Abstract
There are no data on the normal oxygen consumption and respiratory quotient of the mammalian fetus. such data are badly needed, both for a proper understanding of fetal respiration and as metabolic reference standard. Previous studies were limited to acute experiments and showed a wide range of vaiability in oxygen consumption (range 3.7–8.6). In attempting to obtain baseline data, oxygen consumption, CO2 production and glucose utilization were studied in the unstressed fetal limb. Umbilical blood flow was determined by constant fetal ionfusion of antipyrine and umbilical arterial-venous differences of glucose, O2 and CO2 were measured during the infusion. The experimental design was such that during the infusion. The experimental design was such that during each study period at least 5 obervations of O2 consumption could be made and expressed with reference to fetal weight. The following table summarizes the data:
Contrary to previous reports, little variability in O2 consumption over a wide range of umbilical blood flows was found. Fetal glucose uptake could account for approximately half of the O2 consumed; the mean fetal RQ was 0.94 (95% confidence limits 0.90–0.99). As with our earlier studies, thses data suggest that metabolites other than glucose are important substrates in fetak aerobic metabolism.
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James, E., Raye, J., Gresham, E. et al. The normal oxygen consumption and respiratory quotient of the mammalian fetus. Pediatr Res 5, 419 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00199
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00199