Diabetic Placenta Research Articles

Maternal Diabetes Mellitus is Associated with Altered Deposition of Fibrin-type Fibrinoid at the Villous Surface in Term Placentae

Placentae from control and diabetic patients were used to test three null hypotheses: (1) there are no significant group differences in the volumes of villous syncytiotrophoblast compartments or intervillous fibrin-type fibrinoid, (2) perivillous fibrin-type fibrinoid is deposited randomly at the surface of trophoblast, and (3) amounts and deposition patterns of perivillous fibrin-type fibrinoid do not vary between groups. Term placentae were collected from non-diabetic subjects and five groups of diabetic women classified according to duration, severity and insulin dependence. Tissue specimens and sections were obtained by uniform random sampling. Volumes and surface areas of fibrin-type fibrinoid and trophoblast compartments (thin, syncytial knot, syncytial bridge and denuded regions) were estimated stereologically and compared using variance, chi-squared and contingency table analyses. As to null hypothesis (1), no group differences in volumes of trophoblast compartments were found but volumes of intervillous fibrin-type fibrinoid were greater in the non-insulin-dependent diabetic group. As to null hypothesis (2), regardless of group, fibrin-type fibrinoid was deposited preferentially at sites of denudation in every placenta examined. As to null hypothesis (3), villous surface areas occupied by perivillous fibrin-type fibrinoid were greater in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetics with complications (diabetic nephropathy or retinopathy). The surfaces of trophoblast occupied by fibrin-type fibrinoid were also notably larger in non-insulin-dependent diabetics and type 1 diabetics with complications. Except for the surface of denudation sites (which also increased in diabetes), there were no differences in the surfaces of trophoblast regions. These results confirm that the haemostatic steady state is perturbed in the diabetic placenta, that perivillous fibrin-type fibrinoid is deposited preferentially at sites of epithelial loss/damage, and that some diabetic groups are affected differentially.

Mast cell-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvascular density in diabetic placentae.

Mast cell-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvascular density in diabetic placentae.

Suppression of Na+-H+ exchanger-1 in placentas of type 2 diabetic pregnant women: possible functional implication.

Placental Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE-1), which plays an important role in maintaining fetal and maternal Na+ and H+ homeostasis, is uniquely regulated. However, the role of this protein in type-2 diabetic placentas, and the molecular basis for its unique regulation in normal placenta remain poorly understood. To address these issues, a C-terminus regulatory domain of NHE-1 was cloned and sequenced from normal human placentas, and was used to prepare a GST-fusion protein for raising polyclonal antibodies. For this study, age-matched type 2 diabetic (n=8) and normal (n=8) pregnant women were recruited to investigate the effects of controlled hyperglycemia on the expression of placental NHE-1 at term delivery. The C-terminal sequence in the normal human placental isoform was identical to that reported for other tissues. The antibodies reacted selectively with a 110 kD protein. The level of NHE-1 protein was decreased significantly ( p<0.05) in diabetic placentas, whereas beta-actin, an internal control, remained unaltered. Yield of placental crude microsomes was significantly higher from diabetic placentas. Interestingly, the levels of NHE-1 mRNA and beta-actin mRNA did not change in diabetic pregnancies. Blood pressure values of the mothers in both groups were also normal. The placental mass and weight of babies were slightly increased, whereas the gestational age was lower in diabetic pregnancies. These results suggest that the unique regulation of placental NHE-1 is not due to differences in its C-terminus structure. Lack of a significant correlation between the suppression of NHE-1 and gestational age, placental mass or birth weight in the diabetic pregnancies suggests that suppression is independent of these parameters, and is regulated post-transcriptionally. This change in NHE-1 may contribute to an adequate provision of electrolytes and nutrients to the fetus.

