title: Review: Alterations in placental glycogen deposition in complicated pregnancies: Current preclinical and clinical evidence.
abstract: Normal placental function is essential for optimal fetal growth. Transport of glucose from mother to fetus is critical for fetal nutrient demands and can be stored in the placenta as glycogen. However, the function of this glycogen deposition remains a matter of debate: It could be a source of fuel for the placenta itself or a storage reservoir for later use by the fetus in times of need. While the significance of placental glycogen remains elusive, mounting evidence indicates that altered glycogen metabolism and/or deposition accompanies many pregnancy complications that adversely affect fetal development. This review will summarize histological, biochemical and molecular evidence that glycogen accumulates in a) placentas from a variety of experimental rodent models of perturbed pregnancy, including maternal alcohol exposure, glucocorticoid exposure, dietary deficiencies and hypoxia and b) placentas from human pregnancies with complications including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). These pregnancies typically result in altered fetal growth, developmental abnormalities and/or disease outcomes in offspring. Collectively, this evidence suggests that changes in placental glycogen deposition is a common feature of pregnancy complications, particularly those associated with altered fetal growth.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. Electronic address: l.akison@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Akison
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Marloes Dekker
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Nitert
authors.affiliation: Mater Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4101, Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Clifton
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Mater Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4101, Australia.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006003:Glycogen
keywords: Diabetes; Glycogen trophoblast cells; IUGR; Placental glycogen; Preeclampsia; Rodent models