The effect of high glucose on lipid metabolism in the human placenta

Diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy can result in fetal overgrowth, likely due to placental dysfunction, which has health consequences for the infant. Here we test our prediction from previous work using a placental cell line that high glucose concentrations affect placental lipid metabolism. Placentas from women with type 1 (n = 13), type 2 (n = 6) or gestational (n = 12) DM, BMI-matched to mothers without DM (n = 18), were analysed for lipase and fatty acid transport proteins and fatty acid and triglyceride content. Explants from uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 6) cultured in physiological or high glucose were similarly analysed. High glucose levels did not alter placental lipase or transporter expression or the profile and abundance of fatty acids, but triglyceride levels were higher (p