Foetal glutamate as a possible precursor of placental glutamine in the guinea pig.
The role of foetal glutamate as a source of placental glutamine was investigated in the near-term pregnant guinea-pig placenta perfused in situ through the umbilical vessels. With normal foetal amino acid concentrations there was a significant two-way exchange of glutamate between the placenta and foetal perfusate, but a net release of the amino acid from the placenta. Radioactively labelled glutamate carbon entering the placenta by this exchange was freely incorporated into intracellular glutamine, but only 1.5% of it was found in glutamine transported out into the foetal circulation. In the guinea pig, therefore, foetal glutamate does not appear to be a precursor of glutamine released from the placenta on the foetal side.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005971:Glutamates / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005973:Glutamine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010477:Perfusion; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D005971:Glutamates; D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid