Endothelial nitric oxide deficiency results in abnormal placental metabolism

Placenta. 2022 Oct:128:36-38. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.08.013. Epub 2022 Aug 29.

Abstract

Placental metabolism determines the amount of nutrients available to the fetus and may be altered in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR). To study which metabolites are associated with FGR, we performed 1H high-resolution magic angle spinning magnetic resonance spectroscopy of placental tissue from endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout (eNOS KO) mice, a model of FGR, and C57BL/6J controls at embryonic day 17.5 (n = 24/genotype). The relative concentration of glucose was increased in the placentas of eNOS KO mice compared to controls (p = 0.006). This study highlights the potential for glucose as a biomarker of abnormal placental metabolism that leads to FGR.

Keywords: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase; Fetal growth restriction; Glucose; Metabolomics; Mouse; Placenta.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / pathology
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III* / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III* / metabolism
  • Placenta* / metabolism
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Glucose