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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Res Commun / Equine placenta expresses glutamine synthetase.
Veterinary research communications2008; 33(2); 175-182; doi: 10.1007/s11259-008-9167-2

Equine placenta expresses glutamine synthetase.

Abstract: In most mammalian species the developing fetus utilizes large amounts of glutamine derived both from the maternal circulation and synthesized de novo in the placenta. The present study was designed to determine the role of the placenta in glutamine synthesis in the horse. The placentae from eight Standardbred mares were sampled immediately after parturition together with additional tissues obtained at necropsy from three Standbred mares during diestrous. Glutamine synthetase protein was detectable in the non-pregnant horn of the placenta in amounts similar to those seen in gluteus muscle, but the amount in the pregnant horn was two times greater than in the non-pregnant horn. Glutamine was the second most abundant amino acid in amniotic fluid at a concentration of 310 +/- 26 micromole/L with that of glycine being 535 +/- 48 micromole/L. The most abundant amino acids in placental tissue were glycine (3,732 +/- 194 micromole/Kg), glutamate (3,500 +/- 343 micromole/Kg) and glutamine (2,836 +/- 208 micromole/Kg). The results illustrate the importance of glutamine to the equine fetus and establish that the placenta, particularly the pregnant horn, has considerable capacity for glutamine synthesis.
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Publication Date: 2008-08-23 PubMed ID: 18726164DOI: 10.1007/s11259-008-9167-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the role of the placenta in glutamine synthesis in horses and concludes that it plays a critical role in providing the important amino acid glutamine to the unborn foal, especially through the pregnant horn of the placenta.

Objectives of the Study

  • This research focused on understanding the role of equine placenta in the production of the amino acid glutamine in horses.
  • Glutamine is essential for fetal development and is supplied both from the mother’s circulation and synthesized in the placenta.
  • The researchers sought to inform our understanding of the importance of glutamine to the equine fetus and also to determine the placental regions that have a considerable capacity for glutamine synthesis.

Methods of the Study

  • The study involved taking placental samples from eight Standardbred mares immediately after giving birth.
  • Additional tissues were also obtained at necropsy from three Standardbred mares during diestrous.
  • The team then analyzed these samples for the presence and amounts of the glutamine synthetase protein, particularly focusing on the non-pregnant and pregnant horn of the placenta.

Findings of the Study

  • The study found that the glutamine synthetase protein was detectable in the non-pregnant horn of the placenta in quantities similar to those found in the gluteus muscle.
  • However, the amount of glutamine synthetase in the pregnant horn was twice as much as found in the non-pregnant horn, showing increased activity during pregnancy.
  • The researched showed that glutamine was the second-most abundant amino acid in the amniotic fluid, after glycine, indicating its importance during fetal development.
  • The most abundant amino acids in placental tissue were glycine, glutamate, and glutamine, further underlining the significance of glutamine in this context.

Conclusion and Implications of the Study

  • This study highlights the crucial role of glutamine in fetal development and the central role the placenta, especially the pregnant horn, plays in producing this necessary amino acid.
  • The research assists our understanding of equine reproduction and could potentially inform interventions to support equine pregnancy and foetal development.

Cite This Article

APA
Manso Filho HC, Costa HE, Wu G, McKeever KH, Watford M. (2008). Equine placenta expresses glutamine synthetase. Vet Res Commun, 33(2), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-008-9167-2

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 0165-7380
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 2
Pages: 175-182

Researcher Affiliations

Manso Filho, Hélio C
  • Equine Science Center, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
Costa, Helena E
    Wu, Guoyao
      McKeever, Kenneth H
        Watford, Malcolm

          MeSH Terms

          • Amniotic Fluid / metabolism
          • Animals
          • Animals, Newborn
          • Birth Weight
          • Blotting, Western / veterinary
          • Female
          • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / biosynthesis
          • Glutamine / metabolism
          • Horses / metabolism
          • Organ Size
          • Placenta / enzymology
          • Pregnancy

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 3 times.
          1. Nagae M, Nishio T, Ohnuki K, Shimizu K. Effects of oral administration of equine placental extract supplement on the facial skin of healthy adult women: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Health Sci Rep 2022 Mar;5(2):e522.
            doi: 10.1002/hsr2.522pubmed: 35224222google scholar: lookup
          2. Häberle J, Shahbeck N, Ibrahim K, Schmitt B, Scheer I, O'Gorman R, Chaudhry FA, Ben-Omran T. Glutamine supplementation in a child with inherited GS deficiency improves the clinical status and partially corrects the peripheral and central amino acid imbalance. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2012 Jul 25;7:48.
            doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-7-48pubmed: 22830360google scholar: lookup
          3. Brandley MC, Young RL, Warren DL, Thompson MB, Wagner GP. Uterine gene expression in the live-bearing lizard, Chalcides ocellatus, reveals convergence of squamate reptile and mammalian pregnancy mechanisms. Genome Biol Evol 2012;4(3):394-411.
            doi: 10.1093/gbe/evs013pubmed: 22333490google scholar: lookup
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