Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2012; 216 - P38
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1309130

The relation of adiponectin serum concentration and adiponectin mRNA expression in materno-feto-placental unit in uncomplicated pregnancy

K Dawczynski 1, H de Vries 1, JF Beck 1, S Wittig 1, N Pfaffendorf-Regler 1, A Hübler 1, E Schleußner 2
  • 1Department of Pediatrics
  • 2Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany

Aims: Adiponectin (APN) may play a role in adapting energy metabolism at the materno-fetal unit. The interactions of APN serum concentration in umbilical cord blood and maternal blood in relation to effects on the placental APN expression as well as in addiction to clinical data have not been assessed so far. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between placental APN mRNA expression, maternal serum APN concentration and umbilical cord serum APN concentration in full-term healthy newborns.

Methods: Serum APN levels were compared in 46 samples (23 from healthy newborns; gestational age 37.0 to 41.5 weeks, birth weight 2800 to 4120g, birth length 46 to 54cm) and their mothers (n=23). The APN concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, we analyzed the mRNA expression profile of APN in 22 placentas was analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: The highest APN serum concentrations were found in umbilical cord blood, these were significantly higher than maternal APN levels (Mean concentration±SD; 38.48±12.8 vs. 6.6±2.3µg/ml, P<0.001). Otherwise, there is no significant correlation between maternal APN and umbilical cord APN concentration. APN gene expression was very low and only found in 8 out of 22 placentas. There is no significant correlation between placental APN mRNA and umbilical cord serum APN or maternal serum APN concentration.

Umbilical cord APN concentrations were positively associated with birth weight (r=0.535; p=0.012) and gestational age (r=0.559; p=0.013). Maternal APN concentration revealed a negative correlation to maternal body weight (r=-0.623; p=0.009) and BMI (r=-0.634; p=0.008) at delivery. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between weight of newborn to maternal weight.

Conclusions: This study suggests that high serum APN concentrations in umbilical cord blood are not regulated by placental APN mRNA gene expression. The high concentration of APN in cord blood is independent from maternal APN concentration, suggesting an important physiological role of APN and implicating that umbilical APN concentration reflects its exclusive production by fetal tissues.