Elevated levels of endothelin-1 and prostaglandin E 2 and their effect on nitric oxide generation in placental tissue from neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) are regulators of feto-placental hemodynamics. In this study we explore the inter-regulatory pathways that modulate the levels of these vasoactive agents in control and neonatal streptozotocin-induced (n-stz) diabetic rat placenta. ET-1 levels are increased in diabetic placenta when compared to controls ( P<0.001), and are strongly reduced by an NO synthase inhibitor ( P<0.001). PGE 2 production is increased in diabetic placenta when compared to controls ( P<0.01), but these levels are not modulated by ET-1. NO levels, similar in control and in diabetic placenta, are not influenced by PGE 2, but they are negatively modulated by ET-1 in both control ( P<0.05) and diabetic ( P<0.01) placenta. We conclude that rat placental ET-1 inhibits NO levels but does not modify PGE 2 concentrations. The elevated levels of ET-1 and PGE 2 in diabetic placenta, potent vasoconstrictors of placental vasculature, are probably related to the induction of placental insufficiency and fetal hypoxia in this pathology.

Effect of high concentrations of glucose on differentiation of rat trophoblast cells in vitro.

Previous studies have shown that diabetic placentas are characterized by structural and biochemical anomalies, including defects in the differentiation of trophoblasts. In this study, the Rcho-1 cell line was used to investigate the impact of high glucose concentrations on different markers of differentiation of rat trophoblast cells in giant cells (endoreduplication, invasive phenotype and endocrine phenotype). Rcho-1 cells were incubated for 12 days in medium supplemented with different concentrations of glucose and 10% horse serum to optimize differentiation. The cells were examined for the proportion of nuclei showing signs of apoptosis. The effect of high glucose was investigated on the endoreduplication process, on invasive phenotype (secretion of gelatinase B) and on endocrine phenotype (expression of placental lactogen I (PL-I) and II (PL-II) and progesterone secretion). Apoptosis was not induced by high glucose in Rcho-1. The number of cells was higher in the cultures exposed to high glucose (p<0.05) and their nuclei contained more DNA compared with control cells (p<0.001), while their nuclear size was smaller (p<0.001). Gelatinase B secretion increased during differentiation but no difference was found when gelatinase B secretion from trophoblasts exposed to high glucose was compared with the control cells. Rcho-1 cell cultures showed an increase in PL-I and PL-II mRNA expressions during differentiation and which was not affected by high glucose. Progesterone secretion increased during differentiation in control cultures. However, this increase was abolished when trophoblasts were cultured in high glucose. Our data suggest that high glucose influences the endoreduplication process and the steroidogenesis during differentiation of rattrophoblasts.

Topological Properties and Spatial Organization of Villous Capillaries in Normal and Diabetic Placentas

Spatial arrangement and complexity of the capillary bed of placental terminal villi were analyzed in 9 normal and 11 diabetic placentas. Specimens were taken by systematic random sampling, fixed and stained in toto, and embedded in paraffin. Fifteen fields of view were sampled systematically from 120-µm-thick sections of specimens and examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope. Series of thin optical sections of terminal villi and their developmental forms were recorded by the confocal microscope and used as initial data for three-dimensional visualization of the spatial arrangement of villous capillaries. Vascular topology and branching were studied by focusing through the villus, making a schematic drawing of the villous capillary bed and counting redundant capillary connections. It was found that the basic arrangement of villous capillaries is similar in both normal and diabetic placentas. Nevertheless, the proportion of simple forms of the capillary bed without redundant connections is significantly higher in normal placentas and the mean number of redundant connections per villus is significantly higher in diabetic placentas. It is concluded that both the longitudinal growth and branching of capillaries contribute to the increase in the placental capillary bed in late gestation and that the capillary bed of diabetic villi is more complicated due to more intense capillary branching.

