Researchers from University College describe findings in obesity and diabetes genetics
2009 JUN 29 - (NewsRx.com) -- Data detailed in 'Fetal cardiac effects of maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy' have been presented. "Maternal diabetes mellitus is associated with increased teratogenesis, which can occur in pregestational type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Cardiac defects and with neural tube defects are the most common malformations observed in fetuses of pregestational diabetic mothers," investigators in Dublin, Ireland report. "The exact mechanism by which diabetes exerts its teratogenic effects and induces embryonic malformations is unclear. Whereas the sequelae of maternal pregestational diabetes, such as modulating insulin levels, altered fat levels, and increased reactive oxygen species, may play a role in fetal damage during diabetic pregnancy, hyperglycemia is thought to be the primary teratogen, causing particularly adverse effects on cardiovascular development. Fetal cardiac defects are associated with raised maternal glycosylated hemoglobin levels and are up to five times more likely in infants of mothers with pregestational diabetes compared with those without diabetes. The resulting anomalies are varied and include transposition of the great arteries, mitral and pulmonary atresia, double outlet of the right ventricle, tetralogy of Fallot, and fetal cardiomyopathy.A wide variety of rodent models have been used to study diabetic teratogenesis. Both genetic and chemically induced models of type 1 and 2 diabetes have been used to examine the effects of hyperglycemia on fetal development. Factors such as genetic background as well as confounding variables such as obesity appear to influence the severity of fetal abnormalities in mice," wrote N. Corrigan and colleagues, University College. The researchers concluded: "In this review, we will summarize recent data on fetal cardiac effects from human pregestational diabetic mothers, as well as the most relevant findings in rodent models of diabetic cardiac teratogenesis." Corrigan and colleagues published their study in Birth Defects Research Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology (Fetal cardiac effects of maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy. Birth Defects Research Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 2009;85(6):523-30). For additional information, contact N. Corrigan, UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College, Dublin 2, Ireland. The publisher of the journal Birth Defects Research Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing Inc., 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA. Keywords: Ireland, Dublin, Obesity and Diabetes Genetics, Cardiology, Cardiovascular, Endocrinology, Hyperglycemia, Neural Tube Defects, Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, Obesity and Diabetes, Pediatrics, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. This article was prepared by Cardiovascular Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Cardiovascular Week via NewsRx.com.
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