclusion: fetal thymus measurements are reduced in pregnancies with placental insufficiency, suggesting that it is a fetal adaptive response for adverse environment

Introdução: o timo é importante órgão linfoide do sistema imunológico. Estudos mostraram que, durante o período fetal, a atrofia desse órgão faz parte da resposta adaptativa do feto ao ambiente intrauterino adverso, como a desnutrição crônica causada pela insuficiência placentária. Essa situação pode explicar a associação entre restrição de crescimento intrauterino e as alterações no sistema imunológico após o nascimento, na infância e na adolescência. Objetivos: analisar as dimensões do timo fetal pela ultrassonografia em gestações com insuficiência placentária, comparando com gestações de alto risco sem insuficiência placentária e gestações de baixo risco. Métodos: estudo prospectivo com 30 gestações com insuficiência placentária (Doppler de artéria umbilical com índice de pulsatilidade > p95) comparadas com 30 de alto risco e 30 de baixo risco (grupo controle). Os critérios de inclusão foram: idade gestacional entre 26 e 37 semanas, feto único e vivo, ausência de malformações fetais, membranas íntegras, ausência de sinais de trabalho de parto, ausência de infecção materna ou fetal e não realização de corticoterapia antes da avaliação ultrassonográfica fetal. O timo fetal foi identificado na interface com os pulmões, na altura dos três vasos da base do coração, no corte do tórax fetal. Foram realizadas três medidas do diâmetro transverso (DT) e do perímetro (P) do timo, e as médias foram utilizadas para análise, transformadas em escores zeta, de acordo com a idade gestacional em que se efetuou a medida. Foram realizadas as medidas ultrassonográficas da circunferência cefálica (CC) e do comprimento do fêmur (CF) fetal, com as quais se calculou as relações DT/CF, DT/CC, P/CF e P/CC. Resultados: o grupo com insuficiência placentária apresentou mediana significativamente maior do escore zeta do IP da artéria umbilical quando comparado ao grupo de alto risco e controle (4,6 vs. -0,5 vs. -0,2, p < 0,001). As medidas do timo fetal no grupo com insuficiência placentária [escore zeta do DT (média=-0,69; DP=0,83) e escore zeta do P (média=-0,73; DP=0,68)] foram significativamente (p < 0,001) menores quando comparadas aos grupos de alto risco [escore zeta do DT (média=0,49; DP=1,13) e escore zeta do P (média=0,45; DP=0,96)] e controle [escore zeta do DT (média=0,83; DP=0,85) e escore zeta do P (média=0,26; DP=0,89)]. Nas relações estudadas, houve diferença significativa (p < 0,05) na média dos grupos: insuficiência placentária (DT/CC=0,10, P/CF=1,32 e P/CC=0,26); alto risco (DT/CC=0,11, P/CF=1,40 e P/CC=0,30) e controle (DT/CC=0,11, P/CF=1,45 e P/CC=0,31). Conclusão: em gestações complicadas pela insuficiência placentária, ocorre redução das dimensões do timo fetal sugerindo que pode ser decorrente da adaptação fetal ao ambiente intrauterino adverso / Introduction: thymus gland is an important lymphoid organ involved in immune response. Studies have shown that during fetal life, thymus atrophy is part of an adaptive response to a compromised intrauterine environment, like chronic malnutrition due to placental insufficiency. This may explain the association between intrauterine growth restriction and later altered immune function. Objective: to evaluate fetal thymus by ultrasonography in pregnancies with placental insufficiency and compare to high risk pregnancies without placental insufficiency and low risk pregnancies. Methods: a prospective study with 30 pregnancies with placental insufficiency (umbilical artery Doppler with pulsatility index > p95), compared to 30 high risk pregnancies and 30 low risk pregnancies (control group). The inclusion criteria were: gestational age ranging from 26 to 37 weeks, singleton pregnancies, absence of fetal malformations, intact membranes, not in labor, no signs of maternal or fetal infection, and no corticotherapy before the ultrasound evaluation. Fetal thymus was identified in its interface with the lungs, at the level of the tree-vessel view of the fetal thorax. Three measures of thymus transverse diameter (TD) and perimeter (P) were