Mitochondrial function in adipocyte is an important aspect in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Our previous observation showed that circulating levels of adrenomedullin (ADM) and mRNA and protein ...for ADM in omental adipose tissue were higher in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and these alterations are accompanied by glucose and lipid metabolic dysregulation, but the impact of ADM on mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration in human adipocyte remain elusive. The present study demonstrated that: (1) Increasing doses of glucose and ADM inhibit human adipocyte mRNA expressions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded subunits of electron transport chain, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (ND) 1 and 2, cytochrome (CYT) b, as well as ATPase 6; (2) ADM significantly increases human adipocyte mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation and this increase is reversed by ADM antagonist, ADM22-52, but treatment with ADM does not significantly affect mitochondrial contents in the adipocytes; (3) Adipocyte basal and maximal oxygen consumption rate are dose-dependently suppressed by ADM, thus results in impaired mitochondrial respiratory capacity. We conclude that elevated ADM observed in diabetic pregnancy may be involved in glucose and lipid dysregulation through compromising adipocyte mitochondrial function, and blockade of ADM action may improve GDM-related glucose and adipose tissue dysfunction.
Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy associated with elevated levels of soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase (sFLT-1) and increased vascular sensitivity to angiotensin II (ATII). ...Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CALCA) is a potent vasodilator that inhibits the ATII-induced increase in blood pressure and protects against ATII-induced increases in oxidative stress through a mitochondrial-dependent pathway in male mice. In rodent pregnancy, CALCA facilitates pregnancy-induced vascular adaptation. Most of the vascular effects of CALCA are mediated by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We recently reported that CALCA treatment inhibits sFLT-1-induced decreases in cAMP synthesis in omental artery smooth muscle cells (OASMCs) isolated from pregnant women and has relaxant effects in omental arteries (OAs) isolated from pregnant women with preeclamptic (PE) pregnancies. The current study was designed to assess the effects of sFLT-1 on mitochondrial bioenergetics in OASMCs isolated from pregnant women in the presence or absence of CALCA and assess the development of vascular dysfunction in sFLT-1 using a mouse model of PE pregnancy.
OASMCs were isolated from pregnant women to assess the effects of sFLT-1 on mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative stress using the Seahorse assay and quantitative PCR. Pregnant mice overexpressing sFLT-1 via adenoviral delivery were used to assess the effects of CALCA infusion on the sFLT-1-induced increase in blood pressure, ATII hypersensitivity, fetal growth restriction, and the elevated albumin-creatinine ratio. Systemic blood pressure was recorded in conscious, freely moving mice using implantable radio telemetry devices.
CALCA inhibited the following sFLT-1-induced effects: 1) increased oxidative stress and the decreased oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in response to maximal respiration and ATP synthesis; 2) increases in the expression of mitochondrial enzyme complexes in OASMCs; 3) increased mitochondrial fragmentation in OASMCs; 4) decreased expression of mitophagy-associated PINK1 and DRAM1 mRNA expression in OASMCs; and 5) increased blood pressure, ATII hypersensitivity, fetal growth restriction, and the albumin-creatinine ratio in sFLT-1-overexpressing pregnant mice.
CALCA inhibits sFLT-1-induced alterations in mitochondrial bioenergetics in vascular smooth muscle cells and development of maternal vascular dysfunction in a mouse model of PE.
To investigate if patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have altered embryo morphokinetics when compared with controls.
Retrospective cohort analysis.
Single academic fertility clinic in a ...tertiary hospital setting.
Age- and body mass index–matched patients who underwent in vitro fertilization diagnosed with PCOS using the Rotterdam criteria. A subanalysis was performed on patients with PCOS with hyperandrogenemia. Sixty-four patients with PCOS were identified with 990 embryos that were matched with 64 control patients with 628 embryos.
None.
Time to blastulation.
Embryos from women with PCOS displayed faster growth rate at t7, t8, and t9; all other morphokinetic points were similar. Patients with PCOS also had a higher number of oocytes retrieved. No differences were seen in the fertilization rate or blastulation rate. Patients with PCOS had a higher miscarriage rate (38.1% in PCOS vs. 18.8% in controls). Patients with hyperandrogenic PCOS showed a faster growth rate at t5, t6, t7, t8, t9, and morula.
Embryos from women with PCOS grew faster until 9-cell stage and women with hyperandrogenic PCOS until morula. Patients with PCOS also showed a higher miscarriage rate. The alterations in early embryo development are consistent with altered fertility and obstetric outcomes in the population with PCOS and may be due to the hyperandrogenic microenvironment in the ovarian follicle.
•PCOS is developmentally programmed by in utero androgen (dihydrotestosterone) exposure.•PCOS caused dysregulation of genes related to ovarian function and mitochondria in the ovary.•Ovarian ...mitochondrial ultrastructure was affected in PCOS mice.•PCOS ovaries consumed more oxygen than the controls.•Ovaries of PCOS mice were structurally and functionally compromised at birth.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common form of anovulatory infertility with a strong hereditary component but no candidate genes have been found. The inheritance pattern may be due to in utero androgen programming on gene expression and mitochondria. Mitochondria are maternally inherited and alterations to mitochondria after fetal androgen exposure may explain one of the mechanisms of fetal programming in PCOS. Our aim was to investigate the role of excessive prenatal androgens in ovarian development by identifying how hyperandrogenemia affects gene expression and mitochondria in neonatal ovary. Pregnant dams were injected with dihydrotestosterone on days 16–18 of pregnancy. Day 0 ovaries were collected for gene expression and mitochondrial studies. RNAseq showed differential gene expressions which were related to mitochondrial dysfunction, fetal gonadal development, oocyte maturation, metabolism, angiogenesis, and PCOS. Top 20 up and downregulated genes were validated with qPCR and Western Blot. Transcriptional pathways involved in folliculogenesis and genes involved in ovarian and mitochondrial function were dysregulated. Further, DHT exposure altered mitochondrial ultrastructure and function by increasing mitochondrial oxygen consumption and decreasing mitochondrial efficiency with increased proton leak within the first day of life. Our data indicates that one path that leads to PCOS begins at birth and is programmed in utero by androgens.
Maternal nutrition is found to be the key factor that determines fetal health
and metabolic health during adulthood. Metabolic diseases have been primarily attributed to impaired maternal nutrition ...during pregnancy, and impaired nutrition has been an immense issue across the globe. In recent years, type 2 diabetes (T2D) has reached epidemic proportion and is a severe public health problem in many countries. Although plenty of research has already been conducted to tackle T2D which is associated with obesity, little is known regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of lean T2D, a variant of T2D. Recent studies have focused on the effects of epigenetic variation on the contribution of
origins of lean T2D, although other mechanisms might also contribute to the pathology. Observational studies in humans and experiments in animals strongly suggest an association between maternal low protein diet and lean T2D phenotype. In addition, clear sex-specific disease prevalence was observed in different studies. Consequently, more research is essential for the understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of lean T2D, which might help to develop better disease prevention and treatment strategies. This review examines the role of protein insufficiency in the maternal diet as the central driver of the developmental programming of lean T2D.