Placental Release of Iron Affects Post-birth Nitric Oxide Balance

Article title: Evidence for placental-derived iron-nitrosyls in the circulation of the fetal lamb and against a role for nitrite in mediating the cardiovascular transition at birth

Authors: Arlin B. Blood, Taiming Liu, George Mukosera, Shawn F. Hanson, Michael H. Terry, Hobe Schroeder, Gordon G. Powe

From the authors: “This study highlights a novel role for the placenta in the [nitric oxide] homeostasis of fetus and raises the potential significance of iron-nitrosyls, as opposed to other [nitric oxide] metabolites, in neonatal physiology. These findings have implications for the regulation of fetal cardiovascular function and many placental diseases such as preeclampsia.” 

This study is highlighted as one of October’s “best of the best” as part of the American Physiological Society’s APSselect program.