Cited by 160Birth, Development, and HealthPregnancy and preeclampsia studiesGestational Diabetes Research and Management

The Role of Placental Nutrient Sensing in Maternal-Fetal Resource Allocation1

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Díaz, Paula, Powell, Theresa L., Jansson, Thomas·2014·Biology of Reproduction

Abstract

The placenta mediates maternal-fetal exchange and has historically been regarded as a passive conduit for nutrients. However, emerging evidence suggests that the placenta actively responds to nutritional and metabolic signals from the mother and the fetus. We propose that the placenta integrates a multitude of maternal and fetal nutritional cues with information from intrinsic nutrient-sensing signaling pathways to match fetal demand with maternal supply by regulating maternal physiology, placental growth, and nutrient transport. This process, which we have called placental nutrient sensing, ensures optimal allocation of resources between the mother and the fetus to maximize the chances for propagation of parental genes without jeopardizing maternal health. We suggest that these mechanisms have evolved because of the evolutionary pressures of maternal undernutrition, which result in decreased placental growth and down-regulation of nutrient transporters, thereby limiting fetal growth to ensure maternal survival. These regulatory loops may also function in response to maternal overnutrition, leading to increased placental growth and nutrient transport in cases of maternal obesity or gestational diabetes. Thus, placental nutrient sensing modulates maternal-fetal resource allocation to increase the likelihood of reproductive success. This model implies that the placenta plays a critical role in mediating fetal programming and determining lifelong health.

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Crossref · 10.1095/biolreprod.114.121798

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  • Maternal nutrition is a major determinant of placental development and alters the morphological, transport and endocrine characteristics of the placenta with consequences for fetal nutrient supply in a wide range of species including laboratory and farm species as well as human and non-human primates.

    “In addition, maternal nutrition is a major determinant of placental development and alters the morphological, transport and endocrine characteristics of the placenta with consequences for the fetal nutrient supply in a wide range of species including laboratory and farm species as well as human and non-human primates (47, 144, 204, 522, 550).”

    From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [144]

  • The responses of the placenta to environmental cues, such as hypoxia and nutrition, indicate that there is significant interaction between maternal nutrient availability and fetal demands for these resources in determining maternal-fetal nutrient allocation at the level of the placenta.

    “The responses of the placenta to environmental cues, such as hypoxia and nutrition, indicate that there is significant interaction between maternal nutrient availability and fetal demands for these resources in determining maternal-fetal nutrient allocation at the level of the placenta (74,144).”

    From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [144]

  • This dynamic adaptation in placental phenotype optimises fetal fitness in the prevailing conditions while maintaining sufficient maternal resource for lactation and subsequent pregnancies.

    “This dynamic adaptation in placental phenotype optimises fetal fitness in the prevailing conditions while maintaining sufficient maternal resource for lactation and subsequent pregnancies (144, 193).”

    From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [144]

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Authors
Díaz, P., Powell, T. L., & Jansson, T.
Affiliations
The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
Corresponding author
Díaz, Paula
Venue
Biology of Reproduction
Published
2014-10-01
Volume
91
Issue
4
Pages
82-82
ISSN
  • 0006-3363 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-7268
OpenAlex
W2151264384
Cited by
158
References
128
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 1
FWCI
1.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biology of Reproduction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01hd068370-11, HD065007, HD068370)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK089989, DK089989)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R21HD071306, R01-HD068370, HD065007, R01HD065007, HD071306, HD 068370)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
Keywords
placental development, nutrient transporters, maternal-fetal nutrient exchange, maternal undernutrition, maternal overnutrition, maternal obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal programming, evolutionary pressure, placenta
MeSH terms
Animals, Biological Transport, Female, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Placenta, Pregnancy, Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

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