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PMID: 19451204 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

Placental efficiency and adaptation: endocrine regulation.

The Journal of physiology ·Vol. 587 ·No. Pt 14 ·2009-07-15 ·Pages 3459-72

Fowden AL, Sferruzzi-Perri AN, Coan PM, Constancia M, Burton GJ

Abstract

Size at birth is critical in determining life expectancy and is dependent primarily on the placental supply of nutrients. However, the fetus is not just a passive recipient of nutrients from the placenta. It exerts a significant acquisitive drive for nutrients, which acts through morphological and functional adaptations in the placenta, particularly when the genetically determined drive for fetal growth is compromised by adverse intrauterine conditions. These adaptations alter the efficiency with which the placenta supports fetal growth, which results in optimal growth for prevailing conditions in utero. This review examines placental efficiency as a means of altering fetal growth, the morphological and functional adaptations that influence placental efficiency and the endocrine regulation of these processes.

MeSH Terms
Endocrine Glands/metabolism Feedback Female Hormones/metabolism Humans Maternal-Fetal Exchange/physiology Placenta/metabolism Pregnancy/metabolism
Chemicals
Hormones
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Fowden A L
Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Physiology Building, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK. [email protected]
Sferruzzi-Perri A N
Coan P M
Constancia M
Burton G J
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of physiology
Abbr.
J Physiol
ISSN
1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.2009.173013
Email
[email protected]
Published
2009-07-15
Epub
2009-00-18
Pages
3459-72
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
0266262
PMCID
PMC2742275
Subset
IM
Grants
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council · BB/B50118X/1 · United Kingdom
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council · BB/B50118X/2 · United Kingdom
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council · BB/C513626/1 · United Kingdom
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.173013 PMC Full Text View journal details
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