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MATERNAL MALNUTRITION AND PLACENTAL TRANSFER OF NUTRIENTS IN THE RAT

It is now well established that maternal malnutrition will retard fetal growth. It has been assumed that the primary mechanism producing this growth retardation is through a reduction in nutrient supply. Since maternal malnutrition affects cellular growth of placenta itself, it is possible that placental function as manifested by its ability to transfer nutrients is also impaired. Placental transfer of glucose and α-amino isobutyric acid (AIB) was measured after maternal protein restriction. Glucose transfer into the fetus on days 20 and 21 of gestation was reduced by about 60 per cent. AIB transfer was reduced by 37 per cent on day 20 and 47 per cent on day 21. By contrast maternal plasma glucose levels, the rate of glucose disappearance from the plasma and of glucose incorporation into maternal tissues was not altered by maternal protein restriction. These data demonstrate that placental function as manifested by the ability to transfer both glucose and amino acids is impaired by maternal protein restriction. It is possible that the fetal growth retardation is secondary to this placental “dysfunction.”