Materno-foetal exchanges and utilisation of nutrients by the foetus: comparison between species.
Abstract: Several general features of nutrient uptake and utilisation by foetuses are similar among mammalian species. Nevertheless, there are also differences linked mainly to differences in placental permeability. Glucose and lactate are the main energetic substrates of the foetus. In normal conditions, the oxidation of carbohydrates accounts for about 75, 60 and 50% of oxygen uptake in the foetal pig, foal and lamb, respectively, and acetate accounts for about 10% in ruminants. Acidic amino acids are synthesised by the foetus, whereas neutral and basic amino acids are transported from the placenta. As shown by the high urea level in foetal blood, amino acids are partly involved in the oxidative metabolism of foetuses; their contribution is higher in ruminants than in humans, horses and pigs. Fatty acids cross the haemochorial placenta of rodents, rabbits and primates, and are incorporated into the foetal lipids, whereas their uptake by ruminant, pig and horse foetuses is very low.
Publication Date: 2003-06-06 PubMed ID: 12785446DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2003002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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The research article addresses how nutrients are transferred from mother to fetus in various mammalian species, noting similarities and differences, particularly in relation to placental permeability.
General Nutrient Uptake and Utilisation
- The research finds that several general characteristics regarding nutrient uptake and utilisation by fetuses are similar across mammalian species. This is important in understanding general principles of maternal to fetal nutrient transmission that extend across different animal species.
Role of Placental Permeability
- Differences in this process among species are mainly due to variations in placental permeability. This means that the ability of nutrients to pass through the placenta from the mother to the fetus can vary across species, influencing the type and amount of nutrients the fetus receives.
Glucose and Lactate as Energetic Substrates
- Glucose and lactate are identified as the primary energetic substrates of the fetus. A substrate is a molecule acted upon by an enzyme, so these substances are crucial for instigating the chemical reactions providing energy for the fetus.
- In normal conditions, the oxidation of carbohydrates accounts for a substantial proportion of oxygen uptake in fetal pigs, foals, and lambs, and acetate accounts for about 10% in ruminants.
Role of Amino Acids
- Acidic amino acids are created by the fetus itself. On the other hand, neutral and basic amino acids are brought to the fetus from the placenta.
- Amino acids also play a role in the oxidative metabolism of fetuses, evidenced by the high urea level in fetal blood. Their contribution is higher in ruminants than in humans, horses, and pigs, highlighting a further species variation in nutrient exchange and metabolism.
Tranfer of Fatty Acids
- Fatty acids cross the haemochorial placenta of rodents, rabbits and primates and are integrated into the fetal lipids. In contrast, for ruminants, pigs, and horses, the uptake of fatty acids by fetuses is notably low. This points to another significant discrepancy in nutrient intake and utilisation across species.
Cite This Article
APA
Père MC.
(2003).
Materno-foetal exchanges and utilisation of nutrients by the foetus: comparison between species.
Reprod Nutr Dev, 43(1), 1-15.
https://doi.org/10.1051/rnd:2003002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Unité Mixte de Recherches sur le Veau et le Porc, 35590 Saint-Gilles, France. pere@st-gilles.rennes.inra.fr
MeSH Terms
- Amino Acids / metabolism
- Animals
- Blood Urea Nitrogen
- Female
- Fetus / metabolism
- Glucose / metabolism
- Humans
- Lactic Acid / metabolism
- Lipid Metabolism
- Mammals / metabolism
- Maternal-Fetal Exchange / physiology
- Oxidation-Reduction
- Pregnancy
- Species Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Yong HEJ, Maksym K, Yusoff MAB, Salazar-Petres E, Nazarenko T, Zaikin A, David AL, Hillman SL, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Integrated Placental Modelling of Histology with Gene Expression to Identify Functional Impact on Fetal Growth.. Cells 2023 Apr 6;12(7).
- Ponsuksili S, Murani E, Hadlich F, Iqbal MA, Fuchs B, Galuska CE, Perdomo-Sabogal A, Sarais F, Trakooljul N, Reyer H, Oster M, Wimmers K. Prenatal transcript levels and metabolomics analyses reveal metabolic changes associated with intrauterine growth restriction and sex.. Open Biol 2022 Sep;12(9):220151.
- Markovic S, Roussel T, Neeman M, Frydman L. Deuterium Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Discrimination of Fetoplacental Metabolism in Normal and L-NAME-Induced Preeclamptic Mice.. Metabolites 2021 Jun 10;11(6).
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- Lamp O, Derno M, Otten W, Mielenz M, Nürnberg G, Kuhla B. Metabolic Heat Stress Adaption in Transition Cows: Differences in Macronutrient Oxidation between Late-Gestating and Early-Lactating German Holstein Dairy Cows.. PLoS One 2015;10(5):e0125264.
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