Abstract
During the last 24 hrs of gestation 6 pregnant rats were continuously infused with glucose, so that their urine contained more than 2g/dl of sugar. Delivery was performed by caesarean section at 21 days. Seven animals without infusion served as controls. Insulin synthesis and secretion were determined in isolated islets of the mother and their fetuses by a method previously reported (1). In comparison to normal mothers a glucose concentration of 300 mg/dl greatly enhanced the biosynthesis of (pro−) insulin in the glucose infused group of mothers. However, in isolated fetal islets of both groups 100 mg/dl of glucose augmented the incorporation of 3H-L-leucine into (pro−) insulin to the same amount. 300 mg/dl of glucose had no additional effect on the biosynthesis. Only the conversion of proinsulin to insulin was increased in the fetuses of the glucose treated compared to non-treated mothers. On the other hand, glucose stimulated the secretion of insulin from isolated islets of hyperglycemic but not of normal fetuses. The results show that hyperglycemia shortly before delivery influences the development of the insulin secreting mechanisms in the fetus while insulin biosynthesis is only slightly altered. This is in contrast to the findings in the adult maternal R-cells. (1) E. Heinze, C. Nierle, H. Schatz and E.F.Pfeiffer Diabetes 1975 (In press). Supported by DFG, SFB 87, Project D 5
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Heinze, E., Beischer, W., Teller, W. et al. INSULIN BIOSYNTHESIS AND SECRETION IN ISOLATED MATERNAL AND FETAL RAT ISLETS WITH AND WITHOUT ARTEFICIAL HYPERGLYCEMIA. Pediatr Res 9, 670 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00033
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00033