Na +/K +-ATPase Activity and Expression in Syncytiotrophoblast Plasma Membranes in Pregnancies Complicated by Diabetes

Many of the transport processes across the syncytiotrophoblast (ST), such as amino acid transport, are Na +-coupled. The maintenance of a low intracellular Na + concentration by Na +/K +-ATPase is therefore crucial for placental transport of nutrients and consequently, foetal growth. In pregnancies complicated by diabetes foetal growth is often accelerated despite rigorous glycemic control of the mother, however the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We tested the hypothesis that Na +/K +-ATPase in ST plasma membranes is up-regulated in diabetic pregnancies associated with accelerated growth. ST microvillous (MVM) and basal (BM) plasma membranes were purified from term placentas of normal pregnancies (control, n=13) and pregnancies complicated by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( n=7) or gestational diabetes ( n=6). All mothers with diabetes gave birth to large for gestational age babies. The Na +/K +-ATPase α 1-subunit protein expression (Western blot) in MVM and BM was unaltered by diabetes. Na +/K +-ATPase activity (K +-stimulated, ouabain-sensitive phosphatase activity) in ST plasma membranes was not affected by diabetes. This is the first study of Na +/K +-ATPase in ST membranes of the human placenta in diabetes. Our data show that accelerated foetal growth in diabetic pregnancies is not associated with elevated ST Na +/K +-ATPase protein expression or activity.

Effects of gestational diabetes on junctional adhesion molecules in human term placental vasculature.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether gestational diabetes mellitus, which occurs in the microvascular remodelling phase of placental development, causes alterations in surface expression of tight and adherens junctional molecules involved in endothelial barrier function and angiogenesis. Term placenta, delivered by elective Caesarian section, from normal pregnancy (n = 5) and those complicated by gestational diabetes (n = 5) were perfusion-fixed and analysed by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal scanning microscopy. Using systematic random sampling, the surface expression of endothelial junctional proteins and the relative incidences of immunostained vessels were compared between the two study groups. Total vessel lengths were measured by stereological techniques. The adherens junctional molecules, vascular-endothelial cadherin and beta-catenin, and the tight junctional molecules, occludin and zonula occludens-1 were localised to paracellular clefts in both study groups. The diabetic placentae showed pronounced reductions in the intensity of immunofluorescence and in the number of immuno-positive vessels. A corresponding statistically significant increase (from 19% to 56%) in the percentage of vessels showing junctional anti-phosphotyrosine immunoreactivity was found. The differences observed represented real changes in the absolute lengths of immunostained regions along the vessels. The stereological measurements failed to detect any statistically significant change in the combined length of fetal vessels in gestational diabetic placenta. Our results suggest that even short duration diabetic insult, alters the surface expression of placental junctional proteins. This alteration could be mediated by the tyrosine-phosphorylation pathway. The changes suggest impaired barrier function rather than accelerated vascular growth.

Stereological comparison of 3D spatial relationships involving villi and intervillous pores in human placentas from control and diabetic pregnancies.

In human placenta, 3D spatial relationships between villi and the maternal vascular bed determine intervillous porosity and this, in turn, influences haemodynamics and transport. Recently-developed stereological methods were applied in order to examine and quantify these relationships. Placentas were collected after 37 wk from control pregnancies and those associated with maternal diabetes mellitus classified according to duration and severity (White classification scheme). Two principal questions were addressed: (1) are normal spatial arrangements maintained in well-controlled diabetes mellitus? and (2) do arrangements vary between diabetic groups? To answer these questions, tissue sections cut at random positions and orientations were generated by systematic sampling procedures. Volume densities of villi (terminal + intermediate), intervillous spaces and perivillous fibrin-type fibrinoid deposits were estimated by test point counting and converted to global volumes after multiplying by placental volumes. Design-based estimates of the sizes (volume- and surface-weighted volumes) of intervillous 'pores' were obtained by measuring the lengths of point- and intersection-sampled intercepts. From these, theoretical numbers of pores were calculated. Model-based estimates (cylinder model) of the hydraulic diameters and lengths of pores were also made. Second-order stereology was used to examine spatial relationships within and between villi and pores and to test whether pair correlation functions deviated from the value expected for 'random' arrangements. Estimated quantities did not differ significantly between diabetic groups but did display some departures from control values in non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetic placentas. These findings support earlier studies which indicate that essentially normal microscopical morphology is preserved in placentas from diabetic subjects with good glycaemic control. Therefore, it is likely that fetal hypoxia associated with maternal diabetes mellitus is due to metabolic disturbances rather than abnormalities in the quantities or arrangements of maternal vascular spaces.

