Sperm Methylation Status Predicts Embryo And Pregnancy Outcomes In Male Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,411.00
Summary
The incidence of male obesity in reproductively age men is epidemic and continually rising with close to 70% of men of reproductive age classified as overweight or obese. Male obesity is not only associated with sub fertility but also changes to pregnancy outcomes and influencing child health. This project will try to uncover the molecular changes in sperm, providing potential mechanisms for the abnormal foetal and pregnancy health seen as a result of male obesity.
Intergenerational Transmission Of Gender-specific Metabolic Disease For Offspring Born Small: Maternal, Paternal And Embryonic Roles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$689,050.00
Summary
This proposal addresses the underlying metabolic health consequences of poor embryo and growth of the baby across generations. We will define mechanisms by which a poor functioning placenta during a rat mother’s pregnancy programs her offspring born small to transmit gender-specific diseases to the next generation. We will identify mechanistic pathways involved, specifically the relative contributions of maternal and paternal germ lines and adverse maternal adaptations to pregnancy for females b ....This proposal addresses the underlying metabolic health consequences of poor embryo and growth of the baby across generations. We will define mechanisms by which a poor functioning placenta during a rat mother’s pregnancy programs her offspring born small to transmit gender-specific diseases to the next generation. We will identify mechanistic pathways involved, specifically the relative contributions of maternal and paternal germ lines and adverse maternal adaptations to pregnancy for females born small.Read moreRead less
Periconceptional Nutrition And The Programming Of Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,879.00
Summary
Mothers who enter pregnancy with a high body mass index are at risk of developing diabetes in pregnancy and of having a large baby who will be at increased risk of developing obesity in childhood and later life. Heavy mothers therefore have heavy babies and these babies go on to become heavy adults. This grant will determine the separate contributions of exposure of the embryo to high nutrition and exposure of the fetus in late gestation to high maternal nutrition.
Investigation Of A New Hypothesis That Increased TGF? Activity In Developing Fetal Organs Predisposes A Women To Polycystic Ovary Syndrome And Associated Metabolic Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,015.00
Summary
Have you ever wondered why some people get fat and other do not, no matter how much they eat? The answer could lie in what happened before they were born. This project investigates a new hypothesis that was developed from discoveries on polycystic ovary syndrome. Women with this syndrome are at increased risk of becoming overweight and diabetic. If the hypotheses prove correct it might be possible to reduce the incidence of these metabolic disorders in the longer term.
Vitamin D Deprivation In Early Life: Programming Of Vascular Function In Adulthood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,250.00
Summary
It is becoming increasing evident that appropriate nutrition in fetal-early life is important in programming the cardiovascular system of the offspring, influencing its function throughout life. Maternal deficiency in vitamin D is a recently-identified concern world-wide, including in Australian women. We have recently found that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats results in marked hypertension in the offspring, when only 7 weeks of age. This is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent ....It is becoming increasing evident that appropriate nutrition in fetal-early life is important in programming the cardiovascular system of the offspring, influencing its function throughout life. Maternal deficiency in vitamin D is a recently-identified concern world-wide, including in Australian women. We have recently found that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats results in marked hypertension in the offspring, when only 7 weeks of age. This is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilator function, increased smooth muscle tone and increased constriction to nerve stimulation. A combination of intracellular electrophysiological techniques and tension recordings will be used to investigate detailed mechanisms in arteries isolated from key vascular beds. In vivo studies will probe the role of vitamin D deficiency in the control of regional blood flow control, and its influence on the underlying regulatory mechanisms responsible for the cardiovascular dysfunction that we have observed. We will test whether the cardiovascular dysfunction in the offspring following vitamin D deficiency is reversible upon repletion, or is programmed and thus not reversible with repletion. Our early results suggest that the deleterious effects are not reversible. From this study we aim to be in a position of greater confidence from which to inform women as to the importance for their baby of ensuring adequate vitamin D repletion during pregnancy, to minimise risk of later cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less
Does Women's Nutrition During Pregnancy Influence Metabolic Health Of Their Children?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$255,752.00
Summary
The occurrence of type 2 diabetes is increasing around the world, with the rising incidence among children and adolescents especially worrying. Widespread obesity has clearly contributed to this epidemic, but does not fully explain it. Diabetes develops over many years and obesity appears to exacerbate a pre-existing susceptibility. Our work focuses on understanding and preventing this initial susceptibility. Metabolic changes in the way the body produces and disposes of insulin, and responds to ....The occurrence of type 2 diabetes is increasing around the world, with the rising incidence among children and adolescents especially worrying. Widespread obesity has clearly contributed to this epidemic, but does not fully explain it. Diabetes develops over many years and obesity appears to exacerbate a pre-existing susceptibility. Our work focuses on understanding and preventing this initial susceptibility. Metabolic changes in the way the body produces and disposes of insulin, and responds to glucose, are seen much earlier in individuals who become diabetic. These metabolic defects are thought to be due, in part, to sub-optimal growth and development before birth (affecting the way the pancreas and liver function, for example). Poor nutrition before birth may be an important underlying cause. Animal studies reliably demonstrate that a poor quality diet of the pregnant mother can result in offspring that have impaired glucose tolerance and related metabolic problems. We now need to determine whether this occurs in humans. A limited amount of community-based research suggests this is possible. The balance between carbohydrate and protein in the mother's diet may be a key factor, and possibly the type of carbohydrate (high or low glycaemic). Weight before and during pregnancy could also be influential. We have been following a cohort of 500 children from before birth, through childhood. We collected detailed information on the mothers' diets during pregnancy. In this project, we plan to assess the glucose-insulin metabolism of the children at 8 years of age. We will then investigate whether diet of the mothers during pregnancy affects the metabolism of the children later on. Improving nutrition of pregnant women could lead to life-long improvement in metabolic health of the children. This study will contribute to the evidence-base about whether maternal diet is important, and give specific details about what kinds of changes are needed.Read moreRead less