Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

A High-content In Vitro Pancreatic Islet β-cell Replication Discovery Platform
09:35

A High-content In Vitro Pancreatic Islet β-cell Replication Discovery Platform

Published on: July 16, 2016

Hyperglycemia slows embryonic growth and suppresses cell cycle via cyclin D1 and p21

Devon E Scott-Drechsel1, Sandra Rugonyi, Daniel L Marks

  • 1Biomedical Engineering Department, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Diabetes
|November 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

High blood sugar during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of fetal heart defects. This study shows hyperglycemia in chick embryos slows cell growth, potentially causing these developmental issues.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular science

Background:

  • Diabetes in pregnancy elevates fetal risk for cardiac malformations due to hyperglycemia and osmotic stress.
  • Understanding the mechanisms linking maternal hyperglycemia to embryonic heart development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of pulsed and sustained hyperglycemia on early heart development in chick embryos.
  • To identify cellular and molecular changes associated with hyperglycemia-induced developmental delays.

Main Methods:

  • Two models of hyperglycemia were used: pulsed (daily glucose) and sustained (single yolk injection).
  • Embryo size, mortality, and development were assessed.
  • Gene expression of glucose transporter GLUT1 and cell cycle regulators (p21, cyclin D1) were analyzed.
  • Cell proliferation in the heart outflow tract was quantified.

Main Results:

  • Both hyperglycemia models reduced embryo size, increased mortality, and delayed development.
  • Sustained hyperglycemia decreased GLUT1 expression and led to hyperosmolarity.
  • Reduced proliferation of myocardial and endocardial cells was observed in the sustained model.
  • Sustained hyperglycemia increased the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and decreased the promoter cyclin D1.

Conclusions:

  • Hyperglycemia-induced developmental delays are linked to slowed cell cycle progression and reduced cellular proliferation.
  • These cellular changes may underlie the cardiac defects observed in fetuses of diabetic mothers.
  • The study provides insights into the mechanisms of diabetic embryopathy affecting heart development.

More Related Videos

Monitoring Blood Glucose in Mouse Offspring After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection06:11

Monitoring Blood Glucose in Mouse Offspring After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Published on: May 17, 2024

Rapid Detection of Neurodevelopmental Phenotypes in Human Neural Precursor Cells (NPCs)10:47

Rapid Detection of Neurodevelopmental Phenotypes in Human Neural Precursor Cells (NPCs)

Published on: March 2, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose01:16

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Insulin is released by beta cells of the pancreas when blood glucose levels are high. It facilitates glucose absorption and utilization in insulin-dependent cells with insulin receptors on their plasma membranes. Insulin promotes glucose uptake by increasing the number of glucose transport proteins in the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter the cell. As a result, glucose utilization and ATP production are enhanced.
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...