title: Inverse relationship between gestational weight gain and glucose uptake in human placenta from female foetuses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal obesity and gestational weight gain (GWG) have a significant impact on the in utero environment, and thus on foetal development and the health of the offspring later in life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the effect of maternal pre-existing obesity and maternal GWG on glucose uptake from placentas from male and female offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total glucose uptake was measured in placental explants using radio-labelled glucose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the female placentas (n = 36), GWG and glucose uptake were significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.7, P < 0.0001; n = 36), and customized birthweight centile correlated with placental glucose uptake (r = 0.36, P = 0.03) but not GWG. In the male placentas (n = 45), GWG and glucose uptake were not related, and customized birthweight centile correlated with GWG (r = 0.34, P = 0.02; n = 45), but not placental glucose uptake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The female placenta can adapt glucose uptake in the face of excessive GWG. The male placenta showed no evidence of changing glucose uptake in response to maternal GWG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ugoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lappas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009035:Mothers; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012737:Sex Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose
keywords: Foetal gender; glucose uptake; maternal gestational weight gain; placenta