Endocrine Abstracts

IGF1 plays a central role in placental growth. IGF delivered from maternal circulation binds to the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) in syncytium resulting in the activation of Akt; inhibition of this pathway affects cytotrophoblast turnover. However, the route(s) by which IGF1 enters placenta and how its signal is delivered into the two trophoblast compartments is unknown. We have utilised quantum dots (QDs) to deliver/track IGF1 binding and internalisation in first trimester placenta (...