Fetal Placenta Research Articles

Moringa oleifera Docking to Estrogen Receptor α Ameliorates Placental and Brain Damage in Stressed Rats

Background: Stress during pregnancy significantly impacts offspring early physiological programming. Herbal remedies are frequently used by pregnant women to enhance their wellbeing. Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract (MoLE) is believed to have both anti-stress and antioxidant properties which can act as a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) that regulate activities of estrogen, and can have different effects on different tissues. Goal of this study is to compile information on molecular docking analysis of phytochemicals found in MoLE targeting Estrogen Receptor-alpha (ER-α) and assess effects of MoLE administration on dam's and fetal brain tissues and placenta, during gestational stress. Methods: Phytochemical study of MoLE was determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Molecular docking technique was employed to predict aspects of interaction and binding affinities energy of bioactive phytocompounds in protein site of ER-α using autodock tools. 30 apparently healthy pregnant Albino-Wistar rats were randomly placed into 6 groups of 5 rats per group and exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Stress (CUS) protocol for two weeks, as follows: Group I (water and normal rat chow ad libitum), Group II (CUS protocol only), Group III (5 mg/kg body weight/day of MoLE), Group IV (10 mg/kg body weight/day of MoLE), Group V (CUS protocol +5 mg/kg body weight/day of MoLE), Group VI (CUS protocol +10 mg/kg body weight/ day of MoLE). Results: This study found that 1-Propanol, 3,3'-oxy bis- and 1, 2, 3-Trimethyldiazir-idine are most potent ligands for ER-α among all 41 compounds. Photomicrograph examination of tissues from stressed rats showed mild to severe alterations in histology. Consumption of MoLE during chronic stress showed mild to moderate protective effects. Conclusion: These findings suggest that 1-Propanol, 3,3'-oxy bis- and 1, 2, 3-Trimethy-ldiaziridine can be further investigated for development of novel therapeutics.

Novel Reassortants of Oropouche Virus (OROV) Are Causing Maternal-Fetal Infection During Pregnancy, Stillbirth, Congenital Microcephaly and Malformation Syndromes.

Oropouche virus (OROV) is an orthobunyavirus endemic in the Brazilian Amazon that has caused numerous outbreaks of febrile disease since its discovery in 1955. During 2024, Oropouche fever spread from the endemic regions of Brazil into non-endemic areas and other Latin American and Caribbean countries, resulting in 13,014 confirmed infections. Similarly to other orthobunyaviruses, OROV can undergo genetic reassortment events with itself as well as other viruses. This occurred during this current outbreak, resulting in novel strains with increased pathogenicity and levels of transmission. For the first time, pregnant women with Oropouche fever have sustained poor perinatal outcomes, including miscarriage, fetal demise, stillbirths and malformation syndromes including microcephaly. In July 2024, PAHO issued an Epidemiological Alert warning of the association of OROV with vertical transmission. OROV has now been identified in the fetal blood, cerebrospinal fluid, placenta and umbilical cords, and fetal somatic organs including the liver, kidneys, brain, spleen, heart, and lungs using nucleic acid and antigen testing. Perinatal autopsy pathology has confirmed central nervous system infection from OROV in infants with congenital infection including microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, agenesis of corpus callosum, and neuronal necrosis. The latest data from Brazil show 3 confirmed cases of OROV vertical transmission; 2 cases of fetal death; 1 case of congenital malformation; and ongoing investigations into the role of OROV in 15 cases of fetal death, 3 cases of congenital malformations and 5 spontaneous miscarriages. This Commentary discusses the mechanisms and significance of development of novel reassortant strains of OROV during the current outbreak and their recent recognition as causing vertical infection and adverse perinatal outcomes among pregnant women with Oropouche fever.

Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Signaling Activity in the Human Placenta Across Gestation and in Maternal Obesity.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) system is vital to placental development, formation, and function. Alterations in this system in the placenta have been associated with altered fetal growth. However, changes in placental mTOR signaling across gestation are poorly understood. We collected 81 human placental samples from 4-40 weeks' gestation to test the hypothesis that placental mTOR signaling activity increases over gestation and is activated in maternal obesity in early gestation. Proteins involved in upstream mTOR regulation and mTORC1/2 downstream signaling were quantified using immunoblotting in placentas of male or female fetuses. Readouts of mTORC1 activation, phospho-rpS6 and phospho-4EBP1 were highest in first trimester and decreased across gestation. Phosphorylation of AKT (308 and 473) increased over gestation. Interestingly, abundance of cytochrome c oxidase I and mitochondrial ATP synthase, key subunits of mitochondrial complexes III/IV and V, respectively, were elevated in first trimester obese placentas compared to control, but only in placenta from female fetuses. We suggest that the high placental mTOR signaling activity in early pregnancy may be related to the high anabolism and active trophoblast proliferation and invasion in the second half of the first trimester. In addition, we conclude that maternal obesity has only limited impact on this key placental signaling pathway across gestation in women.