Detection of placental growth hormone variant and chorionic somatomammotropin-L RNA expression in normal and diabetic pregnancy by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction

Diabetes is a common complication encountered during pregnancy. Earlier studies indicated that diabetic placentas bear morphological alterations consistent with modified placental differentiation, including alterations in the villous cellular content, structure, and total surface. Limited data associating the diabetic status with the expression of terminal placental differentiation markers are available. The human growth hormone/chorionic somatomammotropin (hGH/CS) family consists of five genes, one of which (GH-N) is expressed efficiently in pituitary while the other four (CS-A, B, L, and hGH-V) are expressed in placenta and represent ultimate placental differentiation markers. We developed and applied a sensitive RT-PCR method coupled with diagnostic restriction digestion to determine the relative levels of the hGH/CS family in normal pregnancies and examine whether their mRNA expression pattern is altered in pregnancies complicated by diabetes. We show that relative hCS-L content changes during placental development. Specifically, normal term placentas express higher relative levels of hCS-L, lower relative hGH-V levels and a 70-fold lower hGH-V/CS-L mRNA ratio compared to early placentas. Also, many term placentas from diabetic pregnancies express lower relative levels of hCS-L mRNA and a much higher hGH-V/CS-L mRNA ratio compared to normal term placenta, resembling more an early placenta pattern of expression. Thus, our study suggests that the expression of terminal placental differentiation markers, such as the hGH/CS genes, is altered in term placentas from these diabetics reflecting either impaired placental differentiation or post-differentiation impairment of normal placental function.

Pathogenesis of fetal hypomineralization in diabetic rats: evidence for delayed bone maturation.

There is some evidence that fetuses of diabetic rats (FDR) are hypomineralized. To explore the pathogenic role of decreased maternal duodenal Ca absorption, fetal hypotrophy, and decreased placental calbindin-D9K, respectively, spontaneously diabetic rats fed a 1.0% Ca diet were compared with diabetic rats treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] (15 ng/ 100 g) during week 3 of pregnancy, which restored duodenal calbindin-D9K concentrations to normal; with nondiabetic rats semistarved during week 3, which resulted in similar fetal hypotrophy; and with nondiabetic rats fed high cation diets (1.5% Ca-1.5% Sr and 1.5% Ca-3.5% Sr) during week 3, the latter of which repressed duodenal and placental calbindin-D9K toward concentrations measured in diabetic rats. In addition, fetal tibiae were studied histologically. Ca content was lower in 21.5-d-old FDR than in control fetuses. FDR had lower plasma osteocalcin (OC) levels and, on histomorphometry, increased hypertrophic cartilage width, indicating retarded bone maturation. Maternal 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment did not change Ca content and hypertrophic cartilage width in FDR. Fetuses of semistarved rats had plasma OC levels and hypertrophic cartilage width comparable to those of control fetuses. Fetuses of rats fed the 1.5% Ca-3.5% Sr diet were more severely hypomineralized than FDR but had higher plasma OC than both FDR and control fetuses, compatible with fetal Ca deficiency. Whereas diabetic placentas showed weak but homogeneous staining of calbindin-D9K in the labyrinth on immunohistology, degenerative zones were present in placentas of rats fed the 1.5% Ca-3.5% Sr diet. Thus, there is no mineralization defect in FDR caused by disturbed maternal duodenal Ca absorption or transplacental Ca transport, but a delay in bone maturation that is unexplained by their lower body weight.

