Impact of Advanced Maternal Age on Physiologic Adaptations to Pregnancy in Vervet Monkeys

Context The trend to delay pregnancy in the United States has resulted in the number of advanced maternal age (AMA) pregnancies to also increase. In humans, AMA is associated with a variety of pregnancy-related pathologies such as preeclampsia (PE). While AMA is known to be a factor which contributes to the development of pregnancy-induced diseases, the molecular and cellular mechanisms giving rise to this phenomenon are still very limited. This is due in part to lack of a pre-clinical model which has physiologic relevance to human pregnancy while also allowing control of environmental and genetic variability inherent in human studies. Objective To determine potential physiologic relevance of the vervet/African green monkey ( Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) as a pre-clinical model to study the effects of AMA on adaptations to pregnancy. Design Thirteen age-diverse pregnant vervet monkeys (3-16 y.o.) were utilized to measure third trimester blood pressure (BP), complete blood count, iron measurements and hormone levels. Results Significant associations were observed between third trimester diastolic BP and maternal age. Furthermore, the presence of leukocytosis with enhanced circulating neutrophils was observed in AMA mothers compared to younger mothers. Moreover, we observed a negative relationship between maternal age and estradiol, progesterone and cortisol levels. Finally, offspring born to AMA mothers displayed a postnatal growth retardation phenotype. Conclusions These studies demonstrate physiologic impairment in the adaptation to pregnancy in AMA vervet/African green monkeys. Our data indicate the vervet/African green monkey may serve as a useful pre-clinical model and tool for deciphering pathological mediators of maternal disease in AMA pregnancy.