Reduction of biliverdin and placental transfer of bilirubin and biliverdin in the pregnant guinea pig

Biliverdin was reduced to bilirubin in pregnant and foetal guinea pigs, and the 100000 g supernatant from homogenates of foetal liver, placenta and maternal liver showed high biliverdin reductase activity. The placental transport of unconjugated bilirubin and biliverdin was compared by injecting unl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical journal 1981-01, Vol.194 (1), p.273-282
Main Authors: McDonagh, A F, Palma, L A, Schmid, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bilirubin - analogs & derivatives
Bilirubin - blood
Bilirubin - metabolism
Biliverdine - blood
Biliverdine - metabolism
Female
Fetal Blood - metabolism
Guinea Pigs
Liver - embryology
Liver - metabolism
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Oxidation-Reduction
Placenta - metabolism
Pregnancy
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Summary:Biliverdin was reduced to bilirubin in pregnant and foetal guinea pigs, and the 100000 g supernatant from homogenates of foetal liver, placenta and maternal liver showed high biliverdin reductase activity. The placental transport of unconjugated bilirubin and biliverdin was compared by injecting unlabelled and radiolabelled pigments into the foetal or maternal circulation and analysing blood collected from the opposite side of the placenta. Injected bilirubin crossed the placenta from foetus to mother and vice versa, but injected biliverdin did not appear to cross without prior reduction to bilirubin. The guinea-pig placenta is apparently more permeable to bilirubin than biliverdin. Reduction of biliverdin to bilirubin in the foetus may, therefore, be essential for efficient elimination of haem catabolites from the foetus in placental mammals.
ISSN:0264-6021
1470-8728
DOI:10.1042/bj1940273