Objective:To observe the expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type Ⅰ(11β-HSD1) and adiponectin mRNA in abdominal subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue of pregnant women with third-trimester. Methods:Paired biopsies (subcutaneous and omental) were obtained from 33 third-trimester women (normal pregnant control,n=22;gestational diabetes mellitus,GDM,n=11) and 14 non-pregnant child-bearing period women(the non-pregnant group). 11β-HSD1 and adiponectin mRNA expressions in paired adipose tissue were measured by real time PCR. Results:Compared to the non-pregnant group,the expressions of 11β-HSD1 mRNA in the normal pregnant group and the GDM group were increased in both subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue,inversely the expressions of adiponectin mRNA were significantly down-regulated in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue. Moreover,the expression of 11β-HSD1 mRNA in omental adipose tissue was higher than that in subcutaneous in the normal pregnant group and the GDM group,there was no significant depot difference in adiponectin mRNA expression. Furthermore,adiponectin mRNA expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue in the GDM was negatively correlated with TC(r=-0.779,P=0.003) and LDL-C(r=-0.664,P=0.029),while the 11β-HSD1 mRNA in omental adipose tissue was positively correlated with BMI increasing during pregnancy(r=0.323,P=0.043)and HOMA-IR of the newborns(r=0.618,P=0.032). Conclusion:The expression of 11β-HSD1 was increased while the expression of adiponectin was decreased in adipose tissue after pregnancy,which suggested that it could be a sort of adaptive change resulting from glucose and lipid metabolism during pregnancy. Their effect on the development of GDM should be concerned and further studied.