Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) like arachidonic (C20:4) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6) acids are essential for harmonious fetal development. This study evaluates, at near term, the distributions of free fatty acids (FFA) and their fetal carrier protein, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the maternal (M) and fetal circulation (umbilical arteries (A) and vein (V)), focusing on the feto-material interface where maternal intervillous blood (I) contacts the fetal trophoblast. FFA concentrations in intervillous and maternal blood were similar, while those in umbilical arteries and vein were 2- to 4-fold lower (P < 0.001). There were more saturated FFA in umbilical vein (41%) and arteries (44%) blood than in maternal (30%) and intervillous (32%) blood (P < 0.001). Monounsaturated FFA predominated (P < 0.001) in maternal (43%) blood, but not in intervillous (35%), umbilical vein (33%) and arteries (31%) blood. Di-triunsaturated FFA were similar in intervillous and maternal (25%) blood and lower in umbilical vein and arteries (16%) (P < 0.001). PUFA were low in maternal (2.5%) blood and higher in intervillous and umbilical vein and arteries (9%, P < 0.001); consequently, C20:4 (40 microM) and C22:6 (16 microM) were the most abundant in the intervillous space. The AFP concentrations and AFP lectin-reactive isoforms were similar in intervillous and umbilical vein and arteries blood, but immuno-electrophoresis revealed a particular AFP conformation (less immuno-reactive, more anionic) in the intervillous space, suggesting that AFP is heavily loaded with PUFA at the feto-maternal interface. Prostacyclin derived from C20:4 was similar in all compartments but the thromboxane A2 concentration was 10-fold higher in intervillous blood than in maternal and umbilical vein and arteries blood. Thus the feto-maternal interface has a specific pattern of cell signalling molecules that might critically influence parturition.
Highlights
Monounsaturated free fatty acid (FFA) predominated ( P < 0.001) in maternal (43%) blood, but not in intervillous ( 3 5 % ),umbilical vein (33%) and arteries (31%) blood
Prostacyclin derived from C20:4 was similar in all compartments but the thromboxane APconcentration was 10-fold higher in intervillous blood than in maternal and umbilical vein and arteries b1ood.I the feto-maternal interface has a specific pattern of cell signalling molecules that might critically influence parturition.-Benassayag, C., T
Recent studies show that unsaturated FFA, depending on their degree of non-saturation and on their classification (n-3 or n6 families) have a differential impact on proliferation of uterine stromal cells and vascular smooth muscle cells [8].Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) play a role as regulators of key enzymes in steroid metabolism [9] and in the way in which hormones, especially estrogens [10,11,12,13], progesterone and glucocorticoids [13,14,15,16,17], act
Summary
Monounsaturated FFA predominated ( P < 0.001) in maternal (43%) blood, but not in intervillous ( 3 5 % ) ,umbilical vein (33%) and arteries (31%) blood. Prostacyclin derived from C20:4 was similar in all compartments but the thromboxane APconcentration was 10-fold higher in intervillous blood than in maternal and umbilical vein and arteries b1ood.I the feto-maternal interface has a specific pattern of cell signalling molecules that might critically influence parturition.-Benassayag, C., T. Fetal demands for free fatty acid (FFA) are high in the late weeks of pregnancy [2,3,4,5] In addition to their role as an energy source or as structural elements of cells, fatty acids, especially of the polyunsaturated class (PUFA),are signalling molecules that play a crucial role in mediation of metabolic and endocrine functions of the matemo-feto-placental unit. The suppressive effect of PUFA and their metabolites on T-cell proliferation has been shown and may contribute somewhat to the successful survival of the fetal allograft by acting as one of the local regulation mechanisms during the afferent, central, and efferent phases of maternal cellmediated immunity [18, 19]
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