# Idaho INBRE Women's health: contribution of mammary mitochondrial dysfunction to poor milk production in diabetic mothers

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO · 2021 · $272,427

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This INBRE administrative supplement expands the capacity of Idaho to conduct women’s health research.
This proposed research is within the scope of the parent INBRE award #P20 GM103408. It fits within the broad
and inclusive Idaho INBRE scientific theme of ‘cell signaling’, develops investigator research capacity, and
provides research opportunities to capable students. The study focuses on poor maternal lactation
performance that often accompanies diabetes mellitus. This metabolic disease occurs in 6-9% of pregnancies
in the U.S and disproportionately affects rural populations and racial and ethnic minorities, which make up
roughly 20% of Idaho’s population. The project hypothesis is that diabetes downregulates key genes that
reduce mammary gland proteins involved in milk synthesis and affects mitochondrial biogenesis and
respiration. Mitochondrial changes can lead to impaired oxidative metabolism, oxidative stress, and
consequently poor lactation performance. The fundamental knowledge gained from the proposed project may
lead to effective pharmacotherapeutic strategies to improve clinical outcomes for mothers and infants.
Worldwide, breastfeeding rates continue to lag behind American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health
Organization targets. Low breastfeeding rates are a public health concern, with consequences for both infant
and maternal health. A delay in the onset of milk production and low milk supply often occur with gestational,
type 1, and type 2 diabetes. It is unclear how maternal diabetes impairs lactation performance; however
emerging evidence points to mitochondrial dysfunction as a likely driver of these effects. Mitochondrial
dysfunction and consequent oxidative stress in multiple tissues have been linked to diabetes pathology.
Further, optimal mitochondrial function enables provisioning of needed energy and substrates for milk
synthesis. The hypothesis will be tested in two specific aims. The first aim will identify structural and functional
changes in mammary mitochondria associated with diabetes. Experiments will use a rat model of gestational
diabetes compared to age-matched control rats. Milk volume and composition will be analyzed as metrics of
lactation performance. Disparities in mitochondrial morphology and density will be imaged by electron
microscopy. Differences in mitochondrial function will be measured by respiration and oxidative stress
differences in mammary tissues. The second aim will investigate the molecular pathways underlying adverse
effects of gestational diabetes on lactation performance. Metabolic disparities will be identified by quantitative
RT-PCR and label-free shotgun proteomics. This study will increase the number of students training in
women’s health-related biomedical sciences and provide preliminary data for an R01 proposal. The long-term
goal will be to develop targeted interventions for poor lactation to improve infant and maternal health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10379717
- **Project number:** 3P20GM103408-21S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
- **Principal Investigator:** Carolyn Hovde Bohach
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $272,427
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2001-09-30 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10379717

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10379717, Idaho INBRE Women's health: contribution of mammary mitochondrial dysfunction to poor milk production in diabetic mothers (3P20GM103408-21S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10379717. Licensed CC0.

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