Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: In Utero Sources of Skeletal Variation: the Role of Maternal Prenatal Stress

骨骼变异是遗传和非遗传因素共同作用的结果。一些非遗传因素已经并将继续进行研究，包括机械负荷，饮食和衰老。然而，影响早期骨骼发育的因素，特别是产前，没有得到太多的关注。本研究探讨母亲在怀孕期间的压力作为一个非遗传因素，可能会影响胎儿骨形成和生长，并在成年后观察到的骨骼变异，该研究假设，诱导压力在怀孕期间有一个显着的和负面的影响，对骨骼发育的后代，即使后代？的环境是无压力的。对于对照试验，妊娠大鼠将在妊娠期间的不同时间接受制动应激。后代将在出生后发育的特定阶段处死。骨质量的测量将采取股骨组织切片，以测试压力和非压力mothers.This项目的后代之间的差异研究不足的非遗传因素，可以影响产前骨骼发育，母亲的压力。骨骼发育的这一阶段至关重要，因为任何结构或生化损害都可能是不可逆的。模型生物，大鼠，通常用于骨发育研究。因此，本研究的结果将很容易与其他研究进行比较。智力优势：本项目将有助于澄清一些影响骨质量和微观结构的非遗传因素。鉴于产前压力可能对骨骼表型产生潜在的重大影响，并且大鼠是一个既定的模型，本研究的影响具有广泛的科学和社会意义。她是家里第一个上大学的。该项目将促进国际科学培训和代表性不足群体的一名妇女的教育。

Skeletal variation results from both genetic and non-genetic factors. Some of the non-genetic factors that have been, and continue to be studied include mechanical loading, diet and aging. However, factors that influence early skeletal development, especially prenatally, have not received much attention. This project investigates maternal stress during pregnancy as a nongenetic factor that may affect fetal bone formation and growth, and later lead to skeletal variation observed in adults.The study hypothesizes that induced stress during pregnancy has a significant and negative impact on the skeletal development of offspring, even though the offspring?s environment is stress-free. For a controlled test, pregnant rats will be subjected to immobilization stress at various times during gestation. The offspring will be sacrificed at specific stages of post-natal development. Measurements of bone quality will be taken from femoral histological sections to test for differences between the offspring from stressed and un-stressed mothers.This project investigates an understudied non-genetic factor that can impact prenatal skeletal development, maternal stress. This stage in skeletal development is critical because any structural or biochemical compromise may be irreversible. The model organism, the rat, is commonly used in bone developmental research. Therefore, results from this research will be readily comparable to other studies.Intellectual Merit: This project will help to clarify some of the non-genetic factors that influence bone quality and microstructure. Given the potentially significant impact that prenatal stress can have on skeletal phenotypes, and that rats are an established model, implications from this research are of broad scientific and social relevance.Broader Impacts: This research is the doctoral dissertation project of an African woman from Kenya. She is the first in her family to attend college. This project will promote international science training and the education of a woman from an underrepresented group.