Effects of reduced maternal lipoprotein-cholesterol availability on placental progesterone biosynthesis in the baboon.

Maternal low density lipoprotein (LDL) is the principal source of cholesterol substrate for progesterone biosynthesis in the primate placental syncytiotrophoblast. The relationship of LDL-cholesterol availability and other potential cholesterol-yielding pathways to placental progesterone production have not, however, been demonstrated in vivo in a nonhuman primate. Therefore, maternal peripheral lipoprotein-cholesterol and progesterone concentrations were determined in blood samples obtained by venipuncture, from day 72 until day 100, from pregnant baboons (Papio sp) that were either untreated (n = 4) or treated (n = 3) with the inhibitor of hepatic lipoprotein production, 4-aminopyrazolo [3-4-d]pyrimidine (4-APP, 10 mg/kg BW) on days 98-99 of pregnancy (term = 184 days). Although LDL-cholesterol and progesterone levels remained unchanged in untreated animals, LDL-cholesterol concentrations were 9-fold lower (P < 0.005) in baboons receiving 4-APP than in untreated baboons 2 days following initial administration. Commensurate progesterone levels were 3.5-fold lower (P < 0.03) in 4-APP-treated baboons than in untreated baboons. RT-PCR was used to approximate relative changes in transcription of messengers RNAs (mRNAs) for selected cholesterol-sensitive pathways in placental tissue collected on day 100. Thus, expression of mRNAs for LDL receptor and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase appeared enhanced, whereas acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) mRNA was diminished in syncytiotrophoblast-enriched cell fractions as a result of 4-APP administration. No relative differences in mRNAs were apparent in whole placental villous tissue, however, as a result of 4-APP treatment. In summary, this experiment demonstrates a significant decline in progesterone production elicited by maternal LDL-cholesterol withdrawal, and attests to the efficacy of 4-APP administration during baboon pregnancy. These results also suggest a commensurate regulation of cholesterol-sensitive pathways in primate syncytiotrophoblast. However, no relative differences were apparent in mRNA levels for LDL receptor, HMG-CoA and ACAT in whole placental villous tissue as a result of LDL-cholesterol withdrawal, which may suggest potential disparities in the mechanisms regulating cholesterol homeostasis in steroidogenically active syncytiotrophoblasts vs. those in proliferative nonendocrine placental constituents.