Endocrine Abstracts

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) defines a fetus which does not achieve its intrauterine growth potential. FGR is linked to placental dysfunction and hypoxia and is associated with a high risk of stillbirth, neonatal death and long-term complications; there are no treatments. Estrogen related receptor γ (ERRγ) is a nuclear receptor that is regulated by hypoxia in other systems; it is expressed in the placenta, thus we propose that it may be an important regulator of hy...

IGF1 plays a central role in placental growth. IGF delivered from maternal circulation binds to the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) in syncytium resulting in the activation of Akt; inhibition of this pathway affects cytotrophoblast turnover. However, the route(s) by which IGF1 enters placenta and how its signal is delivered into the two trophoblast compartments is unknown. We have utilised quantum dots (QDs) to deliver/track IGF1 binding and internalisation in first trimester placenta (...