Relationship between Mitochondrial ATPase and Membrane Lipids from Developing Human Placenta

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Mitochondrial lipids and ATPase activity were studied in developing human placenta. Placental enzyme activity increases steadily with gestational age until the 18th-21st wk and decreases in the 2nd half of pregnancy. Both Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions activate the enzyme system. Membrane lipid solubilization by deoxycholate inhibits the enzyme activity. Total lipid and total phospholipid mitochondrial membrane contents also increase during the early placental development with peaks in the 14th-17th wk, after which the levels decrease. The percentage composition of individual phospholipids remains almost the same throughout pregnancy. The ATPase activity profile exhibits a correlation with that of membrane lipids in human placenta during intrauterine tissue development.