made, and the media were converted into zeta score according to the gestational age. Head circumference (HC) and femur length (F) were also measured and used in the calculation of the relations TD/F, TD/HC, P/F, P/HC. Results: the group with placental insufficiency presented median of umbilical artery PI elevated, when compared to high risk pregnancies and low risk pregnancies (4.6 vs. -0.5 vs. -0.2, p < 0.001). Fetal thymus measurements were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in pregnancies with placental insufficiency [TD zeta score (media=-0.69; SD=0.83) and P zeta score (media=-0.73; SD=0.68)] when compared to high risk pregnancies [TD zeta score (media=0.49; SD=1.13) and P zeta score (media=0.45; DP=0.96)] and control group [TD zeta score (media=0.83; SD=0.85) and P zeta score (media=0.26; SD=0.89)]. There was significant difference (p < 0,05) in the relations studied among the groups: pregnancies with placental insufficiency (TD/HC=0.10, P/F=1.32 e P/HC=0.26), high risk pregnancies (TD/HC=0.11, P/F=1.40, P/HC=0.30) and control group (DT/HC=0.11, P/F=1.45, P/HC=0.31). Conclusion: fetal thymus measurements are reduced in pregnancies with placental insufficiency, suggesting that it is a fetal adaptive response for adverse environment

A supply of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) is essential for fetal development. Objective: We assessed placental transfer of 13C-labelled fatty acids (FA) 12 hours after oral application. Design: 11 pregnant women received 12h before elective caesarean section 0.5mg/kg 13C-palmitic acid (PA, 16:0), 13C-oleic acid (OA, 18:1n-9), 13C-linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) and 0.1mg/kg 13C-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) orally. Maternal blood samples, venous cord blood and placental tissue were collected and FA concentrations and their tracer content determined. Results: Most 13C-PA and 13C-OA in maternal plasma were in triglycerides (TG), while 13C-LA and 13C-DHA were mainly found in both plasma phospholipids and TG. Placenta/maternal plasma ratios and fetal/maternal plasma ratios for 13C-DHA were higher than for any other FA. Conclusions: We found a significantly higher ratio of 13C-DHA concentrations between cord to maternal plasma than for the other FA, in agreement with preferential transfer of DHA across the placenta.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-04-29 / Introdução: Estudo previamente realizado em nosso laboratório demonstrou que a restrição alimentar intra-uterina (RAIU) provoca um retardo na termorregulação dos recém-nascidos. Em neonatos o tecido adiposo marrom (TAM) é essencial para a termogênese, principalmente devido à presença de proteínas desacopladoras (UCPs), cuja expressão pode ser modificada pela ação de hormônios como os hormônios da tireóide, a leptina e a insulina, que podem ser afetados pela restrição alimentar. A bomba de cálcio do retículo sarcoplasmático (SERCA1), presente no músculo e recentemente identificada no TAM, pode contribuir para a produção de calor. Objetivo: Avaliar a expressão das proteínas UCP1, UCP2, UCP3 e da SERCA1 no TAM e da UCP3 e da SERCA1 no músculo esquelético (ME) de animais submetidos a RAIU, bem como o perfil plasmático de insulina, leptina e hormônios tireoidianos destes filhotes. Métodos: Ratos fêmeas Wistar EPM-1 controle (C) receberam ração ad libitum durante todo o período gestacional e o grupo restrito (R) recebeu 50% desta quantidade. Quinze horas após o nascimento (pico de expressão das UCPs), os filhotes foram pesados e decapitados para coleta de sangue (pool) para a dosagem plasmática de insulina, leptina, T3 e T4 por ELISA. Foram coletados TAM e ME, para determinação da expressão das UCPs e da SERCA1 por imuno-histoquímica. Para análise dos resultados, utilizou-se o teste “t” de Student não pareado, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Os animais R (n=16) apresentaram durante a gestação um ganho de peso corporal (g) significantemente inferior quando comparado ao C (n=16), (27,6 ± 3,8 e 109,0 ± 4,1). Os filhotes R (n=172) apresentaram redução significante do peso corporal (g) ao nascimento em relação aos filhotes