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Placental control of fetal metabolism

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Fetal Growth

Abstract

The placenta is an organ that exchanges heat and matter between the fetal and maternal circulations. This exchange is the principal means by which the placenta controls fetal metabolism. This review will focus on the placental exchanges of nutrient substrates and how these affect fetal energy and protein metabolism. Other interesting aspects of placental exchange and control of fetal metabolism such as exchange of vitamins, macro-minerals, trace elements and “essential growth factors” (e.g. inositol, choline), as well as placental blood flow and the processing of various hormones (e.g. progesterone, oestrogen, placental lactogen) are equally important but beyond the scope of this review. Most of the information and concepts presented reflect animal experimentation given the paucity of data from human studies for obvious technical and ethical reasons.

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Authors
  1. Professor W. W. Hay Jr.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Clinical Sciences Centre, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK

    F. Sharp MD, FRCOG  & R. B. Fraser MD, FRCOG, DCH  & 

  2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Sheffield, Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, S10 2TH, UK

    R. D. B. Milner MA, ScD (Cantab), MD (Lond), FRCP (Lond)

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© 1989 The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

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Hay, W.W. (1989). Placental control of fetal metabolism. In: Sharp, F., Fraser, R.B., Milner, R.D.B. (eds) Fetal Growth. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1707-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1707-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1709-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1707-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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