Effects of ethanol ingestion on maternal and fetal glucose homeostasis

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6263793

Singh, S P; Snyder, A K; Singh, S K

Carbohydrate metabolism has been studied in the offspring of rats fed liqiud diet containing ethanol during gestation (EF group). Weight-matched control dams were given liquid diet either by the pair-fed technique (PF group) or ad libitum (AF group). EF and PF dams showed reduced food consumption and attenuated gain in body weight during the gestation period compared with the AF group. Blood glucose, liver glycogen, and plasma insulin levels were significantly reduced in EF and PF dams. Ethanol ingestion resulted in a significant decrease in litter survival and fetal body weight. At term, EF pups on average showed a 30% decrease in blood glucose levels and 40% decrease in plasma insulin levels compared with AF pups. One hour after birth, EF pups exhibited a marked increase in blood sugar level compared with either control group. Fetal hyperinsulinemia disappeared shortly after delivery in control pups, as expected; however, in EF pups, the fall in plasma insulin level was gradual. Fetal and neonatal plasma glucagon levels were not altered by ethanol exposure in utero. Blood glucose levels remained significantly low at 2 days of age in EF pups, but reached near control values at 4 days of age. Plasma insulin and glucagon were nearly equal in EF and control pups at 2 and 4 days of age. These results show aberrations in blood glucose, plasma insulin, and liver glycogen levels in offspring exposed to ethanol in utero.

• Research Organization: Veterans Administration Center, Chicago, IL
• OSTI ID: 6263793
• Journal Information: J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States), Vol. 104:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ETHANOL
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
FETUSES
SURVIVAL CURVES
WEIGHT
GLUCOSE
HOMEOSTASIS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GLUCAGON
GLYCOGEN
INGESTION
INSULIN
LIVER
METABOLISM
NEONATES
PREGNANCY
RATS
VARIATIONS
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBOHYDRATES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
GLANDS
HEXOSES
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PEPTIDES
POLYPEPTIDES
POLYSACCHARIDES
PROTEINS
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)