MATERNAL AND FETAL BLOOD SUGAR CHANGES UNDER VARIOUS EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS

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Abstract
In 12 cats, 2 rats and a dog and their offspring, comparison of maternal and fetal blood sugar changes showed that under insulin the blood sugar in the mother falls readily to the convulsive level; concurrently in the fetus the glucose percentage is notably higher, however, and may be within normal limits. Even when convulsions are allowed to extend for 2 hrs., the sugar values are slightly in favor of the fetus. The conditions do not hold in very young fetuses, or when the mother is anesthetized before making the (Caesarean) delivery. Normally in the later stage of pregnancy the fetal blood sugar is lower than that of the mother. At birth the values in the kitten were somewhat higher than those of the mother. In 1 case in which an animal gave birth to 4 kittens during severe insulin hypoglycemia, the blood sugars in the latter were within the normal limits, but considerable increments were observed an hour after birth. The mother showed none of the usual hypo-glycemic symptoms during parturition, although convulsions followed the same insulin dosage a few weeks later. Marked hyperglycemic reactions which were produced in the mother by emotional excitement, or by adrenalin or glucose administration, did not affect notably the fetal glycemia. It is indicated that during the later stages of gestation, important adjustments are able to be carried out by the fetus in response to various emergency conditions that may be imposed on the mother.

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