Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Assessment of Maternal Vascular Remodeling During Pregnancy in the Mouse Uterus
Published on: December 5, 2015
SHBG in GDM maternal serum, placental tissues and umbilical cord serum expression changes and its significance
Lei Sun1, Zhen Jin, Weiping Teng
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Aims:
To compare the expression of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in normal placental tissues and serum with placental tissues from patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to deduce the mechanism affecting placental SHBG in GDM.
Methods:
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method were used to detect SHBG levels changes in normal and GDM maternal serum, umbilical cord serum and placental. We measured SHBG mRNA and protein using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting, respectively, in normal and GDM placental tissues.
Results:
In maternal serum, compared with the control group, GDM group: glucose, insulin increased, SHBG decreased. In the placenta, compared with the control group, GDM group: SHBG, SHBG mRNA and SHBG protein decreased. There is no correlation between placenta SHBG and maternal serum SHBG respectively in control and GDM group, but in GDM group maternal serum insulin and placenta SHBG are linear correlation.
Conclusions:
GDM serum and placental SHBG levels are reduced, hyperinsulinemia may lead to a reduction of SHBG in circulating blood, but also damage the placenta cells which led to placental synthesis and secretion of SHBG decrease.
Related Concept Videos
Gonadal and Placental Hormones
In males, testosterone is the primary gonadal androgen. It plays a central role in the maturation of male reproductive organs — the penis and testes. Additionally, testosterone is instrumental in the development of secondary sexual characteristics — a deep voice as well as facial and pubic hair growth — and...
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...