Abstract
High maternal serum estradiol (E(2)) levels in the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with a high incidence of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA). This study aimed to investigate the effect of first-trimester high maternal serum E(2) levels on fetal growth and the underlying mechanisms in multiple pregnancies. Maternal serum E(2) levels of women at 8 weeks of gestation were measured. The expression levels of imprinted genes and DNMT1 were determined by RT-qPCR, and KvDMR1 methylation in embryo tissue, placenta, and newborn cord blood samples was examined by bisulfite sequencing PCR. The effect of E(2) on CDKN1C expression was investigated in HTR8 cells. The incidence of SGA was significantly higher in multiple pregnancies reduced to singleton than that in primary singleton pregnancies (11.4% vs. 2.9%) (P < 0.01) and multiple pregnancies reduced to twins than primary twins (38.5% vs. 27.3%) (P < 0.01). The maternal serum E(2) level at 8 weeks of gestation increased with the number of fetuses and was negatively correlated with offspring birth weight. CDKN1C and DNMT1 expression was significantly upregulated in embryo tissue, placenta, and cord blood from multiple pregnancies. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between CDKN1C mRNA expression and KvDMR1 methylation levels. In HTR8 cells, DNMT1 mediated the estrogen-induced upregulation of CDKN1C, which might contribute to SGA. To minimize the risks of LBW and SGA, our findings suggest that abnormally high maternal serum E(2) levels should be avoided during the first trimester of multiple pregnancies from assisted reproductive technology (ART).