Placental mast cells (MC) and histamine (HA) in pregnancy complicated by diabetes class C - relation to the development of villous microvessels

The role of histamine (HA) and other mast cells (MC) mediators in local placental angiogenesis is still under consideration. In human placentae obtained after normal and complicated pregnancies MC distribution, MC numbers and HA concentrations are different. Altered vascularization in diabetes is strictly related to the severity of metabolic disorders. The White class C of diabetes in pregnancy is the last stage without recognized vascular changes. The aim of the study was to find the correlation between MC number, HA concentration and density of the network of placental vessels in diabetes White class C. Nine diabetic placentas and 9 controls were examined. HA concentration in placental samples was estimated fluorimetrically. MC in sections were marked both by tryptase/chymase antibodies and stained with toluidine blue or alcian blue. In light microscopy, using computed morphometry for quantitative analysis, the development of villous microvessels was measured in calibrated areas of the placental sections. Vascular/extravascular tissular index (V/EVTI) was calculated. The results showed that in diabetes White class C increased density of the villous network of vessels (V/EVTI: 0.33±0.027 vs 0.26±0.031 in control) correlates with higher HA concentration (365.1±36.2 ng/g of wet weight vs 251.7±22.1 ng/g of wet weight in control) and increased number of MC (5134 vs 3726 in control).

Lipoic acid prevention of neural tube defects in offspring of rats with streptozocin-induced diabetes

Objective: Increased oxidant stress has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of disturbed embryogenesis in diabetic pregnancies. The present study was conducted to determine whether administration of lipoic acid, a naturally occurring antioxidant, would reduce the incidence of diabetic embryopathy in the streptozocin-induced diabetic rat model. Study Design: After conception, rats were randomly distributed to 5 groups. From day 1, rats were daily injected intraperitoneally with either lipoic acid, 30 mg/kg, or vehicle. At day 6, rats from groups 3, 4, and 5 were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin. Group 4 rats were injected with lipoic acid from day 1 to day 6, after vehicle treatment until day 17. At day 17 of gestation, rats were killed. The fetuses were released from the yolk sacs and surrounding decidua and were examined for size, resorption rate, and neural tube defects. Results: Pregnant diabetic rats treated with vehicle lost weight during pregnancy (−3.2 ± 1.9 g/d), as opposed to normal pregnancy-related weight gain (3.5 ± 0.5 g/d). Treatment with lipoic acid protected against diabetes-induced weight loss, without a measurable effect on fed-state glucose concentrations. Daily treatment with lipoic acid (pregnancy days 1 to 17) was efficient in reducing the resorption rate from 24.0% ± 9.5% in vehicle-treated diabetic rats to 10.2% ± 4.8% in lipoic acid–treated diabetic rats ( P < .05). The rate of neural tube defects in diabetic rats treated with lipoic acid throughout the pregnancy was reduced from 26.0% ± 7.0% to 10.2% ± 3.2% ( P < .05). In rats treated only during pregnancy days 1 to 5 (before diabetes induction), lipoic acid failed to exert its protective effects against neural tube defects, which emphasizes the importance of the presence of lipoic acid during the organogenesis period. The atherosis of placental vasculature demonstrated in the vehicle-treated diabetic rats was absent from placentas obtained from lipoic acid–treated diabetic animals. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate a protective effect of lipoic acid against diabetic embryopathy, fetal losses, and ultrastructural alteration of diabetic placentas. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:188-93.)

Increased nitrotyrosine in the diabetic placenta: evidence for oxidative stress.

To evaluate the presence of nitrotyrosine (NT) residues in placental villous tissue of diabetic pregnancies as an index of vascular damage linked to oxidative stress. Villous tissue was collected and flash frozen after delivery from 10 class C and D IDDM patients (37.9+/-3.2 weeks) and 10 normotensive pregnant individuals (37.5+/-3.8 weeks). Serial sections of tissue were immunostained with specific antibodies to NT, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Sections were scored for intensity of immunostaining (0-3) by three observers blinded to the identity of tissue. All tissues demonstrated immunostaining for eNOS in both syncytiotrophoblast and stem villous vascular endothelium with no apparent differences between groups. Immunostaining for iNOS was seen in the villous stroma, but again was not different between the two groups. Significantly more intense NT staining was apparent in vascular endothelium and villous stroma (both P < 0.02) of diabetic placentas. The endothelium of large villous vessels of diabetic tissues also showed more intense immunostaining for MnSOD (P < 0.01). In these diabetic pregnancies, we were unable to show increased eNOS, unlike previous findings in preeclamptic pregnancies. The presence of NT may indicate vascular damage in the diabetic placenta due to peroxynitrite action formed from increased synthesis/interaction of nitric oxide and superoxide. The apparently paradoxical increase in MnSOD expression may be an adaptive response to increased superoxide generation.

