An experiment carried out on monkeys allowed scientists to understand what happens in a woman’s body during pregnancy. Several organs are impacted.
A woman’s body goes through many changes during pregnancy. And for the first time, a scientific experiment makes it possible to have a more precise idea of these changes. Indeed, scientists have mapped how a series of organs change their interactions during pregnancy. If the experiment was carried out on macaques, Scientists believe that many of these results also apply to women, their reproductive system being close to that of humans.
Normally, the different body systems “feed” each other of molecular nutrients, called metabolites. And during pregnancy, tissues throughout the body undergo significant changes. For example, the heart increases its pumping volume by up to 40%. As for the thymus, which plays a role in the immune system, “shrinks very quickly” For avoid rejection of the fetus, explains Shyh-Chang Ng, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing at New Scientist. To better understand the effects of metabolites on stem cells, during pregnancy, scientists took 273 tissue samples from 12 pregnant crab-eating macaques.
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What happens to a woman’s body during pregnancy
These samples came from 23 body sites, including the uterus, liver, spinal cord, skin, blood and five regions of the heart. The results showed that when the macaques were not pregnant, their metabolites were shared fairly evenly between different body parts. But the pregnancy led to a “spectacular reprogramming” Exchanges. During the first trimester, for example, the uterus reduces its exchanges with the heart and skeletal muscles, instead “coupling” with the developing placenta.
During the second trimester, the placenta began to send “a whole series of metabolites” towards the heart, ovaries and liver. While the uterus gradually evolved into coupling with the scalp during the third trimester. Also at the end of pregnancy, the skeletal muscles had significant exchanges with the spinal cord. The researchers then developed a “atlas” of 91 metabolites that are constantly changing in the tissues of pregnant macaques. “We have found a treasure trove of small molecules and metabolites that I hope will help spur the search for new therapies,” explains Shyh-Chang Ng.
Passionate about women’s news, Agathe has been deciphering the latest trends for aufeminin since 2022. Her favorite areas? Psychology, nutrition and well-being advice, without forgetting the tips…