Uptake and asymmetric efflux of amino acids at maternal and fetal sides of placenta.

Unidirectional uptake of eighteen amino acids into the syncytiotrophoblast was measured from both the maternal and fetal circulations of isolated dually perfused guinea pig placentas using a single-circulation, paired-tracer dilution technique. A bolus containing a tritiated amino acid and L-[14C]glucose (extracellular marker) was injected intra-arterially into one circulation, and both venous outflows were sequentially sampled. The maximal cellular uptake (Umax) on the injection side was determined from (1-[3H]/[14C]) values and used to calculate the unidirectional influx. Umax values for neutral and basic amino acids ranged between 15 and 58% and were similar on both sides of the trophoblast. Uptake of the acidic amino acids and taurine was minimal. Amino acid influx from either circulation was followed by rapid tracer backflux and transplacental transfer. Tracer efflux was asymmetric and preferentially directed towards the fetal side. It is suggested that amino acid transport systems are present on both surfaces of the placenta and that net transfer from mother to fetus is the result of asymmetric efflux from the trophoblast.