Question

Explain the molecular mechanism of oxygen transport from the mother to the fetus. How would transfer be affected if the fetus has sickle-cell anemia? In your answer explain the molecular mechanism of oxygen binding to sickle-cell and fetal hemoglobin.

Answer 1

placenta helps as fetal lungs, makes the fetal oxygen supply and fetal carbon dioxide removal possible. oxygen goes via diffusion from the maternal into the fetal circulation system. carbon dioxide, the partial pressure of which is elevated in the fetal blood, follows a reversed gradient

Fetal, oxygen saturated blood, returns to the fetus via the umbilical vein, while maternal, oxygen-poor blood, flows back into the uterine veins

The supply of the fetus with oxygen is facilitated by three factors:

• the difference of oxygen concentration and partial pressure within the feto-maternal circulation system
• the higher affinity of fetal haemoglobin for oxygen
• Bohr effect

In pregnancy, it is important for blood cells to be able to carry oxygen. With sickle cell anaemia, the abnormal red blood cells and anaemia may result in lower amounts of oxygen going to your developing baby. This can slow down the baby’s growth