Pj. Tapanainen et al., MATERNAL HYPOXIA AS A MODEL FOR INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION - EFFECTS ON INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTORS AND THEIR BINDING-PROTEINS, Pediatric research, 36(2), 1994, pp. 152-158
Evidence suggests that IGF and their binding proteins play a role in f
etal growth, but more knowledge concerning their regulation is essenti
al. We examined the expression of IGF and their binding proteins in ex
perimental intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) rat fetuses of hypoxic
dams (13-14% oxygen, d 14-21 of gestation). The mean body weight of th
e fetuses (d 21 of gestation, n = 72) of the six hypoxic dams was 24%
lower (p < 0.0001) than the mean weight of the fetuses of six control
dams (n = 82). Wet liver weights demonstrated a 20% decrease (p < 0.00
01) and placentas a 10% decrease (p < 0.01) compared with control fetu
ses. The mean serum concentrations of immunoreactive IGF-I in both gro
ups were low but did not differ significantly. The mean serum concentr
ations of immunoreactive IGF-II, however, were higher in IUGR fetuses.
As assessed by Northern blot analysis, there was a 4-fold increase in
insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) mRNA expressio
n in the livers of the IUGR fetuses compared with controls. IGFBP-2 mR
NA expression was 6-fold increased in IUGR fetal livers. No difference
was found in IGFBP-4 mRNA. An increase in IGFBP-1, -2, and -4 concent
rations could be seen by Western ligand blotting in the serum of growt
h-retarded fetuses compared with control fetuses. This finding was ver
ified by immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies, which demonstra
ted increases in IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2. Our results validate the use of
maternal hypoxia as an experimental model of intrauterine growth retar
dation and indicate that increased IGFBP-1 and -2 expression may be of
importance in the etiology of fetal growth retardation caused by mate
rnal hypoxia.