Does the placenta make glycogen

[tle1093]

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A question in GS-4 BS asks the role of the placenta. I chose "initiating uterine contraction prior to birth" over "glycogen synthesis". I'm not sure about the contractions, but I thought only liver and muscle cells made glycogen.

 

[rockaction]

Uterine contraction is initiated by the hormone Oxytocin, if I recall correctly. I don't think the placenta has any say in it. In fact, the 3rd stage of delivery is when the placenta is forced out. I believe that somewhere yes, the placenta has a good deal of metabolic activity going on. But that question seems to draw from way too specific of a set of knowledge.

The most important things for the placenta I would say are knowing that it secretes Human Chorionic Gonadotropin to prevent the corpus luteum degradation, and that it later produces the progesterones once produced by the corpus luteum (the goal of both being maintaining the endometrium so you don't continue the menstrual cycle after implantation.)

Was "glycogen synthesis" the correct answer? If so, that's a bad question

 

[0Complications]

Uterine contraction is initiated by the hormone Oxytocin, if I recall correctly. I don't think the placenta has any say in it. In fact, the 3rd stage of delivery is when the placenta is forced out. I believe that somewhere yes, the placenta has a good deal of metabolic activity going on. But that question seems to draw from way too specific of a set of knowledge.

The most important things for the placenta I would say are knowing that it secretes Human Chorionic Gonadotropin to prevent the corpus luteum degradation, and that it later produces the progesterones once produced by the corpus luteum (the goal of both being maintaining the endometrium so you don't continue the menstrual cycle after implantation.)

Was "glycogen synthesis" the correct answer? If so, that's a bad question

I agree. If glycogen synthesis was the answer that is a horrible question.

What were the other answer choices?

 

[Adamska]

theoretically it makes sense, since the placenta is responsible for nutrient/waste exchange with the fetus...but yeah wow that's a horrible question.

 

[tle1093]

Glycogen synthesis was the answer, for those who are curious. This one is definitely out there.

 

[muhali3]

Gold Standard...lolz, glycogen synthesis is not the role of the placenta in any way.

 

[combatwombat]

Placenta for making glycogen? Sounds like something dr zoidberg would say... I'm pretty sure you'd get laughed at in medical school for saying that.

 

[Doodl3s]

SO wait, is everyone here agreeing that placenta does not make glycogen? If so it worries me that we're being taught things by these review books that will not only NOT help us but potentially harm us!... although, I am taking a Kaplan review course... so... i Can't talk 😀

 

[muhali3]

The question asks the role of the placenta, not what it does. It does make glycogen, but that is not the role (purpose) of the placenta.

 

[ThirdEye]

SO wait, is everyone here agreeing that placenta does not make glycogen? If so it worries me that we're being taught things by these review books that will not only NOT help us but potentially harm us!... although, I am taking a Kaplan review course... so... i Can't talk 😀

Relax, the placenta does make glycogen. I don't know why everyone is freaking out by this question. The placenta doesn't initiate uterine contractions so if the other two possibilities are easily dismissive then I don't see any reason not to choose glycogen synthesis even though that's not it's primary purpose.

 

[ThirdEye]

A question in GS-4 BS asks the role of the placenta. I chose "initiating uterine contraction prior to birth" over "glycogen synthesis". I'm not sure about the contractions, but I thought only liver and muscle cells made glycogen.

Liver and muscle are just the primary sites. Kidneys, white blood cells, and even glial cells make some. There may be more.

 

[neil100]

Folks! Yes it does make glycogen. The synctiotrophoblast of the placenta makes a hormone called human placental lactogen in addition to b-hCG.

Look it up!

I guarantee you 100% that you will find the answer.

The hormone basically provides "food" for the embryo. In terms of fatty acids break down, providing aa for protein synthesis, glucose for fast energy, etc.

HOWEVER, you aren't supposed to know this for the MCAT. This is USMLE STEP I material.

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

Folks! Yes it does make glycogen. The synctiotrophoblast of the placenta makes a hormone called human placental lactogen in addition to b-hCG.

Look it up!

I guarantee you 100% that you will find the answer.

The hormone basically provides "food" for the embryo. In terms of fatty acids break down, providing aa for protein synthesis, glucose for fast energy, etc.

HOWEVER, you aren't supposed to know this for the MCAT. This is USMLE STEP I material.

Yea, the placenta does synthesize glycogen, but I'm not sure human placental lactogen (HPL) has anything to do with it. From what I understand, HPL mainly increases maternal serum glucose levels so the fetus can use that glucose; not sure what this has to do with glycogen synthesis. And I doubt that this is even Step I material (from what I understand, embryology is very low-yield on Step I).

I agree with others that this was somewhat of a bad question. You didn't list the other answer choices, but I'm thinking you might have been able to get the right answer by the process of elimination.

 

[iPodtosis]

Correct me if I'm wrong

To have uterine contraction, you need to decrease your progesterone level, but since human chorionic gonadotropin is keeping the copus luteum and maintaining the progesterone level, the only way to have contraction is placenta deterioration.

So placenta DOES NOT initiate the uterine contraction.