Influence of nutrients on islet development and function

    Project: Research project

    Grant Details

    Description

    DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
    increases the relative risk for perinatal morbidity and mortality, and
    epidemiological evidence suggests a predisposition for adult onset diseases
    related to fetal metabolic abnormalities. Perturbations in pancreatic
    development due to IUGR may lead to an inappropriate beta cell ontogeny
    resulting in a population of beta cells that are unable to cope with metabolic
    stress. The long-term goal of this project is to understand mechanisms
    underlying abnormal pancreatic development and/or function leading to reduced
    insulin production/secretion in IUGR infants. The specific aims are designed to
    define critical periods of pancreatic endocrine development and growth and
    determine the effects on islet function in a sheep model of IUGR resulting from
    environmentally induced (by moderate hyperthermia) placental insufficiency
    (PI). The onset of fetal hypoglycemia and hypoaminoacidemia will be determined
    and pancreatic development and function examined. Metabolic studies will be
    conducted during gestation in the PI-IUGR fetus using in vivo and in vitro
    physiological techniques to assess beta cell function. Additionally, morphology
    of developing pancreas (islets) will be examined to identify changes occurring
    in cellular composition and to identify specific developmental mechanisms
    involved in insulin secretion. These studies are crucial for determining how
    IUGR leads to abnormal pancreatic development and decreased insulin secretion
    capacity that may potentially contribute to pathology in later life.
    StatusActive
    Effective start/end date9/1/01 → …

    Funding

    • National Institutes of Health: $44,212.00
    • National Institutes of Health: $34,832.00

    ASJC

    • Medicine(all)

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