BackgroundHuman growth is susceptible to damage from insults, particularly during periods of rapid growth. Identifying those and the normative limits that are compatible with adequate development first key steps toward preventing impaired growth.ObjectiveThis study aimed construct international fetal velocity increment conditional standards 14 40 weeks’ gestation based on same cohort contribute...

It has been proposed that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) regulates fetal growth and differentiation. Plasma IGF-I concentrations correlate positively with fetal nutrient availability and newborn birth weights. To explore the hypothesis that hypoxemia decreases fetal growth by decreasing fetal IGF-I availability, we instrumented 14 fetal sheep with vascular catheters. At least 4 days after...

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) undergo dramatic expansion during fetal liver development, but attempts to expand their numbers ex vivo have failed. We hypothesized that unidentified fetal liver cells produce growth factors that support HSC proliferation. Here we describe a novel population of CD3+ and Ter119- day-15 fetal liver cells that support HSC expansion in culture, as determined by limi...

Timely and efficient regulation of blastocyst implantation and fetal growth are essential for the successful reproduction of viviparous mammals. Disruptions in this regulation can result in a wide variety of human gestational complications including infertility, spontaneous abortion, fetal growth restriction, and premature delivery. The role of several groups of factors, including cytokines, ho...

Adverse influences during fetal life alter the structure and function of distinct cells, organ systems or homoeostatic pathways, thereby 'programming' the individual for an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adult life. Fetal programming can be caused by a number of different perturbations in the maternal compartment, such as altered maternal nutrition and reduc...

The obesity epidemic is a problem of global importance with a profound impact on maternal-fetal health. Maternal overweight and obesity causes pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, hypertension and preeclampsia and affects fetal growth. Maternal obesity offers an altered genetic, hormonal and biochemical environment for the developing fetus/embryo and influences fetal growth and...

The cytokine receptors for growth hormone (GH), prolactin and leptin have a critical role in regulating embryo, placental and/or fetal development, which is dependent on stage of gestation and species. GH and prolactin receptors are detectable from conception, and alterations in the maternal hormonal environment may impact on placental growth from this early stage of gestation. Leptin is critic...

Alterations in expression of the imprinted gene PHLDA2 are linked to low birth weight in both humans and the mouse. However birth weight is a summary measure of fetal growth and provides little information on the growth rate of the fetus in early and late pregnancy. To examine the relation of PHLDA2 expression with rates of fetal growth and explore associations with the infant's body compositio...

OBJECTIVE To examine the validity of a growth trajectory method to discriminate between pathologically and constitutionally undergrown fetuses using repeated measures of estimated fetal weight. METHODS In a prospective, observational, multicenter study in Ireland, 1,116 women with a growth-restricted fetus diagnosed participated with the objective of evaluating ultrasound findings as predicto...