Reproduction Abstracts

Maternal malnutrition during pregnancy is detrimental to fetal development and increases the risk of many chronic diseases in later life i.e. neurological consequences such as increased risk of schizophrenia. Previous studies have shown maternal protein malnutrition during pregnancy and lactation compromises brain development in late gestation and after birth, affecting structural, biochemical, and pathway dynamics with lasting consequences for motor and cognitive function. Ho...

Miscarriage affects one in five pregnancies and has serious physical and psychological implications for the patient. Maternal infections account for 15% of miscarriages. Chlamydia trachomatis has been associated with miscarriage however the epidemiological data to support this are conflicting. The mechanism explaining the association is also unknown. Our objective was to determine whether C. trachomatis infection leads to miscarriage by impacting upon endomet...

Hyperandrogenism and dysregulated follicle development both characterise polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), however little is known about how androgens affect early preantral follicle development. Recent evidence suggests that androgens may act, in part, through non-classical modulation of growth factor signalling pathways. Members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family play a role in promoting preantral follicle development in the mouse, with receptor subtypes EGFR, ErbB2...

Human pregnancy represents a unique immunological environment. However, very little is known about the role of uterine decidual macrophages (dMs) in early human pregnancy. The monocytic cell line (THP1) was activated and polarised to a pro-inflammatory M1 or immunosuppressive M2 M phenotype and the conditioned media was used to treat fetally-derived trophoblast cells. Treatment with M1 conditioned media was found to significantly reduce trophoblast motility in vitro, ...

This study determined whether variation (representative of normal UK farm conditions) in pregnant ewe management is sufficient to alter the programing of the male reproductive axis. Between days 85 and 138 of pregnancy, twin-bearing ewes were managed to either mimic ‘poor husbandry’ (PH) with a high stocking density, reduced feeding space and repeated social mixing or according to ‘best practice’ (BP) with a lower stocking density, longer feed troughs, and ...

Polycystic ovary syndrome, a common endocrine condition affecting up to 10% of women of reproductive age, is associated with an increased risk of developing insulin resistance and obesity. Obesity is associated with increased energy intake or reduced energy expenditure. In this context, postprandial thermogenesis (PPT), is an important constituent of energy expenditure.Our lab utilizes a clinically realistic ovine model of PCOS, where pregnant Scottish G...