Glucose metabolism in pregnant sheep when placental growth is restricted

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · American Journal of Physiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:5606131

Owens, J A; Falconer, J; Robinson, J S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Adelaide Medical School (Australia)

The effect of restricting placental growth on glucose metabolism in pregnant sheep in late gestation was determined by primed constant infusions of D-(U-{sup 14}C)- and D-(2-{sup 3}H)glucose and antipyrine into fetuses of six control sheep and six sheep from which endometrial caruncles had been removed before pregnancy (caruncle sheep). In the latter, placental and fetal weights were reduced, as was the concentration of glucose in fetal arterial blood. Fetal glucose turnover in caruncle sheep was only 52-59% of that in controls, largely because of lower umbilical loss of glucose back to the placenta (38-39% of control) and lower fetal glucose utilization (61-74% of control). However, fetal glucose utilization on a weight-specific basis was similar in control and caruncle sheep. Significant endogenous glucose production occurred in control and caruncle fetal sheep. Maternal glucose production and partition of glucose between the gravid uterus and other maternal tissues were similar in control and caruncle sheep. In conclusion, when placental and fetal growth are restricted, fetal glucose utilization is maintained by reduced loss of glucose back to the placenta and mother and by maintaining endogenous glucose production.

• OSTI ID: 5606131
• Journal Information: American Journal of Physiology; (USA), Journal Name: American Journal of Physiology; (USA) Vol. 257; ISSN 0002-9513; ISSN AJPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALDEHYDES
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
ANTIPYRETICS
ANTIPYRINE
AZOLES
BLOOD FLOW
BODY
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
DRUGS
FEMALE GENITALS
FETAL MEMBRANES
FETUSES
GLUCOSE
GROWTH
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HEXOSES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPE DILUTION
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MEMBRANES
METABOLISM
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PLACENTA
PREGNANCY
PYRAZOLES
PYRAZOLINES
RUMINANTS
SACCHARIDES
SHEEP
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
UTERUS
VERTEBRATES