ESPE Abstracts

Background: Delta-Like Homologue 1 (DLK1) is a gene encoding a transmembrane protein, which may also be secreted into the circulation. DLK1 levels are known to rise in maternal serum during late gestation and our genetic studies in the mouse have shown that this DLK1 arises from the conceptus. However, the cell population that secretes DLK1 into the maternal circulation has not been identified. Since DLK1 has been shown to be differentially expressed in intrauterine growth res...

Background: STK11 regulates glucose and lipid metabolism. In adult rats, excessive fat deposition and dysfunctional metabolism are related to low STK11 expression in adipose tissue. It is unknown if low STK11 expression in adipose tissue relates also to catch-up growth and fat deposition after intrauterine growth restriction.Objective and Hypotheses: To assess the expression of STK11 in adipose tissue and its relation ...

Background: Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is characterized by proximal tubular resistance to PTH and, in some disease variants, by Albright osteodystrophy. PHP is caused either by mutations in those regions of GNAS encoding Gsα (PHP1A and PseudoPHP) or by GNAS methylation defects (autosomal dominant (AD) and sporadic (spor) PHP1B). Phenotypic differences in fetal growth, post-natal growth and metabolism are observed in the different PHP types.<p cla...

Background: There is increasing evidence that body composition in early life has both immediate and long-term influence on health. Air-displacement plethysmography creates the opportunity to study the effect of prenatal and early postnatal factors on neonatal body composition. Prenatal maternal factors, such as pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain, might also influence neonatal body composition.Objective and Hypotheses: We hypothesized that newb...

Background: There is increasing recognition that the in utero environment might influence obesity risk.Objective and Hypotheses: We explored the hypothesis that smoking and alcohol consumption in pregnancy are associated with offspring body composition using the Southampton Women’s Survey mother-offspring birth cohort study.Method: At 34 weeks’ gestation, maternal smoking and any alcohol intake in the preceding 1...

Background: Tubular immaturity, responsible for sodium wasting, is critical during the neonatal period, particularly in preterm neonates. This relates to partial renal aldosterone resistance (Martinerie, Ped Res 2009), coincident with low tubular expression of the mineralocorticoid receptor in newborns (Martinerie, Endocrinology 2009).Objective and methods: Our clinical trial (NCT01176162) aimed to assess aldosterone resistance in neona...