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Horm Metab Res 2008; 40(3): 189-193
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1004575
Original Basic

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Glucose, Glycerol, 3-Hydroxybutyrate, Insulin, and Leptin on Placental Growth Hormone Secretion in Placental Explants

J. Fuglsang 1 , N. Møller 2 , T. Ledet 3 , P. Ovesen 4
  • 1Gynaecological/Obstetrical Research Laboratory Y, Gynaecological/Obstetrical Department Y, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby Sygehus, Aarhus N, Denmark
  • 2Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Laboratories, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Sygehus, Nørrebrogade, Aarhus C, Denmark
  • 3Research Laboratories for Biochemical Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Sygehus, Nørrebrogade, Aarhus C, Denmark
  • 4Gynaecological/Obstetrical Department Y, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby Sygehus, Aarhus N, Denmark
Further Information

Publication History

received 10.04.2007

accepted 19.07.2007

Publication Date:
04 February 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Placental growth hormone (PGH) is secreted from the syncytiotrophoblast in increasing amounts during pregnancy. The physiology and regulation of PGH is not well known; however, low glucose levels appear to stimulate PGH liberation in vitro and in vivo. PGH appears to have lipolytic effects, and inverse correlations between maternal body mass index and serum PGH levels have been reported. Therefore, substances related to maternal adipose tissue metabolism could influence PGH secretion. The effect of insulin, glycerol, 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB), and leptin on PGH and human placental lactogen (hPL) secretion from cultured placental explants was studied. In glucose-free media, PGH content increased upto 237.5±28.4% of control media (p<0.001, ANOVA). Insulin levels were without effect on PGH secretion, as were 3-OHB, leptin, and glycerol at 0.02 mmol/l. Glycerol at 0.2 mmol/l increased PGH in all of the placental explants studied (n=8; mean increase 27.3±7.1%), and this difference was significantly different from the control explants (p=0.004). The liberation of hPL to culture media was different from PGH and was influenced by glucose and insulin. In conclusion, the absence of glucose profoundly increased PGH secretion in cultured placental explants. Addition of glycerol in physiologically relatively high concentrations showed a less pronounced stimulatory effect.

Key words

GH-V - hPL - adipose tissue - placenta - in vitro

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Correspondence

J. FuglsangMD, PhD 

Gynaecological/Obstetrical Research Laboratory Y

Gynaecological/Obstetrical Department Y

Aarhus University Hospital

Skejby Sygehus

8200 Aarhus N

Denmark

Phone: +45/8949/63 98

Fax: +45/8949/63 73

Email: Fuglsang@ki.au.dk

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