Abstract
FETAL whole blood glucose levels are usually lower than, and fluctuate with, maternal levels. That is, a favourable concentration gradient is maintained to allow for the facilitated transfer of glucose across the placenta from mother to fetus1,2. This situation is apparently reversed in the Weddell seal. The concentration of glucose in maternal whole blood is lower than that in fetal blood during at least three metabolic states: in the resting–fasting state, in simulated diving, and in recovery from diving3. We report here that one factor contributing to this unusual relationship between maternal and fetal blood glucose is the relatively low gradient between normal blood levels in fetus and mother. This is made possible by high haematocrit values and a low turnover of glucose in both parent and fetus.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Shelley, H. J. in Fetal and Neonatal Physiology 360–381 (Cambridge University Press, 1973).
Dawes, G. S. & Shelley, H. J. in Carbohydrate Metabolism and Its Disorders Vol. 2, (eds Dickens, F., Randle, P. J. & Whelan, W. J.) 87–121 (Academic, London, 1968).
Hochachka, P. W. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (submitted).
Hochachka, P. W. et al. Science 198, 831–834 (1977).
Bergmeyer, H. U. Methods in Enzymatic Analysis Vol. 3, 1196–1201 (Academic, New York, 1974).
Albersheim, P., Nevins, D. J., English, P. D. & Karr, A. Carbohydrate Res. 4, 340–345 (1967).
Comline, R. S. & Silver, M. Rec. Adv. Physiol. 9, 406–454 (1974).
Yalow, R. S. & Berson, S. A. J. clin. Invest. 39, 1154 (1960).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HOCHACHKA, P., MURPHY, B., LIGGINS, G. et al. Unusual maternal–fetal blood glucose concentrations in Weddell seal. Nature 277, 388–389 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277388a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/277388a0
This article is cited by
-
Lactate and glucose metabolism in the resting and diving harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)
Journal of Comparative Physiology ? B (1983)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.