Hildegunn Horne1, Ane Moe Holme2, Marie Cecilie Paasche Roland3, Maia Blomhoff Holm4, Guttorm Haugen5, Tore Henriksen6, Trond Melbye Michelsen7. 1. Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO BOX 1072, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: hildegunn_horne@yahoo.no. 2. Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: sbhmoa@ous-hf.no. 3. Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Advisory Unit on Women's Health, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: mpaasche@ous-hf.no. 4. Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: maia.blomhoff.holm@outlook.com. 5. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO BOX 1072, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway; Department of Fetal Medicine, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: guttorm.haugen@medisin.uio.no. 6. Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO BOX 1072, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: tohen3@online.no. 7. Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Advisory Unit on Women's Health, Oslo University Hospital, PO BOX 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: trmi1@ous-hf.no.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The extent to which the human term fetus utilizes cholesterol released from the placenta has remained elusive. Our aims were to estimate the net mass of cholesterol taken up by the uteroplacental unit, released by the placenta and taken up by the fetus. Thereby we aimed to explore the maternal-fetal cholesterol transfer and hypothesized that maternal levels and uteroplacental uptake were correlated to the fetal uptake of cholesterol. METHODS: A cross-sectional in vivo study of 179 fasting, healthy women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. Blood flow in the uterine artery (n = 70) and umbilical vein (n = 125) was measured by Doppler ultrasound. Blood samples from the maternal radial artery, antecubital vein and uterine vein, and the umbilical artery and vein were obtained during cesarean section. Cholesterol was determined enzymatically. RESULTS: We found a significant uteroplacental uptake (median [Q1,Q3]) of total (3.50 [-36.8,61.1]) and HDL cholesterol (6.69 [-3.78,17.9]) μmol/min, and a fetal uptake of HDL (8.07 [4.48,12.59]), LDL (5.97 [2.77,8.92]) and total cholesterol (13.2 [8.06,21.58]) μmol/min. Maternal cholesterol levels were not correlated to fetal uptake of cholesterol. There was a correlation between uteroplacental uptake of total (rho 0.35, p 0.003) and LDL cholesterol (rho 0.25, p 0.03) and the fetal uptake of LDL cholesterol from the umbilical circulation. The fetal uptake of cholesterol from HDL was higher than from LDL (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fetal cholesterol uptake is independent of maternal cholesterol levels, but related to the uteroplacental uptake of cholesterol from LDL. This suggests that the placenta influences maternal-fetal cholesterol transfer at term.
OBJECTIVES: The extent to which the human term fetus utilizes cholesterol released from the placenta has remained elusive. Our aims were to estimate the net mass of cholesterol taken up by the uteroplacental unit, released by the placenta and taken up by the fetus. Thereby we aimed to explore the maternal-fetal cholesterol transfer and hypothesized that maternal levels and uteroplacental uptake were correlated to the fetal uptake of cholesterol. METHODS: A cross-sectional in vivo study of 179 fasting, healthy women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. Blood flow in the uterine artery (n = 70) and umbilical vein (n = 125) was measured by Doppler ultrasound. Blood samples from the maternal radial artery, antecubital vein and uterine vein, and the umbilical artery and vein were obtained during cesarean section. Cholesterol was determined enzymatically. RESULTS: We found a significant uteroplacental uptake (median [Q1,Q3]) of total (3.50 [-36.8,61.1]) and HDL cholesterol (6.69 [-3.78,17.9]) μmol/min, and a fetal uptake of HDL (8.07 [4.48,12.59]), LDL (5.97 [2.77,8.92]) and total cholesterol (13.2 [8.06,21.58]) μmol/min. Maternal cholesterol levels were not correlated to fetal uptake of cholesterol. There was a correlation between uteroplacental uptake of total (rho 0.35, p 0.003) and LDL cholesterol (rho 0.25, p 0.03) and the fetal uptake of LDL cholesterol from the umbilical circulation. The fetal uptake of cholesterol from HDL was higher than from LDL (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fetal cholesterol uptake is independent of maternal cholesterol levels, but related to the uteroplacental uptake of cholesterol from LDL. This suggests that the placenta influences maternal-fetal cholesterol transfer at term.
Authors: Line Sletner; Aina E F Moen; Chittaranjan S Yajnik; Nadezhda Lekanova; Christine Sommer; Kåre I Birkeland; Anne K Jenum; Yvonne Böttcher Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2021-12-24 Impact factor: 5.555
Authors: O Kristiansen; M C Roland; M Zucknick; T M Reine; S O Kolset; T Henriksen; T Lekva; T Michelsen Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2022-07-04 Impact factor: 5.467
Authors: Christin W Waage; Ibrahim Mdala; Hein Stigum; Anne Karen Jenum; Kåre I Birkeland; Nilam Shakeel; Trond M Michelsen; Kåre R Richardsen; Line Sletner Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 3.007