Figure 6.

Mitochondrial and cardiac features of human pregnancies in two contexts, complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (right side in red) and with no apparent obstetric problems (left side in green). In IUGR new‐borns, low birth weight was associated to a higher levels of BNP in new‐borns (indicating a potential cardiac remodelling), lower mitochondrial complex I function in placenta and decreased neonatal citrate synthase activity (representative of metabolic mitochondrial activity). In this context, there was an increase of placental protein Sirtuin3 levels, probably as a potential adaptation mechanism aimed to modulate the adverse mitochondrial phenotype reported in this obstetric complication. On the other hand, all these mitochondrial parameters were found within normal ranges in healthy children with no apparent IUGR. BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; CI, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I; IUGR, intrauterine growth restriction