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Biomedical subjects

M C Vernier

Publications and source records attributed to M C Vernier.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1975

Sex-differential placentation immunological interactions between male conceptus and gravida during normal pregnancy.

7,773 placentae of newborns were analyzed in order to test a hypothesis of specific immunological concepto-maternal interactions due to maleness and occurring during normal pregnancy. An association between placental weight of newborn male and the sex of conceptuses of previous pregnancies was found which supports the hypothesis. No such an association was found for female newborn. The confirmation of these results could open new avenues in the study of sex-differential survival of the conceptus throughout gestation.

Antigens↗
PubMed1975

Sex differential of survival during perinatal period: an immunologic phenomenon?

The sex-differential early neonatal mortality experienced by a population of 27,243 neonates has been analyzed in relation to sex-related reproductive antecedents of their mothers. An association between the risk of dying of a neonate and the sex of previous pregnancies of its mother has been found: the risk decreases with a previous pregnancy of the same sex as the neonate, and increases with one of the opposite sex. Repeated pregnancies of same sex increase the phenomenon. An immunologic hypothesis has been formulated from these results: sex-differential survival of conceptuses during the perinatal period would be due to sex-differential conceptomaternal immunologic interactions. An advantage in survival of the female fetus results from these interactions in primiparous mothers. However, immunologic behavior of the mother is altered by previous contact with fetal antigens. Consequently sex-differential survival varies with sex-related antecedents of the gravida. Previous sensitization of the gravida by male pregnancy provides an advantage in survival for a subsequent male conceptus, and previous sensitization by female pregnancy provides an advantage in survival for a subsequent female conceptus.

Birth Order↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selection at implantation and longevity. A tentative theory.

Women enjoy a superior longevity, possibly at the price of a heavy loss of female conceptuses at an early stage of gestation. An immunological mechanism is proposed. A theory of selection at implantation is developed and generalized which leads to a new approach of longevity.

Blastocyst↗