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Title: Metabolism and placental transfer of /sup 125/I-proinsulin and /sup 125/I-tyrosylated C-peptide in the pregnant rhesus monkey

Journal Article · · J. Clin. Invest.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI113170· OSTI ID:5841735

/sup 125/I-Proinsulin or /sup 125/I-tyrosylated-C-peptide (/sup 125/I-tyr-CP) was administered to pregnant Rhesus monkeys by bolus followed by constant infusion to examine placental transfer of these peptides. At the end of each infusion, fetuses were exsanguinated in situ via the umbilical vein. The bolus-constant infusion technique produced a steady state in maternal plasma of immunoprecipitable label, measured using excess insulin or C-peptide antiserum. In animals infused with /sup 125/I-proinsulin, analysis of umbilical venous plasma revealed no apparent transfer to the fetus of immunoprecipitable label. In animals infused with /sup 125/I-tyr-CP, 3-13% of the umbilical venous plasma radioactivity was immunoprecipitable, representing 1.4-5.8% of the immunoprecipitable radioactivity in maternal plasma at delivery. Gel filtration chromatography of umbilical venous plasma revealed that the immunoprecipitated moiety was a fragment of /sup 125/I-tyr-CP. Analysis of maternal plasma showed that the predominant peak of radioactivity represented intact C-peptide. A peak corresponding to the fetal immunoprecipitable peak was also present. Analysis of simultaneous maternal arterial and uterine vein plasma samples showed that degradation of /sup 125/I-tyr-CP occurred across the uterus. Studies in one nonpregnant and three postpartum animals indicated that pregnancy increased the rate of metabolism of /sup 125/I-tyr-CP. When /sup 125/I-tyr-CP was incubated with trophoblastic cells in culture, degradation to a species corresponding on gel filtration to the immunoprecipitable fetal metabolite was found. We conclude that proinsulin, like insulin, does not traverse the placenta. Immunoreactive fragments of C-peptide do cross, however, and pregnancy alters the metabolism of /sup 125/I-tyr-CP, probably owing to placental degradation.

Research Organization:
Rhode Island Hospital, Providence
OSTI ID:
5841735
Journal Information:
J. Clin. Invest.; (United States), Vol. 80:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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