Feto-Maternal Amino Acid Patterns and Cyclic AMP in the Human Placenta with Abnormal Pregnancies, Particularly with SFD

Abstract

MATSUDA, T., NAKANO, Y., NISHIEAWA, Y. and YAMAGUCHI, R. FetoMaternal Amino Acid Patterns and Cyclic AMP in the Human Placenta with Abnormal Pregnancies, Particularly with,SFD. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1977, 121 (3), 253-262 To clarify the causes of SFD from the view-point of placental function, investigations were made on feto-maternal amino acid circumstances and on how cyclic AMP behaves in the placenta, particularly in relation to the transport of amino acid across the placenta. Amino acids were measured by gas liquid chromatography (hydrogen-flame ion detector), c-AMP by the binding protein method, adenyl cyclase activity by Krishna's method, and proteins by Lowry's method. Results show: (1) The levels of maternal amino acids were indistinctive between the SFD group and the normal pregnancy group. (2) The feto-maternal ratio of amino acid concentrations (f/m ratio) was lower in the SFD group than in the normal control. (3) The level of c-AMP in the placenta was lower in the SFD group than in the control. (4) The lower level of placental CAMP in the SFD placenta seems partly attributable to the decreased adenyl cyclase activity. (5) There was a positive correlation (r=0.61) between the content of c-AMP in the placenta and the f/m ratio of amino acid concentrations. These findings suggest a decline in placental active transport of amino acids in SFD; adenyl cyclase and c-AMP in the placenta presumably play a key role in such course. SFD; placenta; c-AMP; amino acid. © 1977, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.