Endocrine Abstracts

In humans, the exchange of nutrients and waste between mother and fetus occurs via the outer layer of the placenta (syncytium; ST); this layer is maintained by continuous growth and differentiation of underlying cytotrophoblasts (CT). Pregnancy complications such as intrauterine growth restriction are associated with abnormal CT proliferation and apoptosis; altered levels of maternal insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) have also been reported in these conditions. We have demons...

Conditions such as pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction highlight the importance of normal placental cell turnover for successful pregnancy outcome. In these conditions abnormal levels of proliferation and increased apoptosis have been reported; aberrations in components of the IGF axis have also been observed. IGFs regulate proliferation and survival in other cellular systems but their ability to influence human placental cell function remains to be established.<...