BVDV comprehensive studies and species identification in high-yielding livestock populations in the Sverdlovsk Oblast

The paper presents results of comprehensive studies of the bovine viral diarrhea virus circulating in cattle populations in the Sverdlovsk Oblast. In 2018–2024, 113 biological samples were tested using polymerase chain reaction, the viral RNA specific regions were detected in 15.9% of cases.The BVDV RNA was isolated from biological samples collected from aborted cows (61.1%) and calves under one month of age (38.9%). Based on typing results, the virus isolates detected in four samples (nasopharyngeal swabs of calves, suspension prepared from aborted fetus organs and placenta) were classified as BVDV-1 virulent genotypes. The BVDV RNA, Mycoplasma bovis and Chlamydophila pecorum DNAs were detected simultaneously in 44% of vaginal swab samples from aborted cows and, in single cases, in the placenta and parenchymatous organs of dead calves; BVDV RNA and Bovine herpesvirus type 1 DNA were detected in 16% of pathological samples from dead calves. In some cases, the BVDV RNA, Chlamydophila pecorum and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium DNA were detected in nasopharyngeal swabs of calves. The “Comprehensive Programme for Biosecurity and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Situation Improvement in Agricultural Organizations”implemented in the Sverdlovsk Oblast in 2018 resulted in decreased number of agricultural establishments affected by bovine viral diarrhea. Acute and persistent infection forms among young animals were recorded 4 and 3.5 times less frequently, respectively, but at the same time, a 2.5-fold increase in the diagnosed latent form of the disease was observed in adult livestock, which is associated with an increase in the number of laboratory tests performed.

Genomic insights into gestational weight gain uncover tissue-specific mechanisms and pathways

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is linked to adverse outcomes in pregnant persons and offspring. The Early Growth Genetics Consortium previously identified genetic variants contributing to GWG from fetal and maternal genomes. However, their biologic mechanisms and tissue-specificity are unknown. We evaluated the association between genetically predicted gene expression in relevant maternal (subcutaneous and visceral adipose, breast, uterus, and whole blood) tissues from GTEx (v7) and fetal (placenta) tissue and early, late, and total GWG using S-PrediXcan. We tested for pathway enrichment using the GENE2FUNC module from Functional Mapping and Annotation of Genome-Wide Association Studies. After Bonferroni correction, we found no associations between maternal or fetal gene expression and GWG. Among nominally significant (P < 0.05) maternal genes, there was enrichment of several biological pathways, including metabolic processes, secretion, and intracellular transport, that varied across pregnancy. These results indicate the likely influence of diverse pathways, varying by tissue and weeks of gestation, on GWG.

Distribution of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Placental Tissues of Maternal and Fetal Origin in Exposed Wistar Rats and Associations with Thyroid Hormone Levels.

In utero exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is linked to adverse pregnancy and fetal health outcomes, including altered thyroid hormone (TH) levels. Despite their phase out, PBDEs are still commonly detected in newborn cord blood. While PBDEs can cross the placenta, few studies have separately assessed PBDEs or THs in the maternal and fetal placental tissues. Additionally, no studies have separately assessed THs in these tissues across mid- and late gestation, during the onset of fetal TH synthesis. To address these gaps, we conducted a study with Wistar rats and examined PBDE accumulation in the maternal and fetal placenta. Pregnant dams were exposed daily to sesame oil vehicle, a low dose, or high dose PBDE mixture. At GD15 and 20, dams were sacrificed and placental tissues were collected. Tissues were analyzed for PBDEs, T3, rT3, and T4 using mass spectrometry. BDE-47, -99, -100, and -209 were frequently detected in both the fetal and maternal placenta. At GD15, higher concentrations of BDE-99, -100, and -209 were measured in the fetal placenta; however, this trend reversed by GD20, with higher maternal placental concentrations. Placental T3 and T4 were significantly impacted by exposure, tissue, and exposure x tissue at GD15, with significant reductions in both THs following low dose exposure in the maternal placenta. By GD20, maternal placental T3 was only significantly reduced in the high exposure groups and there was no effect on placental T4. Overall, these results highlight the rapid developmental changes that occur throughout gestation between the maternal and fetal placenta, and the differential impacts of gestational PBDE exposure on placental T3 and T4 across mid- and late-gestation.

