title: Increased renal apoptosis and reduced renin-angiotensin system in fetal growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to characterize changes in apoptosis and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in fetal growth restriction (FGR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetuses were collected from patients who visited our hospital to either terminate or abort their pregnancy. Kidneys of fetuses which suffered with FGR, (n=11) at gestational age of 33.4±0.5 weeks and those from non-FGR (n=12) at gestational age of 34.3±0.9 weeks were collected. TUNEL, Bax and Bcl-2 staining were examined. The number of nephrons was also counted. Both protein and mRNA levels of renin and angiotensinogen were analyzed. Ultrasound was applied to measure fetus parameters including biparietal diameter, head circumference, circumference of abdomen, and femur length.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of nephrons was positively correlated with fetal weight at termination. Kidneys in the FGR group presented more apoptotic cells than those in the non-FGR group. Renin and angiotensinogen both decreased in the FGR group. Ultrasound revealed that biparietal diameter, abdomen circumference, femur length, and birth weight were all reduced in the FGR group compared with the non-FGR group. Kidney size was also restricted in the FGR group as indicated by ultrasound.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal apoptosis might contribute to the reduction of nephrons, and ultrasound plays a vital role in early diagnosis of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHAD).
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, China.
authors.forename: Yan P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, China chenshutj@126.com.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, China.
authors.forename: Zhi K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, China.
authors.forename: Hong Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000808:Angiotensinogen; D012083:Renin
keywords: Kidney disease; angiotensinogen; clinic analysis; fetal growth restriction; hormone; molecular; renin