Recent years have seen an increased interest in the role of oxidative stress (OS) in
pregnancy. Pregnancy inherently heightens susceptibility to OS, a condition fueled by a …

A woman who is healthy at the time of conception is more likely to have a successful
pregnancy and a healthy child. We reviewed published evidence and present new data from …

Animals transmit not only DNA but also other molecules, such as RNA, proteins and
metabolites, to their progeny via gametes. It is currently unclear to what extent these …

Micronutrients, vitamins and minerals accessible from the diet, are essential for biologic
activity. Micronutrient status varies widely throughout pregnancy and across populations …

At fertilization, the gametes endow the embryo with a genomic blueprint, the integrity of
which is affected by the age and environmental exposures of both parents. Recent studies …

Zinc is a critical component in a number of conserved processes that regulate female germ
cell growth, fertility, and pregnancy. During follicle development, a sufficient intracellular …

Adequate zinc stores in the body are extremely important during periods of accelerated
growth. However, zinc deficiency is common in develo** countries and low maternal …

Maternal over-nutrition during pregnancy is a risk factor for pregnancy complications and is
increasingly associated with adverse childhood outcomes such as increased propensity for …

The trace element zinc (Zn) binds to over ten percent of proteins in eukaryotic cells. Zn
flexible chemistry allows it to regulate the activity of hundreds of enzymes and influence …

During fertilization or chemically-induced egg activation, the mouse egg releases billions of
zinc atoms in brief bursts known as 'zinc sparks.'The zona pellucida (ZP), a glycoprotein …