Reduced fetal, placental, and amniotic fluid PTHrP in the growth-restricted spontaneously hypertensive rat

Evidence implicates pivotal roles for parathyroid hormone-related protein ( PTHrP) in stimulating cell growth and differentiation, placental calcium tr ansport, and placental vasodilatation. As spontaneously hypertensive rat (S HR) fetuses are growth restricted compared with those of its normotensive c ontrol, the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat, we examined intrauterine PTHrP and tota l and ionic calcium concentrations in these rats. Fetal plasma PTHrP concen trations, but not total calcium concentrations, were lower in the SHR compa red with WKY (P < 0.05). SHR placental concentrations of PTHrP were lower t han in WKY (P < 0.03) and failed to show the increase observed in WKY near term (P, 0.05). PTHrP concentrations in amniotic fluid from SHR were not ra ised near term and were lower compared with WKY (P < 0.0005). The increased ionic calcium concentrations in amniotic fluid in the WKY near term (P < 0 .05) were not detected in the SHR. Thus SHR fetal plasma, placental, and am niotic fluid PTHrP concentrations were reduced and associated with fetal gr owth restriction. We suggest that PTHrP may play a role in the etiology of both growth restriction during pregnancy and hypertension later in life.