Expression and regulation of adiponectin and receptor in human and rat placenta.
BACKGROUND
Adiponectin is an adipocyte hormone involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. Recently, two receptors of this protein, called adiponectin receptor 1 (Adipo-R1) and Adipo-R2, have been cloned.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine whether adiponectin and its receptors are expressed in human and rat placentas and to evaluate the regulation of these factors by gestational age and nutritional status.


RESULTS
Our results demonstrate that adiponectin and Adipo-R2 are localized in both human and rat placentas. Human adiponectin and Adipo-R2 are presented in cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cells. However, rat adiponectin and Adipo-R2 change their specific cell type immunostaining during gestation. Furthermore, placental adiponectin mRNA expression is increased during pregnancy in the rat, whereas Adipo-R2 has the contrary pattern. We also assessed the effect of food restriction (30%) during gestation, and we observed that adiponectin mRNA levels decrease after 16 d of undernutrition. In contrast, placental Adipo-R2 mRNA is unchanged by undernutrition. Finally, treatment with adiponectin during gestation decreases Adipo-R2, glucose transporter 3, lipoprotein lipase, and TGF-beta mRNA expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our results suggest that, at least in rodents, adiponectin may be involved in the regulation of several placental functions.
Caminos
J Eduardo
JE
Department of Physiology, University of Santiago de Compostela School of Medicine, C/S Francisco 1, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Nogueiras
Rubén
R
Gallego
Rosalía
R
Bravo
Susana
S
Tovar
Sulay
S
García-Caballero
Tomás
T
Casanueva
Felipe F
FF
Diéguez
Carlos
C
D052242:Adiponectin; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
C475418:ADIPOR1 protein, human; C475420:ADIPOR2 protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface