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Aim: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) can lead to short‐term and long‐term impairments in the fetus. The placenta functions as an exchanger for substance transport, playing a critical role in fetal growth. However, the mechanism from the placental standpoint is still not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms in the placenta that mediated the development of FGR and sex differences. Methods: We analyzed the gene expression profiles of GSE100415 containing specific normotensive FGR placental samples and GSE114691 with canonical samples using three different methods, differentially expressed gene analysis, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis. Gene enrichment was performed, including the gene ontology and pathway from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. The important process was then validated in pregnant Wistar rats subcutaneously administered dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg/d) or saline from gestation Day 9 to 21. Results: Our results revealed little difference between the comparison of normal and normotensive FGR placental samples but confirmed the sex difference. Further analyses of the canonical samples identified the occurrence of vascular dysfunction, which was validated by the calculation of the vascular lumen area, showing that the vascular lumen in the FGR group was more than in the control. We also discovered 17 significantly expressed genes from the involved eigengenes. Conclusion: Our study provides an important theoretical and experimental basis to reevaluate the development of FGR from the placental standpoint and suggests a series of biomarkers for future clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kernels of two carotenoid-rich cultivars, sweet corn Jingtian 5 and field com Suyu 29, were compared in terms of carotenoid composition during com kernel development. The results showed that eight principal carotenoids were characterized by HPLC with diode array detection and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry with a C30 column. During kernel development, there was a similar trend in the change of total carotenoids for both com cultivars, and the variation of individual carotenoids was also somewhat similar; violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, α-cryptoxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin contents had upward trends, whereas neoxanthin content declined all the time, and α-carotene and β-carotene had no significant changes. However, the highest levels of the major carotenoids lutein (41.61 μg/g, dry weight) and zeaxanthin (39.59 μg/g, dry weight) obtained in field corn Suyu 29 during the milk stage were higher than those in sweet corn Jingtian 5, whereas the other individual carotenoid levels were significantly lower. Compared with the grain color, highly significant positive correlations were observed between zeaxanthin, lutein, and violaxanthin contents and deeper yellow/orange coloration indicators for field com Suyu 29, but these relationships were weak for sweet com Jingtian 5. Potential genetic variation might exist for carotenoid accumulation in sweet and field corn kernels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]