Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-94d59 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T20:10:46.258Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

6 - Adaptive maternal, placental and fetal responses to nutritional extremes in the pregnant adolescent: lessons from sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2011

Jacqueline M. Wallace
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, UK
C. G. Nicholas Mascie-Taylor
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Lyliane Rosetta
Affiliation:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris
Get access

Summary

Introduction

Inadequate fetal nutrient supply and the resulting intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and premature delivery continue to cause unacceptably high rates of infant mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Indeed in the relatively affluent UK, recent statistics reveal that the incidence of low birth weight (<2500 g) has increased from 67 per 1000 births in 1989 to 78 per 1000 births in 2006 (Fabian Society, 2006). While these figures may in part reflect both the changing ethnic makeup of UK society and the increased availability of assisted conception procedures and hence multiple births, the trend is worrying as both premature delivery and low birth weight are associated with a lifetime legacy of health issues. For the extremely small and premature baby there is an increased risk of cerebral palsy, autism, visual and aural impairment, and of experiencing developmental problems such as low IQ, poor cognitive function and learning difficulties with their obvious social, ethical and economic costs (Hack & Merkatz, 1995). In addition, there is compelling evidence from a large number of epidemiological studies that low birth weight, even within the normal range, is a major risk factor for the subsequent development of metabolic syndrome and its co-morbidities, particularly when the infant is born into a calorie-rich environment (Barker, 1998, 2006). It is axiomatic that reducing the incidence of low birth weight is a major research priority with the potential to impact immediate survival and lifelong health of the individual.

