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Reproductive endocrinology: maternal cholestasis and offspring metabolic abnormalities

Mina Desai1, Michael G Ross

  • 1David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 West Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90502, USA.

Nature Reviews. Endocrinology
|August 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maternal cholestasis during pregnancy links to increased offspring adiposity and metabolic issues in humans and mice. This highlights the crucial impact of the prenatal environment on adult health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Metabolic health
  • Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)

Background:

  • Maternal cholestasis, a liver disorder during pregnancy, poses risks to both mother and fetus.
  • Emerging evidence suggests prenatal exposures can influence long-term offspring health.
  • Understanding the specific impacts of cholestasis on offspring development is crucial.

Discussion:

  • This research demonstrates a significant association between maternal cholestasis and offspring adiposity.
  • Metabolic abnormalities in offspring are also linked to maternal cholestasis during gestation.
  • Findings were consistent across both human and murine models, strengthening the conclusions.

Key Insights:

  • Maternal cholestasis during pregnancy is a risk factor for offspring developing obesity.
  • Prenatal exposure to cholestasis can lead to metabolic dysregulation in offspring.
  • The in utero environment plays a critical role in determining adult metabolic health.

Outlook:

  • Further research into the mechanisms linking maternal cholestasis to offspring metabolic health is warranted.
  • This study supports the DOHaD hypothesis, emphasizing prenatal influences on adult disease.
  • Interventions targeting maternal health during pregnancy may improve long-term offspring metabolic outcomes.

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