Placental lactate production in toxemia of pregnancy

Lactic acid production was measured in vitro in placentas from women with essential hypertension or who developed toxemia of pregnancy. Placental lactate production was increased compared with normal in severe toxemia but not in cases of mild toxemia or essential hypertension. However, the effect of epinephrine on lactic acid production was not increased in toxemic placentas. The excess production demonstrated in severe toxemia may be related to placental anoxia but could also result from a shift in metabolic pathways in this condition.