Expression of low density lipoprotein receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in placentas from pregnancies with preterm delivery and pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation

The low density lipoprotein receptor plays an important role in the uptake of maternal plasma lipoproteins for placental steroid metabolism. Using an RNase protection assay, the expression of low density lipoprotein receptor mRNA was measured in human placentas from pregnancies in the second and thi rd trimester and from pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation. Pre gnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation showed a significan tly higher expression (1.28), compared with the term and preterm pregnancie s (P < 0.05). The increased low density lipoprotein receptor expression in placentas from pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation could be a compensatory mechanism for the lower circulating low density lipoprotein co ncentrations in women with intrauterine growth retardation.