Summary
Pregnant Yorkshire gilts were allotted to three treatment groups during the third
trimester of gestation. One group was injected with alloxan at 70 days of gestation;
the second group was injected daily with protamine zinc insulin beginning at 80 days,
and the third group received saline injections serving as controls. At 112 days of
gestation, the fetuses were delivered alive by hysterectomy, and utilized for analyses.
Body composition data indicated a significant increase in percent fat in the diabetic
progeny. Liver lipogenic enzyme profiles did not indicate a significant change in
activity to account for the increased carcass lipid. In fact, liver lipogenesis from
labelled pyruvate was depressed in livers of diabetic progeny. Insulin levels were
low in all the groups suggesting that hyperglycemia observed in the progeny of diabetic
gilts had little insulin stimulatory action on the fetal pancreatic B-cells. Fructose
levels were significantly increased in the progeny of diabetic gilts. Insulin injections
during pregnancy did not influence fetal body weight or body compositions. The mechanism(s)
of increased lipid deposition in infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) may involve de novo fatty acid synthesis by adipose cell or direct incorporation of maternal fatty acids
into fetal adipose cells.
Key-Words
Gestational Diabetes
-
Fetal Lipogenesis
-
Fetal Hormones
-
Pregnancy Fetal Body Composition
