Biomaterial Database

Effects of fetal decapitation upon porcine placental metabolism. Evidence for a fetal influence in placental metabolism. 1985

T G Ramsay, and J A Sheahan, and G J Hausman, and R J Martin

This experiment was performed to determine if the fetus can influence its placental metabolism. Fetal pigs were decapitated at 45 days of gestation and their placentas compared at 110 days to within litter controls. No histological or histochemical differences were observed. Glycogen levels were elevated in the fetal placenta of decapitated pigs by 107%. Fatty acid synthesis was increased in the fetal placenta of decapitated animals (12.9 +/- 1.5 vs. 3.4 +/- 0.7 nmol acetate units/100 mg/2 h). Fetal decapitation increased fetal placental fatty acid esterification by 43% and oxidation by 125%. The altered lipid metabolism of the fetal placenta was reflected in enzymes associated with substrate utilization (pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase). Maternal placenta lipogenesis was also altered by fetal manipulation. Leucine conversion to its alpha ketoacid was increased in the fetal placenta of the decapitated pigs (14.8 +/- 1.7 vs. 8.6 +/- 1.4 nmol/100 mg/2 h) indicating amino acid metabolism was affected by this treatment. The ability of an altered fetal endocrinology and metabolism to affect the placental metabolism supports the concept of a fetal influence on placental metabolism.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008055	Lipids	A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Lipid
D010168	Palmitates	Salts and esters of the 16-carbon saturated monocarboxylic acid--palmitic acid.	Hexadecanoates,Palmitate
D010920	Placenta	A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES).	Placentoma, Normal,Placentome,Placentas,Placentomes
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D005260	Female		Females
D005333	Fetus	The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D006003	Glycogen
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia