Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (GARJMMS) ISSN: 2315-5159
October 2014 Vol. 3(10), pp. 315-321
Copyright © 2014 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Expression of glucose transporters in placenta from macrosomic infants

Sandra Alicia Reza-López Ph.D¹, Blanca Estela Sánchez-Ramírez Ph.D², Daniela Sarahí Gutiérrez-Torres M.Sc²,  Mariela Rodríguez-Salinas¹, Martha Grisell Ortega-Valerio¹, Dora Virginia Chávez-Corral M.D¹ and Margarita Levario-Carrillo, Ph.D¹*

¹Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. Circuito Universitario, Campus II, C.P. 31109, Chihuahua, Chih., México.
²Programa de Maestría en Ciencias en Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. Circuito Universitario, Campus II, C.P. 31109, Chihuahua, Chih., México

*Corresponding Author Email: mlevarioc@uach.mx; Phone: +52 (614) 439-1500 Ext. 3572;  Fax +52 (614) 238-6036

Accepted 17 October, 2014

Abstract

Maternal glucose status and placental transport are related to macrosomia in pregnancies complicated with diabetes mellitus. However, there is little information on the placental expression of glucose transporters in non-complicated pregnancies. The objective of this study was to compare the expression glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT3 in placenta from macrosomic and normal weight newborns. Information on maternal factors was obtained from clinical records. Protein expression  of GLUT1 and GLUT3 glucose transporters was determined by immunohistochemistry in archived term placenta samples of singleton, non-diabetic pregnancies, from macrosomic (>4000g) and normal weight newborns, matched for gestational age (±1week) and gender (n=25 pairs) for a case-control study. Macrosomia was more frequent in newborns from women with pregestational overweight (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2, p=0.046) or with glucose concentration ≥85 mg/dL (p=0.01).  Placentas in the highest tertile of GLUT3 expression had 5 times the chance of being from macrosomic newborns compared to controls (p<0.05). This association remained significant after adjusting for other maternal factors. Protein expression of GLUT1 was not different between groups. Term placentas from macrosomic newborns from uncomplicated pregnancies show increased protein expression of GLUT3 but not GLUT1.

Keywords: Macrosomic, placenta, glucose, GLUT, birth weight