Hepatic Insulin Extraction in Human Pregnancy

Summary

The hepatic degradation of insulin in late pregnancy has been estimated by determination of the molar C-peptide: Insulin (C/I) ratio under fasting conditions in 20 normal women in late pregnancy and again 4-8 weeks post-partum. Fasting plasma C-peptide and insulin concentrations were both significantly enhanced in pregnancy. However, since the relative gestational increments in plasma C-peptide and insulin concentrations were of almost the same magnitude, the C/I ratio remained unaffected by pregnancy (7.3 ± 0.7 (mean ± S.E.M.) (pregnancy) vs. 7.4 ± 0.8 (post-partum), N.S.). The results suggest that, in pregnancy, peripheral hyperinsulinaemia is due, in general, to pancreatic hypersecretion rather than to diminished hepatic extraction of insulin.

Key-Words:

C-Peptide - Insulin - Human Pregnancy