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
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Insulin
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Human Pregnancy
