title: Effects of labor on placental fatty acid β oxidation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the effect labor exerts on fatty acid (FA) oxidation in term human placentas, and to compare enzymes expression and activity between placenta and liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placental samples were collected: (a) scheduled non-labored cesarean section and (b) normal vaginal delivery at or beyond 37 weeks. Long and medium-chain FA oxidation were measured using (3)H-labeled FA, ATP concentration was measured via commercial kit. Activity and expression levels of 11 FA enzymes were measured and results compared to both human and mouse liver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Placentas undergoing labor had significantly decreased palmitate oxidation and ATP levels. Octanoic acid oxidation was 10-fold higher than palmitic acid oxidation. No difference in expression or activity level was detected between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Term human placentas express all the enzymes required to oxidize FA, at a rate 20-fold lower than liver. FA Oxidation is not likely an important placental energy source during labor. Further work is needed to determine the functionality of this pathway in placenta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Women and Infants' Hospital of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. hmendezfigueroa@wihri.org
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mendez-Figueroa
authors.forename: Edward K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Huiling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Nesbitt
authors.forename: Sivakama S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bharathi
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goetzman
mesh_terms: D042964:Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D014316:Tritium; D042964:Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase