title: Eicosanoid production and transfer in the placenta of the diabetic pregnancy.
abstract: The metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) and the transfer of its metabolites was determined in in vitro perfused placental tissue from normal pregnancies and those complicated by maternal insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). 14C-labelled AA was recirculated in the fetal circulation for 60 min while 3H-AA was recirculated in the maternal circulation. Placental effluent was subjected to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analysis of dual-label scintillation counts. Placentae from IDDM pregnancies converted 3-6 times more radiolabelled AA to eicosanoids than did normal placentae. In addition, the transfer of eicosanoids into the opposing circulation was doubled in placentae from IDDM pregnancies compared to normal placentae. The predominant direction of eicosanoid transfer in both groups of placentae was in the fetal-to-maternal direction. The relative amounts of eicosanoids produced was also altered in placentae from IDDM pregnancies. Increased amounts of thromboxane (Tx) B2 and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) were present in both circulations of placentae from IDDM pregnancies. Levels of 6-keto prostaglandin F1a (6KPGF1a) were significantly reduced in both circulations in placentae from IDDM pregnancies. Thus, the ratio of TxA2 to PGI2 and the ratio of HETEs to PGI2 were both significantly increased in placentae from IDDM pregnancies. These results suggest an imbalance in eicosanoid production which may be relevant to abnormal placental structure and function in IDDM pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey 17033.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Cherouny
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Demers
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D015777:Eicosanoids; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol