Fig. 8

Graphical summary of prenatal maternal LPS (400 µg/kg) exposure-induced sex-specific placental adaptation

After 48 h of LPS administration, intrauterine growth restriction of fetuses and placentas were induced in both sexes at the mid-gestational stage. Females showed mild growth reduction in fetuses and placenta, presenting sustained placental efficiency. Males exhibited tremendous reduction in fetuses and mild reduction in placenta growth, indicating reduced placental efficiency under the same in utero milieu in which females exist. Sexually dimorphic morphological and physiological changes were induced in the placenta. In the female placenta, distribution of the labyrinth layer was decreased, whereas that of the junctional zone was diminished in male placenta. Disturbances in gene expression were observed in the four GO term categories associated with nutrient transporter, pregnancy process, trophoblast differentiation, and ion transport