Type
Chapter
Information
Reproduction and Adaptation
Topics in Human Reproductive Ecology
, pp. 112 - 127
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adam, C.L., Findlay, P.A., Chanet, A.et al. (2008). Expression of energy balance regulatory genes in the developing ovine fetal hypothalamus at mid-gestation and influence of hyperglycemia. American Journal of Physiology, Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 294(6), R1895– 900.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aitken, R.P., Milne, J.S. & Wallace, J.M. (2007). Wide variations in gestational dietary intake differentially impact on pregnancy outcome in young adolescents and influence early postnatal offspring phenotype. Pediatric Research, 62, 385(Abstract).Google Scholar
Aitken, R.P., Milne, J.S. & Wallace, J.M. (2008). Effect of weight and adiposity at conception, and gestational dietary intake on pregnancy outcome in young adolescent sheep. Proceedings Physiological Society, 11, PC36.Google Scholar
Barker, D.J.P. (1998). Mothers, Babies and Health in Later Life, 2nd Edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.Google Scholar
Barker, D.J.P. (2006). Adult consequences of fetal growth restriction. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 49, 270–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Castro, L.C. & Avina, R.L. (2002). Maternal obesity and pregnancy outcomes. Current Opinions in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 14, 601–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cnattingius, S., Bergstrom, R., Lipworth, L. & Kramer, M.S. (1998). Prepregnancy weight and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. New England Journal of Medicine, 338, 147–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Conde-Agudelo, A., Belizan, J.M. & Lammers, C. (2005). Maternal–perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with adolescent pregnancy in Latin America: Cross-sectional study. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 192, 342–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Costeloe, K., Hennessy, E.M., Gibson, A.T., Marlow, N. & Wilkinson, A.R. (2000). The EPICure Study: Outcomes to discharge from hospital for infants born at the threshold of viability. Pediatrics, 106, 659–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hack, M. & Merkatz, I.R. (1995). Preterm delivery and low birth weight – a dire legacy. New England Journal of Medicine, 333, 1772–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hediger, M.L., Scholl, T.O., Belsky, D.H., Ances, I.G. & Salmon, R.W. (1989). Patterns of weight gain in adolescent pregnancy: effects on birth weight and preterm delivery. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 74, 6–12.Google ScholarPubMed
King, J.C. (2003). The risk of maternal nutritional depletion and poor outcomes increases in early or closely spaced pregnancies. Journal of Nutrition, 133, 1723S–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lea, R.G., Hannah, L.T., Redmer, D.A.et al. (2005). Developmental indices of nutritionally-induced placental growth restriction in the adolescent sheep. Paediatric Research, 57, 599–604.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lea, R.G., Wooding, P., Stewart, I.et al. (2007). The expression of ovine placental lactogen, StAR and progesterone-associated steroidogenic enzymes in placentae of over-nourished growing adolescent ewes. Reproduction, 133, 785–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loto, O.M., Ezechi, O.C., Kalu, B.K.et al. (2004). Poor obstetric performance of teenagers: is it age- or quality-of-care-related? Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 24, 395–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Luther, J.S., Aitken, R.P., Milne, J.S.et al. (2005a). Maternal and fetal micronutrient status in rapidly growing pregnant adolescent sheep. Paediatric Research, 58, 1113.Google Scholar
Luther, J.S., Redmer, D.A., Reynolds, L.P. & Wallace, J.M. (2005b). Nutritional paradigms of ovine fetal growth restriction: Implications for human pregnancy. Human Fertility, 8, 179–87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Luther, J.S., Aitken, R.P., Milne, J.S.et al. (2007a). Maternal and fetal growth, body composition, endocrinology and metabolic status in undernourished adolescent sheep. Biology of Reproduction, 77, 343–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Luther, J.S., Aitken, R.P., Milne, J.S.et al. (2007b). Placental growth, angiogenic gene expression and vascular development in undernourished adolescent sheep. Biology of Reproduction, 77, 351–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Matsuzaki, M., Milne, J.S., Aitken, R.P., & Wallace, J.M. (2006). Overnourishing pregnant adolescent ewes preserves perirenal fat deposition in their growth-restricted fetuses. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 18, 357–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Menacker, F., Martin, J.A., MacDorman, M.F. & Ventura, S.J. (2004). Births to 10–14 year-old mothers, 1990–2002: trends and health outcomes. National Vital Statistics Report, 53, 1–18.Google ScholarPubMed
Milne, J.S., Aitken, R.P., Green, L. & Wallace, J.M. (2007). Nutritionally mediated prenatal growth restriction and postnatal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal function in female sheep. Pediatric Research, 62, 389 (Abstract).Google Scholar
Mostello, D., Chalk, C. & Khoury, J. (1991). Chronic anemia in pregnant ewes: maternal and fetal effects. American Journal of Physiology, 261, R1075–83.Google ScholarPubMed
,Narrowing the Gap. The Final Report of the Fabian Commission on Life Chances and Child Poverty (2006). Ed. Tom Hampson, London: Fabian Society.
