THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF DIETARY PALMITOLEATE SUPPLEMENTATION TO MITIGATE MATERNAL OXYCODONE-INDUCED PLACENTA AND FETAL BRAIN DAMAGE     

Study Overview:  This project aims to determine that maternal in utero oxycodone induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis to the placenta and fetal brain. The main project question is if palmitoleate can protect against maternal in utero oxycodone exposure-induced inflammation, ER stress, and apoptosis in the placenta and rat fetal brain. Our long-term objective of this pilot grant application is threefold: 1) to elucidate the mechanism of maternal oxycodone exposure to the placenta and fetal brain injury is via the activation of stress response and apoptosis, 2) to identify molecular regulators controlling the crosstalk at placenta and fetal brain interface and 3) to test the therapeutic efficacy of dietary palmitoleate can alleviate in utero oxy-induced placental and fetal deficits that could further be developed as potential nutrient therapeutics to treat fetal brain damage and ensuing sequalae after birth. The long-term goal of my research program is to develop a dietary nutrient approach to mitigate fetal brain, fetal liver and placental injury that occurs during maternal opioid exposure and/or maternal obesity.

Biography: Dr. Sathish Kumar Natarajan holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in Chennai, India. He is broadly interested in biochemistry, liver function and disease, maternal health research, and health care. He is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.