Transplacental Transfer of Oxytocin and Its Impact on Neonatal Cord Blood and In Vitro Retinal Cell Activity

Claudette O. Adegboro; Wenxiang Luo; Meha Kabra; Ryan M. McAdams; Nathaniel W. York; Ruwandi I. Wijenayake; Kiana M. Suchla; De-Ann M. Pillers; Bikash R. Pattnaik

doi:10.3390/cells13201735

Cells (Oct 2024)

Transplacental Transfer of Oxytocin and Its Impact on Neonatal Cord Blood and In Vitro Retinal Cell Activity

Claudette O. Adegboro,
Wenxiang Luo,
Meha Kabra,
Ryan M. McAdams,
Nathaniel W. York,
Ruwandi I. Wijenayake,
Kiana M. Suchla,
De-Ann M. Pillers,
Bikash R. Pattnaik

Affiliations

Claudette O. Adegboro: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1300 University Avenue, SMI 112, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Wenxiang Luo: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
Meha Kabra: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1300 University Avenue, SMI 112, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Ryan M. McAdams: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1300 University Avenue, SMI 112, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Nathaniel W. York: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1300 University Avenue, SMI 112, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Ruwandi I. Wijenayake: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1300 University Avenue, SMI 112, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Kiana M. Suchla: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1300 University Avenue, SMI 112, Madison, WI 53706, USA
De-Ann M. Pillers: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
Bikash R. Pattnaik: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1300 University Avenue, SMI 112, Madison, WI 53706, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13201735
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 20
p. 1735

Abstract

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The development of fetal organs can be impacted by systemic changes in maternal circulation, with the placenta playing a pivotal role in maintaining pregnancy homeostasis and nutrient exchange. In clinical obstetrics, oxytocin (OXT) is commonly used to induce labor. To explore the potential role of OXT in the placental homeostasis of OXT, we compared OXT levels in neonatal cord blood among neonates (23–42 weeks gestation) whose mothers either received prenatal OXT or experienced spontaneous labor. Our previous research revealed that the oxytocin receptor (OXTR), essential in forming the blood–retina barrier, is expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We hypothesized that perinatal OXT administration might influence the development of the neural retina and its vasculature, offering therapeutic potential for retinal diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Plasma OXT levels were measured using a commercial OXT ELISA kit. Human fetal RPE (hfRPE) cells treated with OXT (10 µM) were assessed for gene expression via RNA sequencing, revealing 14 downregulated and 32 upregulated genes. To validate these differentially expressed genes (DEGs), hfRPE cells were exposed to OXT (0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10 µM) for 12 h, followed by RNA analysis via real-time PCR. Functional, enrichment, and network analyses (Gene Ontology term, FunRich, Cytoscape) were performed to predict the affected pathways. This translational study suggests that OXT likely crosses the placenta, altering fetal OXT concentrations. RNA sequencing identified 46 DEGs involved in vital metabolic and signaling pathways and critical cellular components. Our results indicate that the perinatal administration of OXT may affect neural retina and retinal vessel development, making OXT a potential therapeutic option for developmental eye diseases, including ROP.

Published in Cells

ISSN: 2073-4409 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Cytology
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells

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