[Energy metabolism during placental development in rats--effect of chronic maternal malnutrition]

The effect of maternal malnutrition on the energy metabolism of the developing rat placenta, related to fetal growth, was studied. Female virgin rats of the Wistar strain were fed restricted amounts of 25% casein diet, from puberty and throughout pregnancy. According to results, a significant decrease occurred in the activity of adenylate kinase, as well as a significant increase in the energy charge of the adenylate system (ATP, ADP), per gram of DNA of placental tissue near term, in the malnourished group. The data suggest that the significant increase of energy charge (ATP + 1/2 ADP:/ATP + ADP + AMP) of the placenta in the malnourished group, is the consequence of an inhibition of the reactions controlling ATP-consuming process, such as macromolecular synthesis pathways and active transport of substrates near term. This coincides with the simultaneous and significant decrease in fetal growth in this group.