Maternal AMPK pathway activation with uterine artery blood flow and fetal growth maintenance during hypoxia

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is increased and uterine artery (UtA) blood flow is lower at high altitudes (HA) but not all HA pregnancies have FGR. Here we show that greater UtA diameter and blood flow at week 20 are positively correlated with higher expression of the gene encoding the α 1 -catalytic subunit of AMP protein kinase, PRKAA1, suggesting that increased AMPK activation may help to prevent the detrimental effects of chronic hypoxia on fetal growth.