J. Stammers et al., EFFECT ON PLACENTAL-TRANSFER OF EXOGENOUS LIPID ADMINISTERED TO THE PREGNANT RABBIT, Pediatric research, 38(6), 1995, pp. 1026-1031
The transfer of lipids across the placenta was measured after infusion
of an emulsion of triacylglycerol and phospholipid (Intralipid) into
10 anesthetized rabbits. Maternal and umbilical venous and arterial sa
mples were collected at 10-min intervals. All samples were analyzed fo
r concentration and fatty acid composition of FFA, triacylglycerol, an
d phospholipid fractions. At the end of the infusion period of Intrali
pid, there was a significant increase in the maternal concentrations o
f total triacylglycerol (p < 0.01) and of total phospholipid (p = 0.01
) but not of total FFA (p > 0.05). Maternal plasma triacylglycerol and
phospholipid altered in composition to match that of the infused Intr
alipid by the end of the infusion. Despite the significant rise in mat
ernal triacylglycerol and phospholipid concentrations, the umbilical v
ein-artery difference for these lipid fractions remained unchanged and
very low. In contrast, the umbilical vein-artery difference for FFA (
p < 0.02) rose gradually throughout the experiments. There was no sign
ificant change in the fatty acid composition of the maternal FFA, but
the fatty acid composition of the umbilical vein-artery difference for
FFA changed to reflect the composition of Intralipid. These experimen
ts show that exogenous triacylglycerol and phospholipid dramatically a
lter the lipid fractions presented to the placenta in the maternal pla
sma but do not cross the placenta intact. However, the composition of
the FFA crossing the placenta is modulated to become more similar to t
hat of the exogenous lipid.