Abstract
Fetal hyperinsulinemia results in neonatal macrosomia and enhanced lipogenesis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these neonatal observations persist postnatally in this animal model. Fetal hyperinsulinemia was produced in Sprague-Dawley rats by injecting fetuses with 2 units of PZI insulin at 20.5 days gestation. Alternate pups in the same litter were injected with isovolemic saline (control). Following cesarean birth at term, the pups were nursed ad lib by foster mothers. Daily weights were obtained and at 15 days of age fatty acid contents and synthesis (tritiated water technique) were measured. At birth insulin treated pups were 12% heavier than control (5.88±0.15 vs. 5.26±0.14g, M±SEM, p<.01). As shown in graphs, growth and growth velocity were enhanced during suckling period in insulin treated pups. FA contents of liver and muscle in insulin pups,(62.6±5.7 μmole/g and 62.7±13.2 μmole/g) were significantly greater (p<.05) than in saline treated littermates (45.1±5.6 μmole/g and 30.2±4.7 μmole/g, respectively). We conclude that: 1. Fetal hyperinsulinemia-induced neonatal macrosomia is not an evanescent condition and may serve as a useful model for the study of childhood obesity; 2. Persistent enhancement of somatic growth in these pups was associated with higher lipid contents in liver and muscle indicating continuing anabolic effect.
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Catlln, E., Cha, CJ. & Oh, W. 245 POSTNATAL GROWTH AND FATTY ACID SYNTHESIS IN INSULIN-INDUCED MACROSOMIC RAT PUPS. Pediatr Res 19, 151 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00275
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00275