Sex-specific responses in placental fatty acid oxidation, esterification and transfer capacity to maternal obesity

Fatty acid metabolism and oxidation capacity in the placenta, which likely affects rate composition of lipid delivered to fetus remains poorly understood. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic (DHA), are critical for fetal growth brain development. We determined impact maternal obesity on placental oxidation, esterification transport by measuring PhosphatidylCholine (PC) LysoPhosphatidylCholine (LPC) containing DHA mass spectrometry mother-placenta-baby triads well free carnitine acylcarnitine metabolites women with normal obese pre-pregnancy BMI. Placental protein expression enzymes involved beta-oxidation pathways, MFSD2a (lysophosphatidylcholine transporter) OCTN2 (carnitine syncytiotrophoblast microvillous (MVM) basal (BM) membranes were Western Blot. Maternal was associated decreased umbilical cord plasma LPC PC fractions male, but not female, fetuses. Basal membrane increased placenta males mothers. In female placentas, despite an MVM expression, a reduced MUFA-carnitine levels enzymes. speculate that lower DHA-PL circulation male offspring mothers, significant increase transporter LPC-DHA, may lead low needed development contributing neurological consequences more prevalent children. Female placentas have appear store FA through greater esterification, suggesting impaired function transfer