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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model
Published on: June 18, 2013
Calcium channels, transporters and exchangers in placenta: a review
Louiza Belkacemi1, Isabelle Bédard, Lucie Simoneau
1Laboratoire de Physiologie Materno-Foetale, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succursale 'Centre-Ville'Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3P8.
Abstract:
Calcium (Ca2+) entry in cells is crucial for development and physiology of virtually all cell types. It acts as an intracellular (second) messenger to regulate a diverse array of cellular functions, from cell division and differentiation to cell death. Among candidates for Ca2+ entry in cells are-voltage-dependant Ca2+ channels (VDCCs), transient receptor potential (TRP)-related Ca2+ channels and store-operated Ca2+ (SOC) channels. Plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPases (PMCA) and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) are mainly responsible for Ca2+ extrusion. These different Ca2+channels/transporters and exchangers exhibit specific distribution and physiological properties. During pregnancy, the syncytiotrophoblast layer of the human placenta transfers as much as 30 g of Ca2+ from the mother to the fetus, especially in late gestation where Ca2+ transport through different channels must increase in response to the demands of accelerating bone mineralization of the fetus. The identification and characterization of the different Ca2+ channels/transporters and exchangers on the brush-border membrane (BBM) facing the maternal circulation, and the basal plasma membrane (BPM) facing the fetal circulation; placental membrane of the syncytiotrophoblasts have been the focus of numerous studies. This review discusses current views in this field regarding localization and functions during transcellular Ca2+ entry and extrusion from cells particularly in the placenta.
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