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Effect of maternal sleep on embryonic development
Alexander Vietheer1,2, Torvid Kiserud3,4, Øystein Ariansen Haaland5
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 72, 5053, Bergen, Norway. alexander.vietheer@uib.no.
Insights
Maternal sleep duration before pregnancy impacts early embryonic development, specifically yolk sac size and crown-rump length in male fetuses at 7 weeks. This suggests a sex- and time-dependent adaptation to sleep-related intrauterine conditions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Prenatal health
- Maternal-fetal medicine
Background:
- The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) paradigm highlights factors influencing intrauterine development.
- Sleep is a crucial health factor with significant individual variability, yet its role in early prenatal development is not well understood.
- The embryonic yolk sac plays vital roles in nutrition, growth, hematopoiesis, and fetal programming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of maternal prepregnancy sleep duration on early embryonic development.
- To assess the association between sleep duration and fetal crown-rump length (CRL) and yolk sac size.
- To explore potential sex- and time-dependent effects on embryonic development related to maternal sleep.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, longitudinal observational study involving 190 healthy women recruited before conception.
- Maternal prepregnancy sleep duration was measured using actigraphy.
- Fetal crown-rump length (CRL) and yolk sac size were assessed via ultrasound at 7 and 10 weeks of gestation.
Main Results:
- Prepregnancy sleep duration was associated with yolk sac diameter and CRL in male fetuses at 7 weeks gestation.
- Increased sleep duration correlated with decreased yolk sac diameter (0.22 mm·h⁻¹d⁻¹, P<0.01) and increased CRL (0.92 mm·h⁻¹d⁻¹, P=0.03).
- No significant associations were observed at 10 weeks gestation or in female fetuses.
Conclusions:
- Maternal sleep duration may influence early embryonic development in a sex- and time-dependent manner.
- Findings suggest embryonic adaptation to sleep-generated differences in the intrauterine environment during normal pregnancies.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking maternal sleep to embryonic development.
Abstract:
The concept of developmental origin of health and disease has ignited a search for mechanisms and health factors influencing normal intrauterine development. Sleep is a basic health factor with substantial individual variation, but its implication for early prenatal development remains unclear. During the embryonic period, the yolk sac is involved in embryonic nutrition, growth, hematopoiesis, and likely in fetal programming. Maternal body measures seem to influence its size in human female embryos. In this prospective, longitudinal observational study of 190 healthy women recruited before natural conception, we assessed the effect of prepregnant sleep duration (actigraphy) on the fetal crown-rump-length (CRL) and yolk sac size (ultrasound). All women gave birth to a live child. The prepregnancy daily sleep duration had an effect on the male yolk sac and CRL at the earliest measurement only (7 weeks). I.e., the yolk sac diameter decreased with increasing sleep duration (0.22 mm·h-1d-1, 95%CI [0.35-0.09], P < 0.01), and CRL increased (0.92 mm·h-1d-1, 95%CI [1.77-0.08], P = 0.03). Since there was no association at the second measurement (10 weeks), and in the group of female fetuses at any measure point, we suggest a sex- and time-dependent embryonic adaptation to sleep generated differences in the intrauterine environment in normal pregnancies.
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