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Red blood cell as glucose carrier: significance for placental and cerebral glucose transfer

J A Jacquez

    The American Journal of Physiology
    |March 1, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    Human red blood cells have a high capacity for glucose transport, crucial for fetal development and brain function in primates. This system, vital in fetal mammals, is lost after birth, necessitating further research into its roles.

    Area of Science:

    • Human physiology
    • Mammalian physiology
    • Cellular biology

    Background:

    • Human red blood cells exhibit a maximum glucose transport capacity significantly exceeding their glucose utilization rate.
    • Non-primate mammals possess a high-capacity glucose transport system in red blood cells during fetal life, which diminishes postnatally.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore the proposed role of red blood cell glucose transport in facilitating placental glucose transfer in fetal mammals.
    • To investigate the potential contribution of red blood cell glucose transport to blood-brain barrier function in adult primates.

    Main Methods:

    • Comparative analysis of glucose transport in red blood cells across different mammalian species.
    • Experimental evaluation of red blood cell contribution to placental and blood-brain barrier glucose transfer.

    Main Results:

    • Human red blood cells demonstrate a glucose transport capacity 12,000 times their utilization rate at physiological glucose levels.
    • A high-capacity glucose transport system is present in fetal red blood cells of many mammals but is transient.

    Conclusions:

    • The red blood cell's water space may aid glucose distribution across the placenta and blood-brain barrier.
    • Further comparative and experimental studies are required to validate the functional significance of red blood cell glucose transport in these physiological processes.

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