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Increased placental nutrient transporter expression at mid-gestation after maternal growth hormone treatment in pigs: A placental mechanism for increased fetal growth

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dc.contributor.authorTung, E.
dc.contributor.authorRoberts, C.
dc.contributor.authorHeinemann, G.
dc.contributor.authorDe Blasio, M.
dc.contributor.authorKind, K.
dc.contributor.authorVan Wettere, W.
dc.contributor.authorOwens, J.
dc.contributor.authorGatford, K.
dc.date.issued2012
dc.descriptionExtent: 8p. Data source: Supplemental data, http://www.biolreprod.org/content/87/5/126/suppl/DC1
dc.description.abstractGrowth hormone (GH) is important in maternal adaptation to pregnancy, and maternal circulating GH concentrations are reduced in human growth-restricted pregnancies. In the pig, maternal GH treatment throughout early-mid pregnancy increases fetal growth, despite constraining effects of adolescent and primiparous pregnancy, high litter size and restricted maternal nutrition. Since GH cannot cross the placenta, and does not increase placental weight, we hypothesised that its effects on fetal growth might be via improved placental structure or function. We therefore investigated effects of maternal GH treatment in pigs on structural correlates of placental function and placental expression of nutrient transporters important to fetal growth. Multiparous (sows) and primiparous pregnant pigs (gilts) were treated with GH (~15 µg kg(-1) day(-1)) or vehicle from days 25-50 of gestation (n = 7-8 per group, term ~115 days). Placentas were collected at day 50 of gestation and we measured structural correlates of function and expression of SLC2A1 (previously known as GLUT1) and SLC38A2 (previously known as SNAT2) nutrient transporters. Maternal GH treatment did not alter placental size or structure, increased protein expression of SLC2A1 in trophoblast (+35%, P = 0.037) and on its basal membrane (+44%, P = 0.011), and increased SLC38A2 protein expression in the basal (+44%, P = 0.001), but not the apical cytoplasm of trophoblast. Our findings suggest that maternal GH treatment increases fetal growth, in part, by enhancing placental nutrient transporter protein expression and hence fetal nutrient supply and trophoblast proliferation and differentiation and may have potential to ameliorate intrauterine growth restriction.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityTung E, Roberts CT, Heinemann GK, De Blasio MJ, Kind KL, van Wettere WH, Owens JA, Gatford KL.
dc.description.urihttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23018188
dc.identifier.citationBiology of Reproduction, 2012; online(5, article no. 126):1-17
dc.identifier.doi10.1095/biolreprod.112.100222
dc.identifier.issn0006-3363
dc.identifier.issn1529-7268
dc.identifier.orcidRoberts, C. [0000-0002-9250-2192]
dc.identifier.orcidHeinemann, G. [0000-0001-9513-181X]
dc.identifier.orcidVan Wettere, W. [0000-0001-8176-4122]
dc.identifier.orcidOwens, J. [0000-0002-7498-1353]
dc.identifier.orcidGatford, K. [0000-0002-2823-3004]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/74468
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSoc Study Reproduction
dc.rightsCopyright status unknown
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.112.100222
dc.subjectchemistry
dc.subjectdrug effect
dc.subjectfemale
dc.subjectfetus development
dc.subjectfetus weight
dc.subjectgestational age
dc.subjectimmunohistochemistry
dc.subjectorgan size
dc.subjectphysiology
dc.subjectplacenta
dc.subjectpregnancy
dc.subjectswine
dc.subjecttrophoblast
dc.titleIncreased placental nutrient transporter expression at mid-gestation after maternal growth hormone treatment in pigs: A placental mechanism for increased fetal growth
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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