Increased Placental Nutrient Transporter Expression at Midgestation after Maternal Growth Hormone Treatment in Pigs: A Placental Mechanism for Increased Fetal Growth1

摘要: Growth hormone (GH) is important in maternal adaptation to pregnancy, and circulating GH concentrations are reduced human growth-restricted pregnancies. In the pig, treatment throughout early mid pregnancy increases fetal growth, despite constraining effects of adolescent primiparous high litter size, restricted nutrition. Because cannot cross placenta does not increase placental weight, we hypothesized that its on growth might be via improved structure or function. We therefore investigated pigs structural correlates function expression nutrient transporters growth. Multiparous (sows) pregnant (gilts) were treated with (~15 μg kg(-1) day(-1)) vehicle from Days 25-50 gestation (n = 7-8 per group, term ~115 days). Placentas collected at Day 50 gestation, measured SLC2A1 (previously known as GLUT1) SLC38A2 SNAT2) transporters. Maternal did alter size structure, increased protein trophoblast (+35%; P 0.037) basal membrane (+44%; 0.011), 0.001) but apical cytoplasm trophoblast. Our findings suggest part, by enhancing transporter hence supply well proliferation differentiation may have potential ameliorate intrauterine restriction.