Endocrine Abstracts

The formation of the placental syncytiotrophoblast through trophoblast differentiation is a key cellular event, essential for successful embryonic implantation, oxygen/nutrient transport and secretion of placental hormones necessary for fetal development. Trophoblast differentiation alters expression of various molecules with important roles in placental biology, including 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), the major component of the placental glucoc...

Pregnancy, a state of insulin resistance (IR), is associated with elevated levels of cytokines and profound alterations in metabolism, directed towards supplying adequate nutrition for the fetus. Adiponectin, an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and insulin sensitising properties, plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Interestingly, in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a state of greater insulin resistance, serum adiponectin levels are lower than normal subjects. We...