Summary
The placenta and the fetal membranes differ in their energy dependent functions and in their blood supply. In a search for quantitative differences in the expression of enzymes involved in energy metabolism in these tissues we measured in the placenta and in amnion and chorion the activities of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glycogen phosphorylase), a tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme (succinate dehydrogenase) and an enzyme involved in fatty acid oxidation (hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase). The activities of succinate dehydrogenase and hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase in the placenta were higher than those in the membranes, whereas the activities of the other enzymes assayed were lower. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was higher in the amnion than in the chorion (p < 0.01). These results could indicate that the fetal membranes depend mainly on glycolysis for an energy supply.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bass A, Brdiczka D, Eyer P, Hofer S, Pette D (1969) Metabolic differentiation of distinct muscle types at the level of enzymatic organisation. Eur J Biochem 10: 198–206
Beaconsfield P, Ginsburg J (1979) Carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism in the placenta. In: Beaconsfield P, Villee C (eds) Placenta — a neglected experimental animal. Pergamon Press, Oxford, p 34
Bergmeyer HU (1974) Methods of enzymatic analysis, vol 1. Verlag Chemie GmbH, Weinheim
Bourne GL (1960) The microscopic anatomy of the human amnion and chorion. Am J Obstet Gynecol 79: 1070–1073
Brame RG, Overby JR (1970) Metabolism in human amnion. Obstet Gynecol 36: 425–428
Burd LI, Jones MD Jr, Simmons MA, Makowski EL, Meschia G, Battaglia FC (1975) Placental production and foetal utilisation of lactate and pyruvate. Nature 254: 710–711
Cooperstein S, Lazarow A, Kurfess R (1950) Microspectrophotometric method for the determination of succinic dehydrogenase. J Biol Chem 186: 129–139
Garver KL, Marchese SG, Wineman AE, Garver JJ (1980) Origin of lactate dehydrogenase in amniotic fluid. Enzyme 25: 73–80
Holzman IR, Philipps AF, Battaglia FC (1979) Glucose metabolism, lactate, and ammonia production by the human placenta in vitro. Pediatr Res 13: 117–120
Keirse MJNC, Turnbull AC (1976) The fetal membranes as a possible source of amniotic fluid prostaglandins. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 83: 146–151
Körner U, Gerner R, Halberstadt E (1983) Untersuchungen zur Lezithinsynthese und ihrer Stimulierbarkeit in der Eihaut. Arch Gynecol 235: 468
Lapan B, Friedman MM (1965) Tissue enzymes in gestation: comparative activities in the placenta and fetal membranes. Am J Obsetet Gynecol 93: 1157–1163
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193: 265–275
Magnet-Fiedler S, Gerner R, Halberstadt E, Born HJ (1981) In vitro-Untersuchungen zum Stoffwechsel der Eihaut. Arch Gynecol 232: 468–469
Okita JR, Johnston JM, MacDonald PC (1983) Source of prostaglandin precursor in human fetal membranes: Arachidonic acid content of amnion and chorion laeve in diamniotic-dichorionic twin placentas. Am J Obstet Gynecol 147: 477–482
Sbarra AJ, Selvaraj RJ, Cetrulo CL, Thomas G, Louis F, Kennison R (1983) Phagocytosis and onset of human labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol 146: 622–629
Schwartz AL, Forster CS, Smith PA, Liggins GC (1977) Human amnion metabolism, I. In vitro maintenance. Am J Obstet Gynecol 127: 470–474
Sjöstedt S, Rooth G, Caligara F (1958) The oxygen tension of the amniotic fluid. Am J Obstet Gynecol 76: 1226–1230
Szabo AJ, Grimaldi RD (1970) The metabolism of the placenta. Adv Metab Disord 4: 185–228
Székely JA, Hahn V (1970) Untersuchungen über die Enzymaktivitäten in der menschlichen Plazenta während der normalen und gestörten Schwangerschaft, VII. Überblick über die Veränderungen von GOT-, GPT-, LDH-, MDH-, AP-, und SP-Aktivität in der Plazenta. Zentralbl Gynäkol 92: 817–824
Villee C (1962) Metabolism of the placenta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 84: 1684–1694
Weser H, Kaufman P (1978) Lichtmikroskopische und histochemische Untersuchungen an der Chorionplatte der reifen menschlichen Plazenta. Arch Gynecol 225: 15–30
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Herrmann, U., Degiampietro, P., Metzger, E. et al. Activities in the placenta and fetal membranes of enzymes involved in energy metabolism. Arch. Gynecol. 236, 249–254 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02133943
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02133943