Abstract
The diabetic BB rat was examined to determine its suitability as a model for the study of the effects of maternal diabetes on fetal lung development. 18 to 22 day fetuses of diabetic BB rats were evaluated for the presence of maorosomia, hyperglycemla, hyperinsulinemia and delayed lung maturation.
Macrosomia was observed at term in the diabetic fetuses. The diabetic fetuses were hyperglycemio and hyperinsulinemic when compared to controls. Whole lung homogenates from the diabetic fetuses exhibited increased glycogen and decreased saturated phosphatidyloholine and phosphatidylglyoerol contents compared to controls (P<0.05) on Day 21. These findings are consistent with a delay in the onset of augmented synthesis of the major surfactant-associated phospholipids in fetuses of diabetic BB rats. The spontaneous development of the maternal diabetic state and the coexistence of fetal hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are features of the BB rat which may make it more useful than existing animal models in elucidating the mechanisms of delayed fetal lung maturation in the diabetic pregnancy.
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Carlson, K., Smith, B., Stiles, A. et al. THE DIABETIC BB RAT - A SUITABLE MODEL OF DELAYED FETAL LUNG MATURATION. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 210 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00265
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00265