title: Placental regulation of fetal nutrient supply.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Placental nutrient uptake and transfer may have a unique role, as changes in trophoblast nutrient-sensing signaling pathways regulate cell metabolism and may affect the fetal growth and health programming in the offspring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The functionality of the placenta could affect the neonatal adiposity and the fetal levels of key nutrients such as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Insulin, oxygen and amino acid concentrations may regulate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) nutrient sensor in the human placenta affecting trophoblast metabolism and nutrient delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mechanisms involved in both placental uptake and transfer of macronutrients are reviewed. Fatty acid, cholesterol and amino acid transport across the placenta involves a complex system to ensure nutrient delivery to the growing fetus. The placental glucose transfer is important for fetal macrosomia, but lipid disturbances in both maternal and placental compartments may contribute to neonatal fat accretion. Maternal insulin has little effect on the avidity of glucose transport by the placenta, but may interfere in placental metabolism via mTOR nutrient sensor. mTOR is a positive regulator of the amino acid carriers and constitutes a critical link between maternal nutrient availability and fetal growth, thereby influencing the long-term health of the fetus.
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. elvirada@um.es
authors: Elvira
authors: E
authors: Larqué
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Ruiz-Palacios
authors: Berthold
authors: B
authors: Koletzko
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001692:Biological Transport; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015398:Signal Transduction; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative; D007328:Insulin; D002784:Cholesterol; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D005947:Glucose