C30F12.4 influences oogenesis, fat metabolism, and lifespan in C. elegans

Reproduction, fat metabolism, and longevity are intertwined regulatory axes; recent studies in C. elegans have provided evidence that these processes are directly coupled. However, the mechanisms by which they are coupled and the reproductive signals modulating fat metabolism and lifespan are poorly understood. Here, we find that an oogenesis-enriched gene, c30f12.4, is specifically expressed and located in germ cells and early embryos; when the gene is knocked out, oogenesis is disrupted and brood size is decreased. In addition to the reproductive phenotype, we find that the loss of c30f12.4 alters fat metabolism, resulting in decreased fat storage and smaller lipid droplets. Meanwhile, c30f12.4 mutant worms display a shortened lifespan. Our results highlight an important role for c30f12.4 in regulating reproduction, fat homeostasis, and aging in C. elegans, which helps us to better understand the relationship between these processes.

A multi-center study to evaluate the dynamic changes of uterine artery and umbilical artery flow in a normal pregnancy and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of uterine artery and umbilical artery in the first, second, and third trimester of normal pregnancy and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP).Methods A multi-center prospective study was conducted on 1098 women with normal singleton pregnancies at the first prenatal visit in the Second West China Hospital of Sichuan University, First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Wuhan Union Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from April 2005 to July 2006, with the average age of (28. 3±3.3). The pulsatility indices (PI),resistance indices (RI) and systolic to diastolic velocity ratios (S/D) of uterine artery and umbilical artery were measured for all subjects in the first (10th -14th gestationa] weeks), second (20th-26th gestational weeks) and third trimester(30th -36th gestational weeks), respectively. In this longitudinal study, women who developed HDP were classified into HDP group, and the rest into normal pregnancy group. Results (1) Among the 1098 pregnant women, 44 developed HDP during the index pregnancy, including 20 gestational hypertension, 15 mild pre-eclampsia and 9 severe pre-eclampsia, giving an incidence of 4.17%,and the rest 1054 were normal until delivery.(2) In the normal pregnancy group, the RI, PI and S/D of uterine artery were decreased with the progress of pregnancy (RI: 0. 64, 0. 57, 0. 50; PI: 1.24, 0. 98,0. 80; S/D: 3.26, 2. 58, 2. 20; P<0.01). However, the above indices showed an increasing trend with the increase of gestations in the HDP group (RI: 0. 55, 0. 67, 0. 64; PI: 1.22, 1.36, 1.20; S/D: 3.18,3.41,3.05; P <0. 01). In the second and third trimester, the RI, PI and S/D of uterine artery in the HDP group were higher than those in the normal pregnancy group (P<0.01). (3) In the normal pregnancy group, the RI, PI and S/D of the umbilical artery decreased from the secondto the third trimester (RI:0. 71 and 0. 58; PI: 1.16 and 0. 87; S/D: 3.58 and 2. 48; P<0.01). However, no significant difference was found in the RI, PI and S/D value of umbilical artery in the second and third trimester between the normal and HDP group (RI:0.71 and 0.63; PI: 1.20 and 0.95; S/D: 3.71 and 2.69; P>0.05,respectively), despite the decreasing trend in the HDP group. Conclusions In uncomplicated pregnancies,the blood flow resistance of uterine artery decreases and the end-diastolic blood flow of uterine artery increases with the progress of pregnancy. However, in pregnant women with HDP, the blood flow resistance of uterine artery increases significantly with the increase of gestations which shows significant difference to that in normal pregnancies. The blood flow resistance of umbilical artery decreases in both normal and HDP pregnant women with the increasing gestational age.