Microplastic Particles Detected in Fetal Cord Blood, Placenta, and Meconium: A Pilot Study of Nine Mother-Infant Pairs in South China.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental pollutants. Pregnancy and infancy are sensitive windows for environmental exposure. However, few studies have investigated the presence of MPs in mother-infant pairs, or the exposure source. In this study, nine mother-infant pairs were recruited, and samples of placenta, cord blood, and meconium were collected. Information about the living environment and dietary habits were collected to determine the source of exposure during pregnancy. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was applied to identify MPs. In total, 9, 4, and 14 types of MPs were identified in the placenta, cord blood, and meconium samples, with particle counts of 34, 14, and 80, respectively. More than 80.47% of MPs detected in samples had a size of 100-400 μm. The abundance of MPs exhibited the order of meconium > placenta > cord blood (Hc = 14.959, p < 0.01). We found that the abundance of MPs in meconium from women who drank tea ≥ 3 times/week during pregnancy was lower than in those who drank less (p = 0.048). Our study presents evidence of MPs transfer via the placenta-cord blood-meconium pathway. We also found that the habit of drinking tea among pregnant women might be related to the abundance of MPs in meconium.

Female BALB/c mice prefer the odor of mates producing fewer progeny

Mate choice is the very important part of sexual selection. It is known that free mate choice is to provide the most viable offspring are born. Researches on different animal species found that viability from introduction to sexual maturity is significantly higher in individuals born in crossbreeding in accordance with free behavioral mate choice, compared to that in crossbreeding against the mate choice. Making the choice, the female may rely on visual, vocal or olfactory signals of male. Most of experiments evaluating sexual choice allowing interactions with the animal, making it impossible to determine the specific contribution of each separate signal. Odor play a crucial role in intraspecific communication in rodents. Individuals are able to recognize sex, reproductive status, genotype, and diet and health condition conspecifics by odor. However, very few articles unite olfactory signals from the male to information about his paternal effects. In our research, we mated a male with two females. The number of live embryos, their weight and the weight of fetal placentas evaluated reproductive success of males. Naive females in olfactory tests then evaluated the volatile urine fraction of the males. Male urine samples were also analyzed using chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. In result, the naive BALB/c females prefer males with low number of fetus in the litter compared to males with high number of fetus in the litter. Instrumental method of analysis approved the opportunity to differentiate between the groups of males. Other pregnancy parameters did not affect naive females’ preference for male urine samples.

Methodology for Biological Sample Collection, Processing, and Storage in the Newcastle 1000 Pregnancy Cohort: Protocol for a Longitudinal, Prospective Population-Based Study in Australia.

Research in the developmental origins of health and disease provides compelling evidence that adverse events during the first 1000 days of life from conception can impact life course health. Despite many decades of research, we still lack a complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying some of these associations. The Newcastle 1000 Study (NEW1000) is a comprehensive, prospective population-based pregnancy cohort study based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, that will recruit pregnant women and their partners at 11-14 weeks' gestation, with assessments at 20, 28, and 36 weeks; birth; 6 weeks; and 6 months, in order to provide detailed data about the first 1000 days of life to investigate the developmental origins of noncommunicable diseases. The study aims to provide a longitudinal multisystem approach to phenotyping, supported by robust clinical data and collection of biological samples in NEW1000. This manuscript describes in detail the large variety of samples collected in the study and the method of collection, storage, and utility of the samples in the biobank, with a particular focus on incorporation of the samples into emerging and novel large-scale "-omics" platforms, including the genome, microbiome, epigenome, transcriptome, fragmentome, metabolome, proteome, exposome, and cell-free DNA and RNA. Specifically, this manuscript details the methods used to collect, process, and store biological samples, including maternal, paternal, and fetal blood, microbiome (stool, skin, vaginal, oral), urine, saliva, hair, toenail, placenta, colostrum, and breastmilk. Recruitment for the study began in March 2021. As of July 2024, 1040 women and 684 partners were enrolled, with 922 infants born. The NEW1000 biobank contains 24,357 plasma aliquots from ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes, 5284 buffy coat aliquots, 4000 plasma aliquots from lithium heparin tubes, 15,884 blood serum aliquots, 2977 PAX RNA tubes, 26,595 urine sample aliquots, 2280 fecal swabs, 17,687 microbiome swabs, 2356 saliva sample aliquots, 1195 breastmilk sample aliquots, 4007 placental tissue aliquots, 2680 hair samples, and 2193 nail samples. NEW1000 will generate a multigenerational, deeply phenotyped cohort with a comprehensive biobank of samples relevant to a large variety of analyses, including multiple -omics platforms. DERR1-10.2196/63562.

