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Current Diabetes Reports
Published in: Current Diabetes Reports 1/2012

01-02-2012 | Diabetes and Pregnancy (CJ Homko, Section Editor)

The Placenta and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Authors: M. Gauster, G. Desoye, M. Tötsch, U. Hiden

Published in: Current Diabetes Reports | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

By its location between maternal and fetal bloodstreams the human placenta not only handles the materno-fetal transport of nutrients and gases, but may also be exposed to intrauterine conditions adversely affecting placental and fetal development. Such adverse conditions exist in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and have been associated with alterations in placental anatomy and physiology. These alterations are mainly based on changes on the micro-anatomical and/or even molecular level including aberrant villous vascularization, a disbalance of vasoactive molecules, and enhanced oxidative stress. The consequence thereof may be impaired fetal oxygenation and changes in transplacental nutrient supply. Although transplacental glucose flux is flow limited and independent of glucose transporter availability, transport of essential and nonessential amino acids and expression of genes involved in lipid transport and metabolism are significantly affected by GDM.
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Metadata
Title
The Placenta and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors
M. Gauster
G. Desoye
M. Tötsch
U. Hiden
Publication date
01-02-2012
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Diabetes Reports / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 1534-4827
Electronic ISSN: 1539-0829
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-011-0244-5

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