Studies on lipolytic system of human placenta, blood lipids and lipid mobilizing activity in pregnant women and newborns.

Lipolytic activity of human placenta and lipid mobilizing activity (LMA), free fatty acids (FFA) as well as esterified fatty acid (EFA) levels in serum of pregnant women in different periods of pregnancy and in newborn's serum were studied. Lipolytic activity of human placenta is low in the first trimester of pregnancy and increases in samples examined after delivery. The levels of FFA and EFA in blood of pregnant women are significantly increased in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The newborn's blood lipid level is significantly lower than that in the mother's blood. Lipid mobilizing activity in serum of pregnant women increases especially in the third trimester of pregnancy and is also high in newborn's blood. This may indicate that fatty acids released from newborn's adipose tissue are metabolized as a source of energy.