Abstract
Introduction
During pregnancy, appropriate placental metabolism is essential for fetuses to reach their growth potential. However, metabolic mechanisms during pregnancy remain poorly understood. Determination of the levels of placental metabolites in healthy pregnancy and how they change throughout gestation is critical for understanding placental function.
Objective
To determine the effects of gestational age on placental metabolites using healthy pregnant mice.
Methods
In the present study, we collected placental tissue samples from healthy pregnant mice at three timepoints in late gestation (n = 16 placentas per gestational age). Metabolite profiles were determined using 1H high-resolution magic angle spinning magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HRMAS MRS).
Results
Using HRMAS MRS, we identified 14 metabolites in murine placental tissue samples. The relative concentration of 12 of the 14 metabolites remains unchanged throughout late gestation. Lysine was found to decrease significantly (p = 0.04) and glucose showed an inverted U-shape relationship (p = 0.03) with gestational age.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated the feasibility of HRMAS MRS to determine relative metabolite concentrations in murine placental tissue. These findings establish baseline levels of placental tissue metabolite profiles and will serve as reference ranges for future studies using mouse models of fetal distress.
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Data availability
The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Funding
This study was funded by the Banting Research Foundation and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada.
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CMS, GVM, HG performed the experiments. KLS, GVM, LSC analyzed the data. CMS, LP, LSC interpreted results of the experiments. KLS and LSC prepared figures. CMS, MJS, AJS, LSC conceived and designed the research and drafted the manuscript. CMS, KLS, GVM, HG, LP, MJS, AJS, LSC approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Schneider, C.M., Steeves, K.L., Mercer, G.V. et al. Placental metabolite profiles in late gestation for healthy mice. Metabolomics 18, 10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-021-01868-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-021-01868-2