The Role of Maternal-Fetal Cholesterol Transport in Early Fetal Life: Current Insights

The importance of maternal cholesterol as an exogenous cholesterol source for the growing embryo was first reported in studies of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. Although most of the fetus's cholesterol is synthesized by the fetus itself, there is now growing evidence that during the first weeks of...

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Published inBiology of reproduction Vol. 88; no. 1; p. 24
Main Authors BAARDMAN, Maria E, KERSTJENS-FREDERIKSE, Wilhelmina S, BERGER, Rolf M. F, BAKKER, Marian K, HOFSTRA, Robert M. W, PLÖSCH, Torsten
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 2013
Subjects
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Transport - physiology
Cholesterol - metabolism
Female
Fetal Development - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Maternal-Fetal Exchange - physiology
Pregnancy
Vertebrates: reproduction
Yolk sac
Reproduction
Placenta
Fetal membrane
placental transport
Biological transport
Lipids
Fetus
embryology
Cholesterol
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Summary:The importance of maternal cholesterol as an exogenous cholesterol source for the growing embryo was first reported in studies of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. Although most of the fetus's cholesterol is synthesized by the fetus itself, there is now growing evidence that during the first weeks of life, when most organs develop, the fetus largely depends on maternal cholesterol as its cholesterol source. The maternal-fetal cholesterol transport mechanism, by transporters in both the yolk sac and placenta, is becoming better understood. This minireview summarizes current insights on maternal-fetal cholesterol transport based on in vitro and in vivo studies. As the prevalence of maternal diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome that adversely affect maternal cholesterol levels, is now rapidly reaching epidemic proportions, we urgently need to determine the impact of these maternal conditions on the developing human fetus.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-3
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ObjectType-Review-1
ISSN:0006-3363
1529-7268
DOI:10.1095/biolreprod.112.102442