C (n=169) (4,82 ± 0,05 e 5,83 ± 0,04); entretanto, não houve redução no número de filhotes por ninhada. A RAIU levou a um aumento significante na expressão (pixels) da UCP1 e da UCP2 no TAM da prole R em relação à prole C (em 42% e 53%, respectivamente). Não observamos diferença significante entre os grupos em relação à expressão da UCP3 e da SERCA1 no TAM e no ME. A concentração plasmática de insulina (ng/ml) foi significantemente maior nos filhotes R (n=8) em relação aos C (n=13) (3,34 ± 0,78 e 1,17 ± 0,18) e os níveis plasmáticos de T3 (ng/ml) foram significantemente menores nos filhotes R (n=10) quando comparados aos C (n=14) (0,82 ± 0,06 e 1,09 ± 0,08). Não houve diferenças significantes para as dosagens plasmáticas de leptina (pg/ml) (R (n=8) 987,79 ± 261,08 e C (n=11) 1255,54 ± 392,37) e T4 (ng/ml) (R (n=10) 20,99 ± 3,74 e C (n=12) 16,00 ± 1,68). Conclusão: O atraso no desenvolvimento da termorregulação previamente descritos nesses animais não parece resultar de redução na termogênese, mas de aumento na termólise, pois a RAIU provocou baixo peso dos filhotes ao nascimento, levando a uma maior relação superfície/ volume. A maior expressão da UCP1 e UCP2 no TAM observada nos filhotes restritos possivelmente ocorreu como um mecanismo compensatório para aumentar a termogênese, o que pode ter sido modulado por ação hormonal. / Background: Previous study from our laboratory has shown that intrauterine food restriction (IUFR) delayed thermoregulation of the newborns. In neonates brown adipose tissue (BAT) is essential for thermogenesis mainly due to the presence of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) and their expression can be modified by action of hormones such as thyroid hormone, leptin and insulin, which can be affected by food restriction. The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca++ ATPase, (SERCA1) recently identified in BAT may contribute to heat production. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein expression of UCP1, UCP2, UCP3 and SERCA1 in BAT and UCP3 and SERCA1 in skeletal muscle (SM) and the plasmatic concentration of insulin, leptin, T3 and T4 of newborn rats exposed to IUFR. Methods: Female Wistar EPM-1 control rats received chow ad libitum during pregnancy period (C) and food-restricted rats (R) received 50% of the amount ingested by C. Fifteen hours after birth, newborns were weighted and sacrificed by decapitation. Blood was collected for determination of insulin, leptin, T3 and T4 by ELISA. BAT and SM were used for determination of protein expression (UCPs and SERCA1) by immunohistochemistry. Unpaired Student’s t-test was used for statistical analysis of the results (p<0,05). Results: R animals (n=16) showed a significant lower weight gain (g) during pregnancy when compared to C (n=16) (27,6 ± 3,8 and 109,0 ± 4,1). R pups (n=172) showed a significant reduction in their body weight (g) at birth when compared to C (n=169) (4,82 ± 0,05 and 5,83 ± 0,04); however, there was no reduction in number of pups per litter. IUFR caused a significant increase in the expression (pixels) of UCP1 and UCP2 in BAT of the pups (42% and 53% respectively). UCP3 and SERCA1 expression in BAT and SM showed no significant differences between groups. Plasmatic insulin (ng/ml) was significantly higher in R pups (n=8) when compared to C (n=13) (3,34 ± 0,78 and 1,17 ± 0,18) and T3 levels (ng/ml) was significantly lower in R pups (n=10) when compared to C (n=14) (0,82 ± 0,06 and 1,09 ± 0,08). No differences between groups were found for leptin (pg/ml) (R (n=8) 987,79 ± 261,08 and C (n=11) 1255,54 ± 392,37) and T4 (ng/ml) levels (R (n=10) 20,99 ± 3,74 and C (n=12) 16,00 ± 1,68). Conclusion: The delay in development of thermoregulation previously described in these animals appears not to result from impairment in thermogenesis, but from an increase in heat loss, since IUFR caused low birth weight in pups, leading to greater surface/ volume ratio. The higher expression of UCP1 and UCP2 in BAT showed by R pups possibly occurred as a compensatory mechanism to increase thermogenesis, which may have been modulated by hormonal regulation. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações