Linked Life Data

21303938

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/21303938

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2011-3-24
pubmed:abstractText
Maternal glucocorticoids are critical for fetal development, but overexpression can be deleterious. Previously we established a mouse line deficient in melanocortin receptor 2 (MC2R). MC2R(-/-) mice have undetectable levels of corticosterone despite high levels of ACTH and defects resembling those in patients with familial glucocorticoid deficiency. Here we analyzed the role of glucocorticoids in pregnancy, parturition, lactation, and nurturing in MC2R(-/-) mice. MC2R(-/-) mice were fertile and produced normal litters when crossed with MC2R(+/+) mice. However, MC2R(-/-) females crossed with MC2R(-/-) males had no live births, and approximately 20% of the embryos at d 18.5 of pregnancy were of normal body size but were dead when born. MC2R(-/-) pregnant females crossed with MC2R(+/+) males had detectable serum corticosterone levels, suggesting the transplacental passage of corticosterone from fetus to mother. MC2R(+/-) pups delivered from MC2R(-/-) females crossed with MC2R(+/+) males mice thrived poorly with MC2R(-/-) mothers but grew to adulthood when transferred to foster mothers after birth, suggesting that MC2R(-/-) females are poor mothers or cannot nurse. MC2R(-/-) females had normal alveoli, but penetration of mammary epithelium into fat pads and expression of milk proteins were reduced. Myoepithelial cells, which force milk out of the alveoli, were fully developed and differentiated. Pup retrieval behavior was normal in MC2R(-/-) mice. Exogenous corticosterone rescued expression of milk proteins in MC2R(-/-) mothers, and the pups of treated mothers grew to adulthood. Our results reveal the importance of glucocorticoids for fetal survival late in pregnancy, mammary gland development, and milk protein gene expression.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
1945-7170
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
152
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1652-60
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2011
pubmed:articleTitle
The role of glucocorticoids in pregnancy, parturition, lactation, and nurturing in melanocortin receptor 2-deficient mice.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Immunology and Pathology, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan. dchida@ri.ncgm.go.jp
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't