Effects of High Altitude on AMPK Activation

February 10, 2026 updated by: University of Colorado, Denver

Effects of High Altitude on 5' Adenosine Monophosphate-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Activation and Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ) Regulation

Pregnancy elicits adaptive changes in uteroplacental blood flow, which are altered at high altitude and may contribute to the observed 3-fold increase in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PreE). The investigators propose to collect myometrial, cord blood, and placental tissue samples from women at high altitude (Summit County) and low altitude (Denver) in Colorado in order to determine if residence at altitude during pregnancy changes the vasoreactivity of myometrial arteries (MA). If altered MA vasoreactivity is found, further studies may be able to link these changes to the increased rates of PreE and IUGR at altitude and contribute to the understanding of these two disorders.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The Investigators will determine if residence at altitude during pregnancy changes the vasoreactivity of myometrial arteries. This will be novel information regarding pregnancy at altitude and of significance not just for women and families in Colorado, but also at high-altitude locations throughout the world. If altered MA vasoreactivity is found, further studies may be able to link these changes to the increased rates of PreE and IUGR at altitude and contribute to the understanding of these two disorders.

The Investigators will also determine whether the chronic hypoxia of high altitude alters DNA methylation patterns and expression of key genes involved in metabolic homeostasis in maternal, placental and fetal cells and, in turn, the relationship of these changes to fetal growth and maternal well-being.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

84

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Colorado
      • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
        • Recruiting
        • University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Lorna Moore, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Anna Euser, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Colleen Julian, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Women scheduled for cesarean delivery at University of Colorado Hospital (Denver, 1600 m) and St. Anthony's Summit Medical Center (Summit County, 3000 m) will be identified. In order to avoid any possible confounding effects of labor or prematurity, only women with elective cesarean deliveries will be approached for enrollment (cesarean delivery at a prescheduled time without any labor, typically at 39 weeks gestation).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women scheduled for cesarean delivery at University of Colorado Hospital (Denver, 1600 m) and St. Anthony's Summit Medical Center (Summit County, 3000 m)
  • Cesarean delivery at a prescheduled time without any labor, typically at 39 weeks gestation

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women will be excluded if there are co-existing medical diagnoses that are known to affect vascular parameters (i.e., diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes, any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, or a current smoker).
  • Women with multiple gestations and preterm deliveries will also be excluded.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Control
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
High Altitude (3000 m)
Collection of myometrial, cord blood, and placental tissue samples from women at high altitude (Summit County) and low altitude (Denver) in Colorado in order to determine if residence at altitude during pregnancy changes the vasoreactivity of myometrial arteries (MA).
Procedure: Collection of myometrial, cord blood, and placental tissue samples
We propose to collect myometrial, cord blood, and placental tissue samples from women at high altitude (Summit County) and low altitude (Denver) in Colorado in order to determine if residence at altitude during pregnancy changes the vasoreactivity of myometrial arteries (MA).
Low Altitude (1600 m)
Collection of myometrial, cord blood, and placental tissue samples from women at high altitude (Summit County) and low altitude (Denver) in Colorado in order to determine if residence at altitude during pregnancy changes the vasoreactivity of myometrial arteries (MA).
Procedure: Collection of myometrial, cord blood, and placental tissue samples
We propose to collect myometrial, cord blood, and placental tissue samples from women at high altitude (Summit County) and low altitude (Denver) in Colorado in order to determine if residence at altitude during pregnancy changes the vasoreactivity of myometrial arteries (MA).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in Myometrial artery dimensions
Time Frame: Up to 1 year
Myometrial artery dimensions as quantified by immunohistochemistry or other staining techniques, and results of studies of isolated myometrial artery studies in which vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses to pharmacological agonists are measured using absolute values and the percent maximal contraction to potassium chloride.
Up to 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Colorado, Denver

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lorna Moore, PhD, University of Colorado, Denver

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 3, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 12, 2015

First Posted (Estimated)

March 18, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 10, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 14-2178

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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