Intravoxel incoherent motion MRI to assess feto-placental diffusion and perfusion properties in small fetuses.

To investigate the use of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) to study microperfusion and microstructural characteristics of lungs, brain, and placenta in normal and small fetuses. We retrospectively enrolled 30 small fetuses and 82 normal pregnancies who underwent a 1.5-T MRI examination using an IVIM-DWI. Small fetuses were distinguished in small for gestational age (SGA) and "true" fetal growth restriction (FGR). ROIs were placed on the brain parenchyma, lungs, and fetal/maternal placental sides. Differences in perfusion fraction f, diffusion coefficient D, and pseudo-diffusion coefficient D* and their correlation with gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) were investigated. LUNG: f showed significantly lower values (p = 2·10-7) in small fetuses (SGA + FGR); f discriminates SGA and FGR from normal (p = 0.001; p = 1·10-6). f increases with GA (p < 0.0001) in the control group; a positive correlation was also obtained in small fetuses, although less significant. FGR showed lower f values than normal ones, in both the fetal (p = 1.4·10-7) and maternal side (p = 0.001); f discriminates between SGA and FGR (p = 0.03). In small fetuses (SGA + FGR), f correlates positively with BW. D values in supratentorial white matter (WM) were significantly higher compared to other regions, in both normal and small fetuses. Small fetuses showed higher D values in occipital WM and pons (p = 0.041; p = 0.027) than in normal. D correlates negatively with GA in the healthy group. No correlation between D and GA was found in SGA + FGR group. In our study, IVIM-MRI allowed us to detect microstructural and microperfusion changes in the placenta, brain, and lung of small fetuses, noninvasively.

Prenatal Arsenic Exposure and Gene Expression in Fetal Liver, Heart, Lung, and Placenta.

This is the first study comparing alterations in gene expression across multiple organs following prenatal exposure to environmentally relevant levels of arsenic. These findings, elucidating the multi-organ impact of prenatal arsenic exposure on predominantly immune-related pathways, further our mechanistic understanding of the long-term health effects observed in early-life arsenic-exposed populations.

Sex-bias metabolism of fetal organs, and their relationship to the regulation of fetal brain-placental axis.

The placenta plays influential role in the fetal development of mammals. But how the metabolic need of the fetal organs is related to that of the placenta, and whether this relationship is influenced by the sex of the fetus remain poorly understood. This study used pigs to investigate metabolomic signatures of male and female fetal organs, and determine the relevance of gene expression of the placenta and brain to the metabolism of peripheral organs. Untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed with the day-45 placenta, kidney, heart, liver, lung and brain of male and female pig fetuses to model sex differences in themetabolism of the peripheral organs relative to that of the brain and placenta. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to investigate the expression of metabolic genes in the placenta and fetal brain of both sexes. The results of this study show that the fetoplacental metabolic regulation was not only influenced by the fetal sex but also dependent on the metabolic requirement of theindividual organs of the fetus. Neural network modeling of metabolomics data revealed differential relationship of the metabolic changes of the peripheral organs with the placenta and fetal brain between males and females. RNA sequencing further showed that genes associated with themetabolism of the peripheral organs were differentially expressed in the placenta and fetal brain. The findings of this study suggest a regulatory role of the fetal brain and placenta axis in the sex-bias metabolism of the peripheral organs.

Characterizing T1 in the fetal brain and placenta over gestational age at 0.55T.

