Carbohydrate Metabolism in the Fetal Pig During Late Gestation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In acute experiments on pregnant sows under sodium pentobarbitone anesthesia, acid base balance, oxygenation and plasma metabolite concentrations were well maintained in the dam and all fetuses which remained undisturbed in utero, irrespective of the duration of the experiment. Fetal liver glycogen concentrations were also unaffected by the time of fetus removal. Intravascular catheterization and blood withdrawal led to fetal hyperglycemia and depletion of hepatic glycogen although blood gas and pH values were not changed by these procedures. In the 1.5-2 h sampling period following catheterization the normal positive umbilical venous-arterial differences in plasma glucose and lactate generally became reversed. These changes were prevented by hexamethonium administration (10-15 mg.cntdot.kg-1 i.v.) but the drug did not block the fall in hepatic glycogen in catheterized fetuses. Both adrenaline [epinephrine] and noradrenaline [norepinephrine], which were each infused i.v. at 2.7-3.9 or 0.6-0.9 .mu.g.cntdot.kg-1.cntdot.min-1, resulted in fetal hyperglycemia and lacticacidemia together with a fall in arterial blood pH; hepatic glycogen concentrations in these fetuses were also reduced. The apparent sensitivity of the glycogenolytic mechanism to surgical trauma and hemorrhage in the fetal piglet is discussed in relation to findings in other species.