Conditional Mutation of Hand1 in the Mouse Placenta Disrupts Placental Vascular Development Resulting in Fetal Loss in Both Early and Late Pregnancy

Congenital heart defects (CHD) affect approximately 1% of all live births, and often require complex surgeries at birth. We have previously demonstrated abnormal placental vascularization in human placentas from fetuses diagnosed with CHD. Hand1 has roles in both heart and placental development and is implicated in CHD development. We utilized two conditionally activated Hand1(A126fs/+) murine mutant models to investigate the importance of cell-specific Hand1 on placental development in early (Nkx2-5(Cre)) and late (Cdh5(Cre)) pregnancy. Embryonic lethality occurred in Nkx2-5(Cre)/Hand1(A126fs/+) embryos with marked fetal demise occurring after E10.5 due to a failure in placental labyrinth formation and therefore the inability to switch to hemotrophic nutrition or maintain sufficient oxygen transfer to the fetus. Labyrinthine vessels failed to develop appropriately and vessel density was significantly lower by day E12.5. In late pregnancy, the occurrence of Cdh5(Cre+);Hand1(A126fs/+) fetuses was reduced from 29% at E12.5 to 20% at E18.5 and remaining fetuses exhibited reduced fetal and placental weights, labyrinth vessel density and placenta angiogenic factor mRNA expression. Our results demonstrate for the first time the necessity of Hand1 in both establishment and remodeling of the exchange area beyond early pregnancy and in patterning vascularization of the placental labyrinth crucial for maintaining pregnancy and successful fetal growth.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates the essential role of the Hand1 gene in placental development during early pregnancy, with mutations potentially leading to embryonic lethality and abnormal vascular development. Additionally, in late pregnancy, fetuses with the Cdh5(Cre+);Hand1(A126fs/+) genotype showed reduced fetal and placental weights, as well as decreased vascular density. This indicates the critical role of the Hand1 gene in maintaining pregnancy and fetal growth processes.