The roles of PAPP-A2 and IGF signaling in reproduction

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Reproduction requires the coordination of several physiological systems and appropriate responses to diverse challenges. In placental mammals, the placenta is crucial for supplying the fetus with nutrients and oxygen during gestation, after which offspring nutrition depends on lactation, which has profound but transient effects on the maternal skeleton. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is required for the development and function of the placenta, and is likely involved in the changes in the maternal skeleton that take place during lactation. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A2 (PAPP-A2) is a poorly understood protein that may be important in regulating IGF levels during reproduction. The objectives of my research are to understand how the placenta responds to maternal and/or developmental challenges to achieve a successful outcome, how the maternal skeleton adjusts to pregnancy and lactation and recovers during weaning, and how these placental and skeletal adjustments affect the future health of the offspring and mother. Over the next five years, the proposed research will investigate: