Members of the DAZ gene family encode RNA-binding proteins and have been shown to play a pivotal role in gametogenesis. In Xenopus, a DAZ-like gene encodes an RNA component of the germ plasm. We have identified a zebrafish DAZ homologue, zDazl. zDazl mRNA was expressed in gonads of both sexes. In ovary, it was localized in the cortex of oocytes. At the onset of embryogenesis, maternal zDazl mRN...

BACKGROUND Hypoxia in utero can lead to stillbirth and severe perinatal injury. While current prenatal tests can identify fetuses that are hypoxic, none can determine the severity of hypoxia/acidemia. We hypothesized a hypoxic/acidemic fetus would up-regulate and release hypoxia-induced mRNA from the fetoplacental unit into the maternal circulation, where they can be sampled and quantified. Fur...

In this study we describe in 9- and 18-day-old CD1 mice (i) the basal and stress-induced activity of markers of the HPA system in blood, brain and pituitary, (ii) the effects of a 24-h maternal deprivation and (iii) the influence of anogenital stimulation (stroking) in deprived pups on these markers. We found low basal concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone at postnatal day (pnd) 9 and no or...

A strict temporal order of maternal mRNA translation is essential for meiotic cell cycle progression in oocytes of the frog Xenopus laevis. The molecular mechanisms controlling the ordered pattern of mRNA translational activation have not been elucidated. We report a novel role for the neural stem cell regulatory protein, Musashi, in controlling the translational activation of the mRNA encoding...

Maternal perinatal nutrition may program offspring metabolic features. Epigenetic regulation is one of the candidate mechanisms that may be affected by maternal dietary methyl donors intake as potential controllers of plasma homocysteine levels. Thirty-two Wistar pregnant rats were randomly assigned into four dietary groups during lactation: control, control supplemented with methyl donors, hig...

Maternal chorioamnionitis has been associated with abnormal lung development. We examined the effect of maternal chorioamnionitis on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the lungs of preterm infants. A total of 63 preterm (<or=34 weeks) infants who were intubated in the delivery room were prospectively enrolled. Their placentas were examined for the presence of chor...

Adequate maternal iodine consumption during pregnancy and lactation guarantees normal thyroid hormones (TH) production, which is crucial to the development of the fetus. Indeed, iodine deficiency is clearly related to maternal hypothyroidism and deleterious effects in the fetal development. Conversely, the effects of iodine excess (IE) consumption on maternal thyroid function are still controve...