Does insulin affect placental glucose metabolism and transfer?

Article Abstract:

Insulin is the hormone essential for the metabolism of glucose, a simple sugar. Without insulin, cells are unable to carry on their basic activities. During pregnancy glucose is supplied to the fetus either by passing from the mother through the placenta or by metabolism in the placenta itself. Glucose transfer has been thought to be affected by insulin in the following way: if the placenta is stimulated by insulin, more glucose is passed to the fetus; conversely, if the placenta produces more insulin, the supply of glucose to the fetus should be decreased. This hypothesis is controversial. To determine the effect of insulin on both placental metabolism and maternal transfer independently, transfer of glucose was measured along with two other substances in placenta obtained after a normal delivery. The three substances were measured after insulin was introduced to the simulated fetal and fetal-maternal compartments. It was concluded that insulin administration did not affect placental glucose metabolism or the placental transfer of glucose. This is different from insulin's effect on other tissues in the body.

Maternal-fetal exchange, Drug therapy, Insulin

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Placental expression of glucose transporter proteins 1 and 3 in growth-restricted fetal rats

Article Abstract:

The expression of glucose transporter proteins 1 and 3 does not change when the placenta is deprived of blood. Researchers believe that many cases of fetal growth retardation occur because the placenta is deprived of blood. Studies have shown that glucose still crosses the placenta at normal rates even though the placenta receives less blood. This could occur if levels of glucose transporter proteins increase. However, a study on rats showed that the level of glucose transporter proteins 1 and 3 remained the same when the rats' placentas were deprived of blood.

Fetus, Fetal growth retardation

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Human placental glucose uptake and transport are not altered by the oral antihyperglycemic agent metformin

Article Abstract:

A new drug used to treat gestational diabetes may not increase sugar levels in the fetus. Researchers used newly delivered human term placentas to assess the affect of metformin on placental uptake and transfer of glucose from the maternal to the fetal circulation. No difference in fetal levels of glucose was found between placentas exposed to metformin and those not exposed. Metformin is the only orally-administered drug used to reduce high blood sugar levels that has been approved in the U.S.

Metformin

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