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Published on: July 30, 2016
The hypoxic placenta
Martha C Tissot van Patot1, German Ebensperger, Max Gassmann
1Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. marthatissot@me.com
Hypoxia of the placenta is integral to complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and small-for-gestational age babies. Hypoxia in the placenta is associated with vascular remodeling, hypertension, metabolic changes, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticular stress. Hypoxia induces similar outcomes in other organs such as the lungs, kidney, and gut. Comparing and contrasting the effects of hypoxia on placental functions and functions of lung, kidney, and gut can lead to novel hypotheses and investigations, furthering our understanding of the impact of hypoxia on these diverse yet similar organs. In this review, we compare and contrast hypoxic placental responses to those in the other organ and cell systems.
Hypoxia of the placenta is integral to complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and small-for-gestational age babies. Hypoxia in the placenta is associated with vascular remodeling, hypertension, metabolic changes, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticular stress. Hypoxia induces similar outcomes in other organs such as the lungs, kidney, and gut. Comparing and contrasting the effects of hypoxia on placental functions and functions of lung, kidney, and gut can lead to novel hypotheses and investigations, furthering our understanding of the impact of hypoxia on these diverse yet similar organs. In this review, we compare and contrast hypoxic placental responses to those in the other organ and cell systems.
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