Uterine metabolism of the pregnant rabbit under chronic steady-state conditions

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(86)90776-3· OSTI ID:5526484

Johnson, R L; Gilbert, M; Block, S M; Battaglia, F C

The study of uterine metabolism in pregnancy under chronic steady-state conditions has been confined to large mammals and, more recently, to the guinea pig. The pregnant rabbit is of interest because of its short gestation and large litter size. We developed an indirect approach involving retrograde catheterization of the uterine venous drainage, permitting measurement of both uterine metabolic quotients and uterine uptakes. Radioactive microspheres were used to measure blood flow. A large lactate and ammonia efflux from the uterus was found. In the fed state, ketogenic substrates were taken up in small amounts. However, during starvation a significant increase in ketoacid uptake was observed with a concurrent fall in acetate uptake. There was a large glucose/oxygen quotient across the uterus, but the glucose plus lactate/oxygen quotient was comparable to that found in the sheep and guinea pig (0.6 +/- 0.1). It is apparent that in all three species studied under chronic steady-state conditions (sheep, guinea pig, and rabbit) there is a large glucose uptake associated with a net lactate production, and fuels other than glucose and lactate must be used by the uterus.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver
• OSTI ID: 5526484
• Journal Information: Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN AJOGA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551001* -- Physiological Systems-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETATES
ALDEHYDES
AMMONIA
ANIMALS
BLOOD FLOW
BODY
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
FEMALE GENITALS
GLUCOSE
GUINEA PIGS
HEXOSES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
KETO ACIDS
LACTATES
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
MICROSPHERES
MONOSACCHARIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN
PREGNANCY
RABBITS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
RUMINANTS
SACCHARIDES
SHEEP
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
UTERUS
VERTEBRATES