Papageorghiou, A.T. & Leslie, K. (2007). Uterine artery Doppler in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 19, 103–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Redmer, D.A., Aitken, R.P., Milne, J.S., Reynolds, F. & Wallace, J.M. (2005). Influence of maternal nutrition on mRNA expression of placental angiogenic factors and their receptors at mid-gestation in adolescent sheep. Biology of Reproduction, 72, 1004–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Redmer, D.A., Luther, J.S., Milne, J.S.et al. (2009) Fetoplacental growth and vascular development in overnourished adolescent sheep at day 50, 90 and 130 of gestation. Reproduction, 137, 749–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosenfeld, C.R. (1977). Distribution of cardiac output in ovine pregnancy. American Journal of Physiology, 232, H231–5.Google ScholarPubMed
Scholl, T.O., Hediger, M.L., Khoo, C.S., A. & Rawson, N.L. (1991). Maternal weight gain, diet and infant birth weight: correlations during adolescent pregnancy. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 44, 423–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scholl, T.O., Hediger, M.L. & Schall, J.I. (1997). Maternal growth and fetal growth: pregnancy course and outcome in the Camden study. Annals New York Academy of Science, 81, 292–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevens-Simon, C., McAnarney, E.R. & Roghmann, K.J. (1993). Adolescent gestational weight gain and birth weight. Pediatrics, 92, 805–9.Google ScholarPubMed
Thomas, L., Wallace, J.M., Aitken, R.P.et al. (2001). Circulating leptin concentrations during ovine pregnancy in relation to maternal body composition and pregnancy outcome. Journal of Endocrinology, 169, 465–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tommiska, V., Heinonen, K., Kero, P.et al. (2003). A national two-year follow-up study of extremely low birthweight infants born in 1996–1997. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 88, SI29–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Treffers, P.E. (2003). Teenage pregnancy, a worldwide problem. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd, 22, 2320–5.Google Scholar
Wallace, J.M., Aitken, R.P. & Cheyne, M.A. (1996). Nutrient partitioning and fetal growth in the rapidly growing adolescent ewe. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 107, 183–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, J.M., Aitken, R.P., Cheyne, M.A. & Humblot, P. (1997a). Pregnancy-specific protein B and progesterone concentrations in relation to nutritional regime, placental mass and pregnancy outcome in growing adolescent ewes carrying singleton fetuses. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 109, 53–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, J.M., Aitken, R.P., Milne, J.S. & Hay, W.W.. (2004a). Nutritionally mediated placental growth restriction in the growing adolescent: consequences for the fetus. Biology of Reproduction, 71, 1055–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Bourke, D.A., Aitken, R.P. & Cruickshank, M.A. (1999). Switching maternal dietary intake at the end of the first trimester has profound effects on placental development and fetal growth in adolescent ewes carrying singleton fetuses. Biology of Reproduction, 61, 101–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Bourke, D.A., Aitken, R.P.et al. (2000). Relationship between nutritionally mediated placental growth restriction and fetal growth, body composition and endocrine status during late gestation in adolescent sheep. Placenta, 21, 100–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Bourke, D.A., Aitken, R.P., Leitch, N. & Hay, W.W.. (2002). Blood flows and nutrient uptakes in growth- restricted pregnancies induced by overnourishing adolescent sheep. American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 282, R1027–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Bourke, D.A., Aitken, R.P., Milne, J.S. & Hay, W.W.. (2003). Placental glucose transport in growth-restricted pregnancies induced by overnourishing adolescent sheep. Journal of Physiology, 547, 85–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Bourke, D.A., Da Silva, P. & Aitken, R.P. (2001). Nutrient partitioning during adolescent pregnancy. Reproduction, 122, 347–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Bourke, D.A., Da Silva, P. & Aitken, R.P. (2003). Influence of progesterone supplementation during the first third of pregnancy on fetal and placental growth in overnourished adolescent ewes. Reproduction, 126, 481–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Da Silva, P., Aitken, R.P. & Cruickshank, M.A. (1997b). Maternal endocrine status in relation to pregnancy outcome in rapidly growing adolescent sheep. Journal of Endocrinology, 155, 359–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Luther, J.S., Milne, J.S.et al. (2006a). Nutritional modulation of adolescent pregnancy outcomes. Placenta, 27, S61–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, J.M., Matsuzaki, M., Milne, J.S. & Wallace, J.M. (2006b). Late but not early gestational maternal growth hormone treatment increases fetal adiposity in overnourished adolescent sheep. Biology of Reproduction, 75, 231–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, J.M., Milne, J.S. & Aitken, R.P. (2004b). Maternal growth hormone treatment from Day 35 to 80 of gestation alters nutrient partitioning in favour of uteroplacental growth in overnourished adolescent sheep. Biology of Reproduction, 70, 1277–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, J.M., Milne, J.S., Aitken, R.P. & Hay, W.W.. (2007). Sensitivity to metabolic signals in late gestation growth restricted fetuses from rapidly growing adolescent sheep. American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism, 293, E1233–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Milne, J.S., Matsuzaki, M. & Aitken, R.P. (2008). Attenuated uterine blood flow is an early defect in growth-restricted pregnancies induced by overnourishing adolescent dams. Placenta, 29, 718–724.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, J.M., Regnault, T.R.H., Limesand, S.W., Hay, W.W.. & Anthony, R.V. (2005). Investigating the causes of low birth weight in contrasting ovine paradigms. Journal of Physiology, 565, 19–26.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×