Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
Placenta. 2011 Nov;32(11):845-51. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2011.07.083. Epub 2011 Aug 27.
More than one-fourth of U.S. women are overweight; more than one-third are obese. Maternal obesity has been linked to an increased incidence of stillbirths, fetal macrosomia, fetal intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia. The placenta plays a key role in the nutrients and oxygen supply to the fetus. The data about structural changes in the placental villous membrane (VM), a major component of the feto-maternal nutrient and oxygen exchange barrier, during obesity are sparse and inconsistent. Our objective was to evaluate the morphometric changes in the placental exchange barrier in a baboon model of obesity.
The previously described baboon model of maternal obesity was studied. We compared 4 obese to 4 non-obese baboons. Placental stereology with the use of transmission electron microscopy was performed to estimate VM oxygen diffusing capacities and morphometry.
The specific placental oxygen diffusing capacities per unit of fetal weight were similar in baboons and humans. Maternal leptin concentrations correlated negatively with placental basement membrane thickness (r = -0.78, p < 0.05), while fetal leptin levels correlated negatively with endothelial thickness of fetal capillaries (r = -0.78, p < 0.05). The total and specific villous membrane oxygen diffusing capacities were not different between the two groups.
To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of placental oxygen diffusing capacities and placental ultrastructural changes in a baboon model of obesity. Previously reported placental inflammation in maternal obesity is not associated with changes in the VM diffusing capacities and ultrastructure.
超过四分之一的美国女性超重；超过三分之一的女性肥胖。母体肥胖与死产、胎儿巨大儿、胎儿宫内生长受限和子痫前期的发生率增加有关。胎盘在为胎儿提供营养和氧气方面起着关键作用。关于肥胖时胎盘绒毛膜（VM）结构变化的数据很少且不一致，VM 是胎儿-母体营养和氧气交换屏障的主要组成部分。我们的目的是评估肥胖狒狒模型中胎盘交换屏障的形态计量学变化。
研究了先前描述的肥胖母狒狒模型。我们比较了 4 例肥胖狒狒和 4 例非肥胖狒狒。使用透射电子显微镜进行胎盘体视学测量，以估计 VM 的氧气扩散能力和形态计量学。
单位胎儿体重的胎盘特定氧气扩散能力在狒狒和人类中相似。母体瘦素浓度与胎盘基膜厚度呈负相关（r=-0.78，p<0.05），而胎儿瘦素水平与胎儿毛细血管内皮厚度呈负相关（r=-0.78，p<0.05）。两组间总绒毛膜和特异性绒毛膜氧气扩散能力无差异。
据我们所知，这是肥胖狒狒模型中胎盘氧气扩散能力和胎盘超微结构变化的首次报告。先前报道的母体肥胖中的胎盘炎症与 VM 扩散能力和超微结构的变化无关。
