3) Placental Metabolism Flashcards
When does the fastest growth of the placenta occur? Why?
- During the first half of pregnancy
- To prepare for the fetal growth spurt during the second half of pregnancy
What is the placenta?
The interface between the microcirculatory systems of the mother and fetus
What are functions of the placenta?
- Exchange of nutrients, respiratory gases, and metabolic waste
- Protection of the fetus from xenobiotics
- Acting as a source of hormones
When is there mixing of the maternal and fetal blood?
- There is NEVER any direct mixing of the maternal and fetal blood
- The placenta is composed of a maternal and fetal portion
Where does the majority of amniotic fluid come from?
The maternal blood via diffusion from the intervillus spaces of the placenta
What are functions of amniotic fluid?
- Acts as a shock absorber
- Prevents desiccation of the fetus
- Provides room for fetal movements
- Assists in body temperature regulation
The ________ plate forms the fetal surface of the placenta.
chorionic
______________ are cells from the placenta that connect the mother and fetus.
Cytotrophoblasts
What components form the large area for exchange of fetal and maternal material?
- Cytotrophoblastic shell
- Anchoring villi
Where does the exchange between maternal and fetal material occur?
Within the intervillus spaces, as maternal blood flows around the villi
What is the major functioning unit of the placenta?
Chorionic villus
What placental defects do IUGR infants display?
They have microscopically less branching of the villi
What is the function of the villi within the placenta?
Enhances the surface area, allowing for greater exchange of gases and nutrients
The placenta uses 50% of _______ and 65% of _______ from the maternal blood supply.
oxygen
glucose
What substances does the placenta synthesize for fetal use?
- Glycogen
- Lactate
- Cholesterol
What substances cannot cross the placental membrane?
Compounds possessing a large molecular weight
What substances are transported across the placental membrane via passive diffusion?
- Oxygen and carbon dioxide
- Fatty acids
- Steroids
- Electrolytes
- Fat-soluble vitamins
How does fetal hemoglobin differ from regular hemoglobin?
Fetal hemoglobin has a greater binding capacity for oxygen
How are fatty acids transported through the placental membrane?
- Passive diffusion
- Carrier-mediated transport for long-chain FAs (enhancement of PUFA transport)
- The fetus depends on a supply of EFAs
Of the substances that are transported via passive diffusion, there is a poor transfer of which one?
Fat-soluble vitamins
How are sugars transported through the placental membrane?
Carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion
What is the importance of glucose transporters within the placenta?
- Glycation is a mechanism of teratogenesis
- Glucose transporters are used to protect the fetus from high glucose levels
If a mother experiences hyperglycemia, is a fetus exposed to a hyperglycemic environment as well? Why or why not?
- No, the fetus experiences a lower glucose level
- Because of the use of glucose transporters
What substances require energy-dependent active transporters to cross the placental membrane?
- Amino acids
- Certain cations
- Water-soluble vitamins
What do iron and folate require to cross the placental membrane?
Pinocytosis
What do water and solutes use to cross the placental membrane?
Solvent drag
The fetal size is proportional to the _______ size.
placental
How may maternal malnutrition, such as iron deficiency, affect placental size and fetal growth retardation?
- Reduced blood volume expansion
- Decreases cardiac output and placental blood flow
- Decrease in placental size, reduced nutrient transfer, and subsequent fetal growth retardation
What conditions may decrease uterine blood flow and affect placental transport?
- Hypotension
- Renal disease
- Placental infarction
During the third trimester, how does the fetal weight and the placental weight change?
- The fetal weight more than doubles at the last 10 weeks
- The placental weight only increases by 50%
A lower rate of placental growth is a limiting factor for what?
For sufficient transfer of nutrients for fetal needs
What is partially responsible for the deceleration in fetal growth rate during the last 4 weeks of gestation?
A progressive decline in the quantity of nutrients transferred per unit of fetal body mass per unit of time
What mechanism often causes the failure of the placenta?
Failure of the uteroplacental blood vessels to deliver an increased uterine blood flow
How do essential fatty acid affect the placenta?
Deficiencies in EFAs cause defects in placental integrity and function
Low placental weight is found to be associated with lower plasma concentrations of which fatty acids?
- Arachidonic acid
- DHA
- Linoleic acid
What are reduced concentrations of AA, DHA, and LA associated with?
- Short gestation
- Small head circumference
The percent distribution of DHA is highest in which fetal structure?
The fetal brain, then liver and umbilical cord
70% of energy during fetal growth is devoted to what?
Brain development
______ form 50 to 60% of the structural matter of the brain.
Lipids
The brain is a structurally lipid-rich organ. What PUFAs does it use? Which ones in particular?
- 20- and 22-carbon PUFAs
- Arachidonic acid
- DHA
What kind of PUFA is arachidonic acid?
- 20:4 (n-6)
- Omega-6
What kind of PUFA is DHA?
- 22:6 (n-3)
- Omega-3
What is the function of hCG?
Maintains the corpus luteum, which secretes estrogen and progesterone
What secretes estrogen during the beginning of pregnancy? What structure replaces its secretion? When?
- The blastocyst secretes estrogen on day 7
- After implantation, hCG is produced by the placenta, allowing for the maintenance of the corpus luteum, which secretes estrogen
When does the peak of hCG occur? What happens after?
- The peak occurs at the 10th and 11th week of gestation
- After, hCG levels decline and remain low for the rest of pregnancy
What produces placental lactogen? When?
The placenta in late gestation
What is the function of placental lactogen?
Influences fat and carbohydrate metabolism (breakdown of maternal fats to provide fuel for the fetus)
What is a synonym for placental lactogen?
Human chorionic somatotrophin
What structures produce progesterone during pregnancy?
- Corpus luteum until the 10th week of gestation
- The placenta takes over afterwards
What are the functions of progesterone in supporting pregnancy?
- Inhibits the secretion of LH and FSH to prevent ovulation
- Supports the endometrium
How does progesterone prevent pre-term birth?
Suppresses contractility in uterine smooth muscle
Which hormone decreases and which hormone increases to facilitate parturition?
- Progesterone decreases
- Estrogen increases to increase contractility of the smooth muscles of the uterus
When is estrogen secreted maximally during pregnancy?
Towards the end of gestation
What are the functions of estrogen in pregnancy?
- Stimulates myometrium growth
- Antagonizes myometrial-suppression by progesterone
- Stimulates mammary gland development
Catabolism of which substances are controlled by the placenta?
- Glucocorticoids
- Insulin
- Thyroxin
How does the exposure to hormones vary if the placenta is underdeveloped?
The placenta developing inadequately decreases catabolism of these molecules, which may cause harm to the fetus
True or False: the placenta offers a substantial amount of protection against xenobiotics.
- False
- The placenta is highly permeable to a large variety of substances, and thus offers limited protection against xenobiotics
When does the majority of physiological adjustments during pregnancy occur? In most cases, how does physiological activity vary?
- During the first half of gestation
- In most cases, physiological activity increases