title: Molecular patterns of neurodevelopmental preconditioning: a study of the effects of antenatal steroid therapy in a protein-restriction mouse model.
abstract: Introduction. Prenatal programming secondary to maternal protein restriction renders an inherent susceptibility to neural compromise in neonates and any addition of glucocorticosteroids results in further damage. This is an investigation of consequent global gene activity due to effects of antenatal steroid therapy on a protein restriction mouse model. Methods. C57BL/6N pregnant mice were administered control or protein restricted diets and subjected to either 100  μ g/Kg of dexamethasone sodium phosphate with normosaline or normosaline alone during late gestation (E10-E17). Nontreatment groups were also included. Brain samples were collected on embryonic day 17 and analyzed by mRNA microarray analysis. Results. Microarray analyses presented 332 significantly regulated genes. Overall, neurodevelopmental genes were overrepresented and a subset of 8 genes allowed treatment segregation through the hierarchical clustering method. The addition of stress or steroids greatly affected gene regulation through glucocorticoid receptor and stress signaling pathways. Furthermore, differences between dexamethasone-administered treatments implied a harmful effect during conditions of high stress. Microarray analysis was validated using qPCR. Conclusion. The effects of antenatal steroid therapy vary in fetuses according to maternal-fetal factors and environmental stimuli. Defining the key regulatory networks that signal either beneficial or damaging corticosteroid action would result in valuable adjustments to current treatment protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7727-2838
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Velayo
authors.affiliation: International Advanced Research and Education Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Yupeng
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8037-1455
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Rika
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0316-9613
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sugibayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoe
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Funamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Keita
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1076-830X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yaegashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan ; International Advanced Research and Education Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1719-9357
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura