In utero physiology: role of folic acid in nutrient delivery and fetal development

摘要: Despite the isolation of placental folate receptors 25 y ago and progress in defining mechanism delivery, considerable gaps remain literature for each level maternal-placental-fetal unit. Although a critical role maternal-to-fetal transport was shown by use isolated perfused-placental cotyledon model decade ago, vivo confirmation is still needed. Knockout mice, knock-down delivery antisense oligonucleotides at gestation day 8 or antibodies to receptor, results profound developmental abnormalities fetus, ranging from neural tube defects neurocristopathies such as cleft-lip cleft-palate, cardiac septal defects, eye defects. These can be prevented ensuring entry into cells via alternative pathways. Controlled dietary restriction studies also identified adverse effects on reproductive performance, implantation, fetal growth other subtler (microscopic) murine development. Longitudinal follow-up showed that gestational deficiency behavioral changes-an anxiety phenotype-during adulthood these which supports Barker hypothesis. The extent findings are relevant humans unclear, however. Nevertheless, high incidence among North Indian women, who chronically subsist one-third one-half optimum needed prevent birth underscores magnitude public health problem emphasizes urgent challenge define most efficient way ensure adequate hundreds millions women risk developing countries.