Placental amino acid uptake. V. Relationship to placental maturation in the rat

Expression and adaptive regulation of amino acid transport system A in a placental cell line under amino acid restriction

Trans-placental transport of amino acids is vital for the developing fetus. Using the BeWo cell line as a placental model, we investigated the effect of restricting amino acid availability on amino acid transport system type A. BeWo cells were cultured either in amino acid-depleted (without non-essential amino acids) or control media for 1, 3, 5 or 6 h. System A function was analysed using alpha(methyl-amino)isobutyric acid (MeAIB) transcellular transport studies. Transporter (sodium coupled neutral amino acid transporter (SNAT1/2)) expression was analysed at mRNA and protein level by Northern and Western blotting respectively. Localisation was carried out using immunocytochemistry. MeAIB transcellular transport was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by incubation of the cells in amino acid-depleted medium for 1 h, and longer incubation times caused further increases in the rate of transfer. However, the initial response was not accompanied by an increase in SNAT2 mRNA; this occurred only after 3 h and further increased for the rest of the 6-h incubation. Similarly, it took several hours for a significant increase in SNAT2 protein expression. In contrast, relocalisation of existing SNAT2 transporters occurred within 30 min of amino acid restriction and continued throughout the 6-h incubation. When the cells were incubated in medium with even lower amino acid levels (without non-essential plus 0.5 x essential amino acids), SNAT2 mRNA levels showed further significant (P < 0.0001) up-regulation. However, incubation of cells in depleted medium for 6 h caused a significant (P = 0.014) decrease in the expression of SNAT1 mRNA. System L type amino acid transporter 2 (LAT2) expression was not changed by amino acid restriction, indicating that the responses seen in the system A transporters were not a general cell response. These data have shown that placental cells adapt in vitro to nutritional stress and have identified the physiological, biochemical and genomic mechanisms involved.

Heterogeneity of L-alanine transport systems in brush-border membrane vesicles from rat placenta during late gestation

The placental uptake of L-alanine was studied by using purified brush-border membrane vesicles from rat trophoblasts. Saturation curves were carried out at 37 degrees C in buffers containing 100 mM (zero-trans)-NaSCN, -NaCl, -KSCN, -KCl, or -N-methyl-D-glucamine gluconate. The uncorrected uptake results were fitted by non-linear regression analysis to an equation involving one diffusional component either one or two saturable Michaelian transport terms. In the presence of NaCl, two distinct L-alanine transport systems were distinguished, named respectively System 1 (S-1; Vm1 about 760 pmol/s per mg of protein; KT1 = 0.5 mM) and System 2 (S-2; Vm2 about 1700 pmol/s per mg; KT2 = 9 mM). In contrast, in the presence of K+ (KCl = KSCN) or in the absence of any alkali-metal ions (N-methyl-D-glucamine gluconate), only one saturable system was apparent, which we identify as S-2. When Na+ is present, S-1, but not S-2, appears to be rheogenic, since its maximal transport capacity significantly increases in the presence of an inside-negative membrane potential, created either by replacing Cl- with the permeant anion thiocyanate (NaSCN > NaCl) or by applying an appropriate K+ gradient and valinomycin. alpha-(Methylamino)isobutyrate (methyl-AIB) appears to be a substrate of S-1, but not of S-2. For reasons that remain to be explained, however, methyl-AIB inhibits S-2. We conclude that S-1 represents a truly Na(+)-dependent mechanism, where Na+ behaves as an obligatory activator, whereas S-2 cannot discriminate between Na+ and K+, although its activity is higher in the presence of alkali-metal ions than in their absence (Na+ = K+ > N-methyl-D-glucammonium ion). S-2 appears to be fully developed 2 days before birth, whereas S-1 undergoes a capacity-type activation between days 19.5 and 21.5 of gestation, i.e. its apparent Vmax. nearly doubles, whereas its KT remains constant.

Some aspects of amino acid metabolism in the rat fetus

1. In spite of an eventual catabolic phase during the last third of pregnancy, nitrogen retention seems to increase in pregnant rats. Furthermore, the high uterine blood flow and the high placental transfer of amino acids maintains an adequate nutrient supply to the fetuses. 2. The terminal rat fetus has a high circulating plasma amino acid level, as well as an increased free amino acid tissue pool when compared to its mother's. 3. In the rat fetus the development of enzymatic capabilities shows a sudden emergence (also denomined clustering) in late fetal life. In a general trend, the activities of enzymes related with amino acid metabolism are not well developed during rat fetal life. 4. The rate of amino nitrogen excretion in rat fetus is low, mainly due to the low development of urea cycle enzyme activities. 5. The rates of protein synthesis in many tissues are high in the rat fetus and they show a progressive decrease until delivery. On the other hand, the rates of protein breakdown are also higher during fetal life than in the adult.

Tissue amino acid pool changes during the perinatal period of the rat

Total free amino acid content in foetal liver, kidney, skin and striated muscle increases sharply during pregnancy. After delivery, there is no significant change in tissue total amino acid pools. The essential free amino acid pool in striated muscle decreases after delivery. This decrease suggests a relationship with the increased protein content in striated muscle.