A multi-tissue metabolome atlas of primate pregnancy. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38306985/)

These scientists wanted to understand how pregnancy affects the body of female monkeys. They studied a type of monkey called cynomolgus monkeys and collected samples from 23 different parts of the mother monkey's body during pregnancy. They analyzed these samples to see how the metabolism, which is the way the body uses and produces energy, changed during pregnancy.

The scientists found that as the pregnancy progressed, the way different parts of the body worked together changed. They also discovered that certain important pathways in the body's metabolism, such as the ones involved in making hormones, breaking down fats, and processing a type of fat called arachidonic acid, were affected.

By studying these changes in the monkey's body, the scientists identified 91 substances that consistently changed during pregnancy in all 23 tissues they studied. They then tested the roles of these substances in human cells and samples from patients. They found that two of these substances, called corticosterone and palmitoyl-carnitine, played important roles in the development of the placenta and the growth of cells in different tissues of the mother's body. This has implications for conditions like preeclampsia, diabetes, heart enlargement, and the healing of muscles and liver.

The scientists also discovered that when there was not enough corticosterone, it caused inflammation similar to what happens in preeclampsia. This suggests that the information they gathered could be useful in medical treatments for pregnant women.

Overall, the scientists created a detailed map of how the body's metabolism changes during pregnancy in different parts of the body. This map can help us understand how the body works during pregnancy and how it affects the health of the mother.

Yu D., Wan H., Tong C., Guang L., Chen G., Su J., Zhang L., Wang Y., Xiao Z., Zhai J., Yan L., Ma W., Liang K., Liu T., Wang Y., Peng Z., Luo L., Yu R., Li W., Qi H., Wang H., Shyh-Chang N. A multi-tissue metabolome atlas of primate pregnancy. Cell. 2024 Feb 1;187(3):764-781.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.043.