Dietary intake and tissue concentration of fatty acids in omnivore, vegetarian and diabetic pregnancy

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fatty acid intake and insulin dependent diabetes on the fatty acid composition of maternal erythrocytes, the placenta and cord. Fatty acid intake (from food frequency questionnaire) and the fatty acid composition of maternal erythrocytes, the placenta and cord from pregnant vegetarians ( n = 4) and insulin dependent diabetics ( n = 5) was compared with pregnant omnivores ( n = 10). There was a significantly lower intake of n-6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) (−75% P < 0.01) and n-3 LCPUFA (−92% P < 0.01) and increased ratio of n-6 n-3 LCPUFA in the vegetarians (103%; P < 0.001). The concentrations of 22:4 n-6 (+28%; P < 0.05) and 22:5 n-3 (+40%; P < 0.05) were higher in vegetarian erythrocytes. Placental 18:2 n-6 (+26.9%; P < 0.05) 18:3 n-3 (+139%; P < 0.05) and 22:5 n-3 (+24%; P < 0.05) were increased while 20:5 n-3 (−36%; P < 0.05), 22:6 n-3 (−16%; P = 0.059), and the ratios of 20:4 n-6 18:2 n-6 (P < 0.01) and 22:6 n-3 18:3 n-3 were reduced. 22:6 n-6 (−49%; P < 0.05) and total n-3 LCPUFA (−11%; P < 0.01) were reduced in vegetarian cord. For the diabetic mothers, all of the n-6 LCPUFA and n-3 LCPUFA were reduced in the maternal erythrocytes; 22:4 n-6 (−42%; P < 0.05), 22:5 n-6 (−46%; P < 0.05) and 22:6 n-3 (−41%; P < 0.05). For the diabetic placenta and cord the general pattern of n-3 LCPUFA was the same as that in the vegetarians. In the vegetarian mothers, the PUFA profiles in the maternal erythrocytes, placenta and cord are consistent with an elevation in the rate of LCPUFA synthesis in order to make up the relative deficit in LCPUFA intake. However, it may be that the higher level of desaturase activity is not able to overcome the dietary deficit of 22-6 n-3 and 22:6 n-6. Despite the fact that the dietary LCPUFA intake in the pregnant diabetic was comparable with that in the pregnant ‘normal’ omnivore mothers, the pattern of PUFA in the tissues resembled that of the vegetarian mothers.

Quantitative studies on the villi, trophoblast and intervillous pores of placentae from women with well-controlled diabetes mellitus

Human placentae from well-controlled diabetic women were collected after 37 weeks of gestation and divided into three groups according to the duration and severity of diabetes mellitus established by White classification criteria. A fourth group of subjects served as matched controls. Various morphometric variables not estimated hitherto (including the star volumes of villous ‘domains’ and intervillous ‘pores’ and trophoblast surface denudation) were assessed stereologically. The aims were to test whether or not (1) control values of these structural quantities are preserved in well-controlled diabetes mellitus, and (2) differences occurred between alternative diabetic groups. Placental specimens were obtained by systematic random sampling procedures and paraffin sections were cut at random positions and orientations. Volume densities of peripheral (terminal+intermediate) villi and intervillous spaces were estimated by test point counting and multiplied by placental volumes in order to convert them into absolute volumes. Volume estimates were also obtained for trophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast nuclei and intervillous fibrin-type fibrinoid. Villous surface areas were estimated by intersection counting and the star volumes of villi and intervillous pores were obtained by measuring the lengths of point-sampled intercepts. Calculations were also made of the theoretical numbers of villous domains and intervillous pores and of the numbers of syncytiotrophoblast nuclei. No significant differences were detected between control and diabetic placentae, or between White classes, for any of the estimated quantities. It is concluded that normal values are preserved by good glycaemic control regardless of diabetic grouping.

