Sex-Dependent Regulation of Placental Oleic Acid and Palmitic Acid Metabolism by Maternal Glycemia and Associations with Birthweight
2022
Oliver C. Watkins | Hannah E. J. Yong | Tania Ken Lin Mah | Victoria K. B. Cracknell-Hazra | Reshma Appukuttan Pillai | Preben Selvam | Neha Sharma | Amaury Cazenave-Gassiot | Anne K. Bendt | Keith M. Godfrey | Rohan M. Lewis | Markus R. Wenk | Shiao-Yng Chan
Pregnancy complications such as maternal hyperglycemia increase perinatal mortality and morbidity, but risks are higher in males than in females. We hypothesized that fetal sex-dependent differences in placental palmitic-acid (PA) and oleic-acid (OA) metabolism influence such risks. Placental explants (n = 22) were incubated with isotope-labeled fatty acids (<sup>13</sup>C-PA or <sup>13</sup>C-OA) for 24 or 48 h and the production of forty-seven <sup>13</sup>C-PA lipids and thirty-seven <sup>13</sup>C-OA lipids quantified by LCMS. Linear regression was used to investigate associations between maternal glycemia, BMI and fetal sex with <sup>13</sup>C lipids, and between <sup>13</sup>C lipids and birthweight centile. Placental explants from females showed greater incorporation of <sup>13</sup>C-OA and <sup>13</sup>C-PA into almost all lipids compared to males. Fetal sex also influenced relationships with maternal glycemia, with many <sup>13</sup>C-OA and <sup>13</sup>C-PA acylcarnitines, <sup>13</sup>C-PA-diacylglycerols and <sup>13</sup>C-PA phospholipids positively associated with glycemia in females but not in males. In contrast, several <sup>13</sup>C-OA triacylglycerols and <sup>13</sup>C-OA phospholipids were negatively associated with glycemia in males but not in females. Birthweight centile in females was positively associated with six <sup>13</sup>C-PA and three <sup>13</sup>C-OA lipids (mainly acylcarnitines) and was negatively associated with eight <sup>13</sup>C-OA lipids, while males showed few associations. Fetal sex thus influences placental lipid metabolism and could be a key modulator of the impact of maternal metabolic health on perinatal outcomes, potentially contributing toward sex-specific adaptions in which females prioritize survival.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Directory of Open Access Journals