| Summary: | Abstract: Previous studies have shown that antibodies to cubulin, a receptor on the yolk sac that binds high density lipoproteins (HDL) and cobalamin, induce fetal abnormalities. Mice with markedly low concentrations of plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) give birth to healthy pups, however. To establish whether maternal HDL-C has a role in fetal development, sterol metabolism was studied in the fetus and extra-embryonic fetal tissues in wild-type and apolipoprotein A-I-deficient mice (apoAI−/−). Maternal HDL-C content was markedly greater in apoAI+/+ mice prior to pregnancy and at 13 days into gestation. By 17 days into gestation, HDL-C content was similar between both types of mice. Fetuses from apoAI (−/− × −/−) matings were 16–25% smaller than control mice at 13 and 17 days of gestation and contained less cholesterol. The differences in size and cholesterol content were not due to a lack of cholesterol synthesis or apoA-I in the fetus. In the yolk sac and placenta, sterol synthesis rates were ~50% greater in the 13-day-old apoAI−/− mice as compared to the apoAI+/+ mice. Even though synthesis rates were greater, cholesterol concentrations were 22% lower in the yolk sac and similar in the placenta of apoAI−/− mice as compared to tissues of wild-type mice. These data suggest that a difference in maternal HDL-C concentration or composition can affect the size of the fetus and sterol metabolism of the yolk sac and placenta in the mouse. —McConihay, J. A., A. M. Honkomp, N. A. Granholm, and L. A. Woollett. Maternal high density lipoproteins affect fetal mass and extra-embryonic fetal tissue sterol metabolism in the mouse. J. Lipid Res. 2000. 41: 424–432.
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