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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1977

Lymphatic malformation in human fetuses. A study of fetuses with Turner's syndrome or status Bonnevie-Ullrich.

In 7 spontaneously aborted fetuses characterized by a large cystic hygroma in the nuchal region and a prominent and generalized edema, the structure and extension of the lymphatic system was studied. In all fetuses marked malformations of this system were found. Although the morphologic appearance seemed to vary greatly it is suggested that the disorder is essentially a generalized hypoplasia and partial agenesis of the lymphatic system, which ceases to extend peripherally at an early embryonic stage. A suggestion as to the mechanism of this growth inhibition is made.

Female↗
PubMed2026

Lineage-associated differences in adenine methylation patterns of mammalian-associated Campylobacter fetus isolates: a possible role for epigenetic factors in host tropism and pathogenesis.

Mammalian Campylobacter fetus (CF) is divided into two subspecies, C. fetus fetus (CFF) and C. fetus venerealis (CFV), the latter being bovine-adapted and responsible for the notifiable disease bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC). Differentiation between CF subspecies has traditionally been undertaken by a few biochemical tests, but these are complicated by the existence of a biotype, C. fetus venerealis intermedius (CFVi), which shares attributes of both CFF and CFV. Molecular methods targeting specific genes have gained acceptance for more accurate subtype identification and align well with whole-genome analysis. However, limited genomic diversity between subtypes has confounded efforts to understand the genetic basis for differential host tropism and pathogenesis of these organisms. A previous study of a small cohort of C. fetus isolates suggested that dam gene coding variations might correlate with CF subtype. Accordingly, this study examines a cohort of 331 C. fetus genomes, representative of all seven phylogenetic groups for their complement of adenine methylases and the genomic motifs they target in representative isolates. All CF isolates retained a cfeM1 gene, the presence of which correlates with RAATTY methylation, while seven other adenine methylase genes exhibited distinct cladal distributions. Notably, a cjeM1 gene appears to target the CCAN7TAG/CTAN7TGG motif in CFV and CFVi isolates only. Given the increasing recognition of the impact of adenine methylation on bacterial-host interactions, further exploration of the role of adenine methylation in C. fetus pathogenesis could reveal mechanisms contributing to BGC and thus aid in its eradication.IMPORTANCECampylobacter fetus remains an important zoonotic pathogen, for which a better understanding of its host tropism and pathogenesis is sought. However, the limited genomic variation observed between subtypes has to date confounded efforts in this regard. This study suggests that an alternative approach that examines epigenetic differences between subtypes, specifically adenine methylation patterns, may reveal mechanisms critical to the pathologies of these organisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effect of decapitation and ACTH on somatic development of the rabbit fetus.

Rabbit fetuses were decapitated, injected with ACTH or decapitated and injected with ACTH on day 24 of gestation. On day 29 the body weight and weight of the interscapular fat pad were compared with those of littermates. The weight, total DNA and weight/DNA ratio of the liver, heart and kidney were measured in experimental and control fetuses. A comparison was made between decapitated and control fetuses of the length of the hind limb bones and number of ossified vertebrae. The body weight of the decapitated or ACTH-injected fetus ranked significantly below the mean for the litter, but decapitated fetuses injected with ACTH ranked close to the litter mean. The growth retardation of the decapitated fetus was not manifest in the kidneys which were heavier and had a greater number of cells than normal, nor in the cell size of the heart, liver or kidneys which were equal to those of the heaviest fetus in the litter. Decapitation had no specific effect on ossification. Growth retardation of the ACTH-injected fetus was mirrored by different patterns of DNA and weight/DNA reduction in the three organs studied. Decapitation retards growth in body weight of the fetal rabbit which may be corrected by ACTH. It is concluded that the hypophyseal-adrenal axis plays a role in the control of normal fetal growth but that excess secretion of glucocorticoids results in stunting.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2026

[Genetic analysis of a fetus with Short-rib thoracic dysplasia 8 with or without polydactyly due to variants of DYNC2I1 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of a fetus with Short-rib thoracic dysplasia 8 with or without polydactyly (SRTD8) due to variants of DYNC2I1 gene. METHODS: A fetus identified to have short ribs, short long bones, and narrow thorax at 26+1 weeks of gestation at the Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University in September 2024 was selected as study subject. The fetus underwent termination of pregnancy at 35+5 weeks of gestation. Clinical data of the fetus were retrospectively collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out on fetal tissue, and candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. Difference between the wild type and variant DYNC2I1 proteins was analyzed using AlphaFold v3.0.1 and PyMOL v2.5.6 software. Pathogenicity of the variant was rated based on guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Using keywords such as "DYNC2I1 gene", previous literature on patients due to biallelic DYNC2I1 gene variants were retrieved from the PubMed databases, CNKI, and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and the genetic variant and clinical phenotypes of patients were analyzed. The literature retrieval time was set from the establishment of database to December 31, 2025. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: 2023-094). RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound revealed that the fetus had short ribs, short long bones, and narrow thorax at 26+1 gestational weeks. WES and Sanger sequencing revealed that the fetus has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the DYNC2I1 gene, namely c.265_268 (p.Gln89GlyfsTer15) in exon 3 and c.1777C>T (p.Arg593Trp) in exon 14, which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. Prediction of the DYNC2I1 protein structure suggested that the c.265_268del variant has formed a premature termination codon, which may significantly alter the protein's secondary structure. The c.1777C>T variant may disrupt the electrostatic interaction between Arg593 and Asp729. Based on the ACMG guidelines, the c.265_268del (p.Gln89GlyfsTer15) variant was predicted to be likely pathogenic (PM2_Supporting +PVS1), whilst the c.1777C>T(p.Arg593Trp) variant was rated as uncertain significance (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP4). Literature search has identified five articles related to biallelic DYNC2I1 variants involving a total of 11 fetuses/patients. Together with the fetus from this study, typical phenotypes included short ribs (6 cases), narrow thorax (6 cases), short limb bones (6 cases), and hand polydactyly (6 cases), and foot polydactyly (5 cases), albeit with significant clinical heterogeneity. A total of 12 genetic variants were identified, among which c.44delC was the most common (16.7%, 4/24), followed by c.1777C>T, c.2246C>T, and c.2305G>A (each accounting for 12.5%). No mutational hotspot was identified. CONCLUSION: The c.265_268del (p.Gln89GlyfsTer15) and c.1777C>T (p.Arg593Trp) compound heterozygous variants of the DYNC2I1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of SRTD8 in this fetus. This study has enriched the mutational spectrum of the DYNC2I1 gene and facilitated etiological diagnosis and treatment of DYNC2I1-related diseases.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

Pituitary-thyroid function of fetuses of hypothyroid and growth hormone treated hypothyroid rats.

Maternal hypothyroidism induced by surgical thyroidectomy (Tx) of the rat resulted in significantly higher fetal serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) on day 22 of gestation. Surprisingly, administration of growth hormone (GH) to hypothyroid mothers increased further the fetal serum T4 and TSH. The in vitro uptake of 131I-T4 by erythrocytes was elevated significantly when incubated with serum from fetuses of both hypothyroid and hypothyroid GH-treated mothers. Although the plasma protein levels of hypothyroid mothers and their fetuses are decreased significantly as compared to controls this is not true of hypothyroid GH-treated mothers and their fetuses. The T4 levels of both groups of Tx mothers were significantly below that of controls. However, as in the case of their fetuses, the serum T4 of GH-treated hypothyroid mothers was elevated from that of Tx only animals. It is concluded that the pituitary-thyroid system of fetuses of hypothyroid mothers is activated excessively during late gestation, that considerable T4 can be transported from the fetus to the mother during this period and that these fetuses are in fact born in a hyperthyroid state which is aggravated by maternal treatment with GH.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Breathing movements before death in the primate fetus (Macaca mulatta).

The incidence and character of fetal breathing movements (FBMs) were determined by analysis of continuous tracheal pressure recordings in a 48 hour period preceeding fetal death in utero in 7 chronic pregnant monkey preparations (Macaca mulatta). All fetuses were judged normal by blood gas tensions, pH, and fetal heart rate within 48 hours of death. In the normal fetus breathing movements were periodic and a circadian distribution in the incidence of FBMs was observed. Four distinct patterns of FBMs were observed in the normal fetuses. In five fetuses death occurred in the intrapartum period; all five fetuses were breathing at the onset of labor. A progressive fall in the incidence of FBMs was observed in labor coincident with the development of fetal acidemia. In the remaining two fetuses death occurred before labor. Apnea and gasping were observed in all fetuses before death. The duration of apnea and gasping appeared dependent upon the nature of the lethal insult.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Reduced hepatic bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase and uridine diphosphate glucose dehydrogenase activity in the human fetus.

Hepatic bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase (UDPG-T) activity was 0.14 and 0.22 units in two fetuses aged 17 and 22 weeks, respectively, and less than 0.1 unit in 15 fetuses, aged 8--19 weeks compared to 0.68--1.99 units in 21 normal adults. Hepatic uridine diphosphate glucose dehydrogenase (UDPG-D) activity in 14 fetuses, aged 8--18 weeks, ranged from 6.2--15.0 units (mean = 11.3 +/- 0.7) compared to 28.8--49.2 units (mean = 39.6 +/- 2.5) in eight normal adults (P less than 0.001). There was no correlation between UDPG-D activity and gestational age. The hepatic UDPG-D activity was 16.5 units in a 33-day-old full term, female infant, 42.4 and 24.3 units in two 2-year-old infants, respectively, and 24.3 units in a 5.5-year-old child. In three human fetuses, the apparent Km UDPG was 0.54 x 10(-4) M. Thus, both hepatic bilirubin UDPG-T and UDPG-D activity are markedly reduced in the human fetus during the second trimester of gestation. Retarded development of hepatic UDPG-D may extend beyond the first month of life.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of ACTH and chorionic gonadotropin on cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate concentration and of a homogenate of fetal hypophysis on adrenal steroidogenesis in human embryos and fetuses from the 7th to the 12th week of embryonic development].

It was shown that homogenates of the hypophysis of human fetuses from the 8th to the 12th week of gestation stimulated in vitro formation of F and DEA-sulfate in the adrenal glands of fetuses of the same gestation period. ACTH increased the cAMP concentration in the adrenal glands of all the embryos and fetuses under study; this pointed to the presence in them of ACTH-dependent adenylcyclase, and, consequently, of the ACTH receptors. On the contrary, chorionic hormone produced no effect on the cAMP concentration in the adrenal glands. The data obtained, together with those published earlier suggested that adrenal glands of human fetuses from the 8th week of gestation were already under the controlling influence of ACTH of their hypophyses and that the action mechanism of ACTH on the adrenal glands of fetuses was analogous to its action on the adrenal glands of adult.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1977

alpha-Fetoprotein levels in pregnancies complicated by gastrointestinal abnormalities of the fetus.

alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) levels have been measured in maternal serum and amniotic fluid in a variety of gastrointestinal abnormalities of the fetus. Maternal serum AFP levels were consistently elevated in abdominal wall defects of the fetus after 15 weeks gestation and the amniotic fluid levels were raised in 3 of the 4 patients measured. In atresia of the gastrointestinal tract and diaphragmatic hernia, serum AFP levels were usually normal unless there was an associated neural tube defect or multiple pregnancy, although the majority were not measured between 15 and 26 weeks gestation. If elevated amniotic fluid levels of AFP are used in the decision to terminate pregnancy on the assumption of a probable neural tube defect of the fetus, a proportion of terminations will be performed because of abdominal wall defects of the fetus.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1977

Lung phosphatidylcholine synthesis and cholinephosphotransferase activity in anencephalic rat fetuses with corticosteroid deficiency.

Adrenocortical insufficiency was produced in rat fetuses by surgical decapitation. These animals show low plasma corticosterone levels compared to littermate controls. Lung slices from anencephalic fetuses were found to have reduced incorporation of [14C]choline into phosphatidylcholine, hence diminished choline pathway activity; this abnoramlity was present at 21 days of gestation but not at term. Cholinephosphotransferase (CPT), the terminal catalyst of the choline pathway, also showed diminished activity in lungs of anencephalic fetuses, with a mean of 120 pmol/min/mg protein compared to a control value of 190. Dexamethasone treatment of these animals for 6-12 hr led to enhanced choline incorporation rates. Corticosteroid administration also restored CPT activity and even elevated the enzyme to a mean level (340 pmol/min/mg protein) greater than that found in normal fetuses at 21-22 days of gestation. The early pulmonary biochemical effects of dexamethasone in this model were not accompanied by recognizable ultrastructural changes.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1977

Effects upon the fetus of oxygen administration to the mother. A study in monkey.

Catheters were placed into assorted arteries and veins of 8 anaesthetized pregnant monkeys and their fetuses. Oxygen-sensitive electrodes were also inserted subcutaneously into 3 of the 8 fetuses. Periodic samples of maternal and fetal blood were analyzed for PO2, PCO2 and pH. Oxygen administration to the mothers reliably increased the PO2 of blood taken from the fetal carotid artery and less constantly augmented the PO2 of blood withdrawn from the femoral artery and vein. During 5-6 hours of study the oxygen tension of fetal blood samples of all animals progressively declined. However, the most marked declines in PO2 values at all fetal sites were regularly observed at those times as--or after--the mothers emerged from anaesthesia. At these times also the magnitudes of the increases in fetal blood PO2 brought about by administering oxygen to the mothers diminished markedly and in parallel at all sample sites. The closely similar magnitudes of these various reductions at all fetal sample sties indicate that the basic mechanisms leading to decreased oxygen delivery lie outside the fetuses and are most likely due to decreased maternal blood flow to the uterus because of increased maternal sympathetic stimulation. These reductions in oxygen delivery to the fetus are all regularly reversed by reanasthetizing the mothers. The studies carried out with oxygen-sensitive electrodes demonstrate that administering oxygen to the mothers regularly increases oxygen tension of fetal tissues but after a 50 sec delay.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of ACTH on the transformation of progesterone by the adrenal glands of human fetuses in vitro].

It was shown in vitro that ACTH influenced the progesterone transformation increasing corticosterone production only in those fetuses whose adrenal glands, in the absence of ACTH, transformed progesterone chiefly into hydrocortisone (8--12-week fetuses). But exogenous ACTH failed to influence such transformation of progesterone in 17--24-week fetuses in which the adrenal glands, in the absence of ACTH preparation, produced an equal amount of hydrocortisone and corticosterone. The results obtained and also the data on ACTH content in the hypophysis and the blood of human fetuses at various periods of prenatal development indicated that the changes in progesterone transformation occurring with the advance of fetal age was caused by endogenous ACTH.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1975

The functional state of the thyroid gland of the mother and fetus in the prenatal development of rabbits.

The functional state of the thyroid gland of the mother and fetus was studied in different periods of intrauterine development of rabbits, as well as in newborn rabbits according to the level of protein-bound iodine (PBI) in the blood plasma and thyroid gland tissue. Similar studies were conducted after a thyroidectomy of females on the 10th-12th day of pregnancy in order to demonstrate the possibility of mutual compensation of the hormonal function under pathological conditions. The level of PBI in the blood plasma of the mother clearly increases in the second half of pregnancy and decreases sharply after birth. The content of PBI in the fetal blood plasma increases continuously beginning with the 22nd day of intrauterine development. The level of PBI in the thyroid gland tissue both of the mother and the fetus increases sharply at the end of pregnancy. In fetuses of thyroidectomized females the amount of PBI in the blood plasma and thyroid gland tissue on the 22nd day of pregnancy considerably exceeded that in normal fetuses.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Plasma beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin in the human fetus at delivery: correlation with arterial pH and pO2.

Beta-endorphin-like immunoactivity was measured in the umbilical cord plasma of 45 term human fetuses. Mean concentration was 91 +/- 16 (SEM) pg/ml,an the normal adult level of 30.7 +/- 2.7 pg/ml. This immunoactivity was further characterized in 10 cases by Sephadex G-50 chromatography to separate beta-endorphin from beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH). Mean beta-endorphin and beta-LPH concentrations were 57 +/- 12.8 and 455 +/- 101 pg/ml, respectively. Both were higher (P less than 0.01) than the mean beta-endorphin and beta-LPH concentrations reported in the adult. The mean molar beta-endorphin to beta-LPH ratio was 0.35 in the fetus and 0.36 in the adult. In 17 fetuses whose umbilical arterial and venous concentrations were measured separately, mean beta-endorphin-like immunoactivity was higher in the artery than in the vein. A highly significant negative correlation (r = -0.831; P less than 0.001) was present between umbilical arteiral pH and beta-endorphin-like immunoactivity. A negative correlation (r = -0.611; P less than 0.005) with arterial pO2 was also noted. We conclude that high levels of beta-endorphin-like immunoactivity, composed of both beta-endorphin and beta-LPH, circulate in the human fetus at term, and that hypoxia and secondary acidosis may be major stimuli to the release of these peptides.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[In vitro effect of psychopharmacologic drugs on the embryonic brain tissue of the fetuses of schizophrenic mothers].

The author studied the influence on the adaptation of the nervous tissue explantations from 25 fetuses of schizophrenic mothers and a similar amount of fetuses from normal women (embryonal development--7-12 weeks) during the initial period of explantation in vitro (5-6 days) with 10 psychopharmacological preparations (aminasine, majeptile, stelasine, triphtasine, tesercin, theralen, haloperidol, eglonyl, mellipramin, seduxen). Their final concentration in a nourishing medium was approximately the same as in the blood of schizophrenic patients, treated by phenothiasine preparations. The adaptation of the fetus pervous tissue from schizophrenic mothers differed from the corresponding reaction of fetus brain explantation from normal women. There was a tendency to a higher stability of experimental cultures. However, there were differences depending upon the character of introduced drugs.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1975

[Possibilities for the spread of alpha-fetoprotein and heterologous antibodies in mother and fetus during transplacental carcinogenesis].

The study of distribution of J125 labelled homologous alpha-fetoproteins (AFP) and heterologous antibodies (anti-AFP) in rats indicated some differences in the level of radioactivity of organs and tissues in animals, depending on age, especially in kidneys and large intestine. In normal pregnancy AFP passes through the placenta in both directions, but in rather less relative amounts from the fetus to mother. No labelled AFP was found in the amniotic fluid of fetuses 5 hours after its injection to pregnant mice. Anti-ATP injected in normal pregnant mice failed to pass through the placental barrier to the fetus, and radioactivity 5 hours following the injection was detected neither in fetal tissues nor in the amniotic fluid. After transplacental exposure of fetuses to methyl nitrosurea the labelled AFP was found in the amniotic fluid, while anti-AFP-both in fetal tissues and the amniotic fluid.

Age Factors↗