INS and gestational diabetes: Although the expression of insulin-sensitive GLUT4 on term placenta is low [26], our finding of the down-regulated insulin signal pathway and putative decreased glucose uptake of placenta villi may still have a potential biological significance in the control of transplacental transportation of glucose, and therefore is important in the counteraction of intrauterine hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and macrosomia in GDM pregnancy.