The Importance Of ADAMTS Proteases In Ovulation And Fertility.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$205,500.00
Summary
In the ovary eggs are matured within a specialised organ called a follicle. Female fertility is dependent on the efficient release of eggs from the follicle as well as transport of the egg to the site of fertilization. During these processes the egg is encased within a mucous-like cushion made of cells, proteins and complex carbohydrates. This cushion or matrix plays an active role in egg release, transport and fertilization. Proper formation of this cushion just before egg release is therefore ....In the ovary eggs are matured within a specialised organ called a follicle. Female fertility is dependent on the efficient release of eggs from the follicle as well as transport of the egg to the site of fertilization. During these processes the egg is encased within a mucous-like cushion made of cells, proteins and complex carbohydrates. This cushion or matrix plays an active role in egg release, transport and fertilization. Proper formation of this cushion just before egg release is therefore essential for efficient female fertility. This project examines the role of newly identified proteins and protease enzymes that are involved in the formation and function of the matrix cushion around eggs. This has important implications for the causes of infertility in women as well as improving the efficacy of IVF techniques.Read moreRead less
Why Is Trophoblast Invasion Defective In Human Pregnancies That Develop Pre-eclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$504,500.00
Summary
Pre-eclampsia is the most common serious medical disorder of otherwise healthy young pregnant women. Early in pregnancies destined for pre-eclampsia, placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) do not invade deeply enough into maternal blood vessels within the uterus, with resultant low oxygen levels and reduced blood flow from the mother's circulation to placenta. This causes fetal under-nutrition and growth restriction, which if severe, can cause intrauterine death. To prevent this, the baby may need t ....Pre-eclampsia is the most common serious medical disorder of otherwise healthy young pregnant women. Early in pregnancies destined for pre-eclampsia, placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) do not invade deeply enough into maternal blood vessels within the uterus, with resultant low oxygen levels and reduced blood flow from the mother's circulation to placenta. This causes fetal under-nutrition and growth restriction, which if severe, can cause intrauterine death. To prevent this, the baby may need to be delivered prematurely, with grave risks of complications, both short and longterm. Women with pre-elampsia suffer from hypertension, activation of the clotting system, and generalized constriction of blood vessels. Together, these result in damage to blood vessel lining cells, reduced blood flow to, and disturbed function of many organs. Most commonly affected are kidney, liver, brain, and the uterine circulation. Babies born early and-or small-for-gestational-age have an increased incidence of vascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease in adult life. Improved understanding, and development of preventive and-or therapeutic strategies for pre-eclampsia are urgently needed. There is no satisfactory animal model to address pathogenesis of this peculiarly human disorder, which concurrently causes significant morbidity in two generations of people. Ethical constraints and the need for urgent therapy limit extensive research in affected pregnant women. With our unique in vitro cell co-culture strategy, we have clarified inter-relationships between fetal-placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) and their host maternal vascular cells (decidual endothelial cells) in the clinical syndrome of pre-eclampsia. Building on this work we will now examine maternal-placental intercellular cooperation in regulation of normal placental development, and explore the defective regulation of placental development that precedes pre-eclampsia.Read moreRead less