Increased N-glycosylation and reduced transferrin-binding capacity of transferrin receptor isolated from placentae of diabetic women

Infants of diabetic mothers are frequently born iron deficient because their fetal iron demand exceeds placental iron transport capacity. Although transferrin receptor (TfR) expression is increased, binding to diferric transferrin is decreased proportionately to the severity of maternal disease. It is hypothesized that TfR isolated from diabetic placentae has altered N-glycosylation since proper glycosylation of N-linked oligosaccharides is important for normal TfR binding kinetics to diferric transferrin. TfR was obtained from syncytiotrophoblastic membranes of six diabetic and six non-diabetic human placentae. Competitive binding to 125I-transferrin demonstrated a higher K d in the diabetic TfR ( P=0.04), directly correlated to cord serum C-peptide concentration ( r=0.81, P<0.001). The molecular weight of the monomeric form of TfR prior to treatment with glycopeptidase F (PNG-F) was greater in the diabetic group ( P <0.001) and was directly related to the K d ( r=0.77, P=0.002). Treatment with PNG-F eliminated the molecular weight difference between the two groups. Increased glycosylation of the N-linked oligosaccharides of TfR isolated from diabetic placentae may alter the three-dimensional structure or charge of the receptor, thus reducing its binding affinity for transferrin.

Eicosanoid production by placental and amnion tissues from control and non-insulin-dependent diabetic rats. Influence of oxytocin in the incubating medium

Eicosanoid production by intrauterine tissues from control and neonatal-steptozotocin induced diabetic rats during late pregnancy was evaluated. In diabetic placenta the release of 6-keto-PGF 1α was found diminished when compared to controls. In addition, LTB 4 generation was increased in diabetic placenta. No alterations in the production of TXA 2, PGE 2, PGE 1 and PGF 2α was found when diabetic and control placenta were compared. In amnion tissue a decreased generation of 6-keto-PGF 1α was observed in the diabetic group, but no alteration in any other eicosanoid evaluated was found. Oxytocin (5 mU/ml, in vitro), which increases prostaglandin synthesis in rabbit and human amnion tissues, did not modify eicosanoid generation in control rat amnion. In contrast, in diabetic amnion the presence of oxytocin further decreased the release of 6-keto-PGF 1α and diminished PGE 1 generation. The present results suggest that this mildy diabetic state induces alterations in eicosanoid production in intrauterine tissues, abnormalities probably enhanced during parturition, when endogenous concentrations of oxytocin are elevated.

The oral antihyperglycemic agent metformin does not affect glucose uptake and transport in the human diabetic placenta

The oral antihyperglycemic agent metformin does not affect glucose uptake and transport in the human diabetic placenta

Transport and metabolism of adenosine in diabetic human placenta.

Pregnancy complicated by diabetes is a relatively frequent event and may result in fetal embriopathy. However, little is known regarding whether placental transport functions are altered. In this study, we have compared the activity of the nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive adenosine transporter and adenosine metabolism in human placental brush-border- and basal-membrane vesicles from placentas of normal and diabetic pregnancies. Neither [3H]NBMPR binding, a marker of the facilitative-diffusion nucleoside transporter in the human placenta, nor adenosine metabolism exhibited a significant difference in either the brush-border- or the basal-membrane vesicles between the normal and diabetic group, except for an increased affinity in [3H]NBMPR binding at the basal side in diabetic placenta. This result contrasts with an earlier finding using the same group of patients that adenosine transport is downregulated in umbilical vein endothelial cells from diabetic pregnancies. It is concluded that adenosine transport is modulated selectively in different tissues in diabetic pregnancies.