Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
Ghrelin in gestational diabetes: serum level and mRNA expression in fat and placental tissue
B Telejko1, M Kuzmicki, A Zonenberg
1Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15 - 276 Bia ł ystok Poland. telejkob@poczta.onet.pl
Objectives:
We studied the effect of an oral glucose load on circulating ghrelin, as well as ghrelin and ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) mRNA expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and placental tissue from pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT).
Methods:
Plasma total ghrelin levels were measured in 58 patients with GDM and 61 women with NGT by radioimmunoassay. Ghrelin and GHS-R1a mRNA expression was studied in 16 subjects with GDM and 20 healthy pregnant women at term, using RT-PCR.
Results:
Basal ghrelin concentrations and the maximal decrease in ghrelin levels after glucose load did not differ in the women with GDM and NGT (399.1 [299.6-563.3] pg/ml vs. 400.9 [302.3-475.8] pg/ml and 127.6 [23.1-213.1] pg/ml vs. 101.7 [44.0-217.6] pg/ml, respectively). Ghrelin mRNA expression in placental tissue was significantly higher in the subjects with GDM than in the healthy pregnant women (0.06 [0.03-0.07] AU vs. 0.02 [0.015-0.03 AU], p=0.02), whereas GHS-R1a mRNA expression in all three tissues studied did not differ between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that ghrelin mRNA expression in SAT was significantly predicted by serum insulin (beta=0.62, p=0.01), explaining 42% of its variability.
Conclusions:
Ghrelin mRNA expression in placental tissue was higher in the GDM than in NGT subjects, whereas no association between circulating ghrelin and GDM was observed.
More Related Videos
11:36A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood
Published on: April 28, 2016
11:44A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta
Published on: September 27, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by the...
Hyperglycemia
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...