Glucose Metabolism on Gastrulation: Interference Causes Morphological and Gene Expression Defects in Embryoid Bodies

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Tight blood glucose control is important during pregnancy for the conceptus. Studies have found high incidences of severe drops in blood glucose level (hypoglycemia) in pregnant women during the first trimester, the most crucial period to embryo development and when the conceptus is most vulnerable to maternal environment. Here, we utilized aggregated P19C5 mouse embryonal carcinoma stem cells or embryoid bodies (EBs) to investigate changes during gastrulation when glucose metabolism is altered. We used morphometrics and real‐time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and detected differential shape and gene expression in EBs which glucose metabolism pathways were targeted. We found evidence that glucose metabolism is essential for posterior elongation of the axis. Our results implicate glucose metabolism in germ layer formation by acting on Wnt and Nodal signaling. In the future, we want to elucidate the mechanism glucose metabolism mediates gastrulation and to establish whether our conclusions of the model system are similar to that of other mammalian species.Support or Funding InformationNational Institutes of Health