Transfer of gangliosides across the human placenta.
OBJECTIVE
Gangliosides are structural and functional glycosphingolipids, considered to have important roles in neuronal development in fetal and neonatal development and in memory formation. In this report, we have investigated the ability of bovine milk-derived gangliosides GM3 and GD3 to cross the human placenta.


METHODS
We have employed the ex-vivo model of dually-perfused isolated human placental lobules.


RESULTS
There was significant uptake of both GD3 and GM3 from the maternal perfusate. There was significant increase of GM3 in the fetal side and a non-statistically significant trend for GD3 to increase on the fetal side.


CONCLUSIONS
Hence an apparent preference for GM3 release into fetal circulation. We suggest that gangliosides consumed by the mother enter her circulation, can be transferred across the placenta and may be available to the developing fetus for building neural connections.
University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. murray.mitchell@uq.edu.au
M D
MD
Mitchell
K
K
Henare
B
B
Balakrishnan
E
E
Lowe
B Y
BY
Fong
P
P
McJarrow
D001692:Biological Transport; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside / Q000378:metabolism; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008954:Models, Biological; D010477:Perfusion; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047929:Term Birth
D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside; D005732:Gangliosides; C026226:ganglioside, GD3