T1 mapping and T1-weighted contrasts have a complimentary but currently under utilized role in fetal MRI. Emerging clinical low field scanners are ideally suited for fetal T1 mapping. The advantages are lower T1 values which results in higher efficiency and reduced field inhomogeneities resulting in a decreased requirement for specialist tools. In addition the increased bore size associated with low field scanners provides improved patient comfort and accessibility. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of fetal brain T1 mapping at 0.55T. An efficient slice-shuffling inversion-recovery echo-planar imaging (EPI)-based T1-mapping and postprocessing was demonstrated for the fetal brain at 0.55T in a cohort of 38 fetal MRI scans. Robustness analysis was performed and placental measurements were taken for validation. High-quality T1 maps allowing the investigation of subregions in the brain were obtained and significant correlation with gestational age was demonstrated for fetal brain T1 maps ( ) as well as regions-of-interest in the deep gray matter and white matter. Efficient, quantitative T1 mapping in the fetal brain was demonstrated on a clinical 0.55T MRI scanner, providing foundations for both future research and clinical applications including low-field specific T1-weighted acquisitions.

Cardiograms and Electrography Are Crucial Diagnostic Procedures In Pregnant Women

Certain examinations place significant emphasis on the gestation period. Strictly passing every examination is of utmost importance for every woman, as failure to do so may result in the birth of children with various deformed and incapacitating disorders. The diagnostic procedures of cardiotomy, electrocardiography, ultrasonography, doppler ultrasonography, and phenocardiography are highly significant for pregnant women. Every expectant mother should undertake these tests comprehensively. The duration of pregnancy and developmental abnormalities like as hypotrophy, hydrocephaly, and microcephaly can be determined using these techniques. Furthermore, these techniques facilitate the surveillance of the foetal placenta and the estimation of the water content, particularly in cases of multiple pregnancies. Sonography examination is safe for both the pregnant woman and the developing foetus. Today, X-ray diagnostics is seldom employed. However, this approach strictly relies on the use of the vagina as the sole means of assessing the state and abnormalities of the foetus, in the absence of ultrasound equipment.

Measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in fetal organs and placenta using 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across gestational ages

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a technique used to probe the random microscopic motion of water protons in living tissue, represented by a parameter measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. This study aimed to measure the ADC values of various fetal organs and placenta using 3T at various gestational ages. This was a prospective observational study. A total of 103 singleton pregnancies from 20 to 38 weeks of gestational age were included. Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed in the axial plane from the fetal head to the trunk with the following parameters: TR: 2000–2500 ms; TE: 88 ms; FOV: 250 mm; 256 matrix; slice thickness: 4 mm with a 0 mm gap; acquisition time: 1 min, 18 s. Diffusion gradient values were b = 0 and b = 700 s/mm2. ADC was measured in fetal brain regions (frontal white matter, occipital white matter, centrum semiovale, pons, thalamus, cerebellum, and fetal organs (lungs, kidney, and placenta). ANOVA was used to calculate the mean ADC values. Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation was used to evaluate the correlation between ADC values and increasing gestational age. The mean ADC values of brain regions were: frontal white matter (1.64 ± 0.08 × 10− 3 mm2 /s, F-39.10,p-<0.001), occipital white matter (1.64 ± 0.06 × 10− 3 mm2/s, F-26.14, p-<0.001), centrum semiovale (1.62 ± 0.03 × 10− 3 mm2/s, F-49.88,p-<0.001, pons (1.23 ± 0.09 × 10− 3 mm2/s F-9.14,p-<0.001) ), Thalamus (1.21 ± 0.07 × 10− 3 mm2/s, F-13.54,p-<0.001) and cerebellum (1.36 ± 0.10 × 10− 3 mm2 /s, F-4.19,p-<0.001). The mean ADC values of fetal organs were lung (1.92 ± 0.15 × 10− 3 mm2 /s, F-28.24, p-<0.001), kidney (1.34 ± 0.11 × 10− 3 mm2 /s, F-1.05, p- 0.37) and placenta (1.94 ± 0.11 × 10− 3 mm2 /s, F-160.33, p-<0.001). White-matter regions showed a significant positive correlation with increasing gestational age. Statistically, a negative correlation was observed between increasing gestational age and ADC measurements obtained in the thalamus, cerebellum, pons, and kidney. This will be one of the first few studies to provide the ADC values of the fetal brain and fetal organs using 3T MRI. The current study shows that diffusion-weighted MRI can offer a promising technique to evaluate the structural development of fetal organs and can potentially lead to a biomarker for predicting the functionality of the fetal organs in abnormalities.

Mechanism of collagen type IV regulation by focal adhesion kinase during retained fetal membranes in dairy cows

Retained fetal membranes (RFM) is an important reproductive disease in dairy cows, caused by maternal and fetal placental tissue adhesion. The main collagen in maternal and fetal placenta tissues is collagen type IV (COL-IV) and its breakdown is the key to placental expulsion. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has been shown to regulate the hydrolysis of Col-IV by affecting the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, but the regulation of the mechanisms involved in placenta expulsion in dairy cows after postpartum are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of RFM by studying the relationship between the FAK signaling pathway and COL-IV regulation. Maternal placental tissues were collected from six healthy and six cows with RFM of similar age, parity, body condition and milk yield at 12 h postpartum. In vitro experiments were performed on bovine endometrial epithelial cells from three groups including a FAK inhibitor group, a FAK activator group and a control group without FAK inhibitor and activator. The abundance of molecules involved in the FAK signaling pathway and COL-IV was detected by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The immunohistochemical results showed that the key molecules of FAK signaling pathway FAK, Src, MMP-2 and MMP-9 and Col-IV were expressed in placental tissues. The expression level of FAK, Src, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05) and the abundances of COL-IV were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) in maternal placental tissues of RFM cows compared with healthy cows. In the FAK inhibitor treatment group, the relative expression levels of FAK and other related proteins were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05) and the relative expression levels of COL-IV were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) with the results of the FAK activation group the opposite. These results indicated that FAK in maternal endometrial epithelial cells could regulate the hydrolysis process of Col-IV through the expression of key factors of signaling pathways and promote collagen hydrolysis, which in turn facilitated the process of postpartum placenta expulsion in dairy cows.

The impact of indication for cesarean on blood loss

BackgroundPostpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Quantitative blood loss assessment at the time of cesarean delivery is a more accurate measure of blood loss than is simple estimation. Risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage are well described; however, contemporary, systematic investigations into the impact of the indication for cesarean delivery on quantitative blood loss are lacking. ObjectiveTo investigate whether there are clinically significant differences in quantitative blood loss and postpartum hemorrhage risk based on the indication for cesarean delivery. Study DesignA cohort of 4,881 cesarean deliveries performed at a large academic hospital between 2020 and 2022 was identified. Primary and repeat cesarean deliveries were analyzed separately and further subdivided into seven indications: elective, labor arrest, fetal heart rate abnormalities, placenta previa, placenta accreta, malpresentation, and other. Quantitative blood loss and rates of postpartum hemorrhage ( > 1000 cc and >1500cc) were compared among the different indications. ResultsMean quantitative blood loss for primary, repeat and total cesarean deliveries was 886 cc, 697 cc and 792 cc, respectively. Excluding cases of placenta accreta, the greatest blood loss in both primary and repeat groups was seen in cesareans performed for labor arrest, with blood loss exceeding 1500 cc in 18% and 13% of all cases. Blood loss exceeding 1500cc was seen in 1% and 2% of elective cesarean deliveries. The mean blood loss for planned repeat cesarean/hysterectomies for placenta accreta was < 400cc greater than primary cesareans performed for labor arrest (1442 cc vs. 1065 cc), despite the addition of an often-complex hysterectomy to the procedure. ConclusionsClinically and statistically significant differences in blood loss exist based on the indication for cesarean delivery. Large differences in rates of serious postpartum hemorrhage (>1500cc) with negligible differences in mean quantitative blood loss suggests the presence of frequent, large clinical outliers not reflected in a statistical mean. The indication for cesarean and the possibility of such outliers, rather than the predicted “average blood loss for cesarean delivery” should be considered in determining risk and the degree of necessary pre-operative blood preparation. These data raise questions about whether current, traditional techniques of non-accreta related cesarean delivery can be justified in non-emergent cases when such procedures could be performed with significantly less blood loss using accreta-specific techniques.

Cell type and cell signaling innovations underlying mammalian pregnancy.

The fetal-maternal interface is one of the most intense loci of cell-cell signaling in the human body. Invasion of cells from the fetal placenta into the uterus, and the corresponding transformation of maternal tissues called decidualization, first evolved in the stem lineage of eutherian mammals( 1 , 2 ). Single-cell studies of the human fetal-maternal interface have provided new insight into the cell type diversity and cell-cell interactions governing this chimeric organ( 3-5 ). However, the fetal-maternal interface is also one of the most rapidly evolving, and hence most diverse, characters among mammals( 6 ), and an evolutionary analysis is missing. Here, we present and compare single-cell data from the fetal-maternal interface of species bracketing key events in mammal phylogeny: a marsupial (opossum, Monodelphis domestica ), the afrotherian Tenrec ecaudatus, and four Euarchontoglires - guinea pig and mouse (Rodentia) together with recent macaque and human data (primates) ( 4 , 5 , 7 ). We infer cell type homologies, identify a gene-expression signature of eutherian invasive trophoblast conserved over 99 million years, and discover a predecidual cell in the tenrec which suggests stepwise evolution of the decidual stromal cell. We reconstruct ancestral cell signaling networks, revealing the integration of fetal cell types into the interface. Finally, we test two long-standing theoretical predictions, the disambiguation hypothesis( 8 ) and escalation hypothesis( 9 ), at transcriptome-wide scale, finding divergence between fetal and maternal signaling repertoires but arms race dynamics restricted to a small subset of ligand-receptor pairs. In so doing, we trace the co-evolutionary history of cell types and their signaling across mammalian viviparity.

METHODS OF TREATMENT OF RETAINED PLACENTA IN FRIESIAN COWS

Retained placenta in dairy cows is when the fetal membrane or placenta does not exit the uterus within 9-12 hours after calving. Retained placenta is a pathological disorder when the placenta does not fall out within a certain period of time after calving. The placenta in cows is most often expelled 6 (77.3%) to 8 hours after calving (Van Werven et al., 1992). The incidence of placental abruption in cows averages 8.6%. The cause of placental exit is not fully understood. There are several factors on which the separation of the fetal placenta from the uterus depends, they can be: genetic (inherited), nutritional, immunological, and as a result of some diseases of the reproductive tract. The causes of placental retention can be: fatigue of the uterus, inflammatory conditions of the bed, an insufficient amount of some hormones, lack of vitamins and/or minerals, toxic effects of some substances and poisons, and mechanical obstacles. The conclusion is that cows with retained placenta belong to the risk group because they are prone to inflammation of the uterus, so they have a prolonged service period and delayed or absent recovery of the cyclic activity of the ovaries, which can be the cause of sterility, temporary or permanent. Treatment of retained placenta should be carried out in time, removing the fetal placenta manually and inserting foaming tablets for intrauterine use. After that, PgF2α and oxytocin are applied.

Maternal Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation Alters Maternal and Fetal Docosahexaenoic Acid Status and Placenta Phospholipids in Pregnancies Complicated by High Body Mass Index.

An optimal fetal supply of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is critical for normal brain development. The relationship between maternal DHA intake and DHA delivery to the fetus is complex and is dependent on placental handling of DHA. Little data exist on placental DHA levels in pregnancies supplemented with the recommended dose of 200 mg/d. Our objective was to determine how prenatal DHA at the recommended 200 mg/d impacts maternal, placental, and fetal DHA status in both normal-weight and high-BMI women compared to women taking no supplements. Maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood were collected from 30 healthy pregnant women (BMI 18.9-43.26 kg/m2) giving birth at term. Red blood cells (RBCs) and villous tissue were isolated, and lipids were extracted to determine DHA content by LC-MS/MS. Data were analyzed by supplement group (0 vs. 200 mg/d) and maternal BMI (normal weight or high BMI) using two-way ANOVA. We measured maternal choline levels in maternal and cord plasma samples. Supplementation with 200 mg/d DHA significantly increased (p < 0.05) maternal and cord RBC DHA content only in pregnancies complicated by high BMI. We did not find any impact of choline levels on maternal or cord RBC phospholipids. There were no significant differences in total placental DHA content by supplementation or maternal BMI (p > 0.05). Placental levels of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid containing DHA species were higher (p < 0.05) in high-BMI women without DHA supplementation compared to both normal-BMI and high-BMI women taking DHA supplements. Maternal DHA supplementation at recommended doses cord increased RBC DHA content only in pregnancies complicated by higher BMI. Surprisingly, we found that obesity was related to an increase in placental PI and phosphatidic acid species, which was ameliorated by DHA supplementation. Phosphatidic acid activates placental mTOR, which regulates amino acid transport and may explain previous findings of the impact of DHA on placental function. Current recommendations for DHA supplementation may not be achieving the goal of improving fetal DHA levels in normal-weight women.