Glucose and Lactate Oxidation Rates in the Fetal Lamb

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Abstract
Glucose and lactate are nutrients of the ovine fetus. Each may be used by the fetal as a fuel for oxidation or as a source of carbon for energy storage and net tissue accretion. Oxidation rates of glucose and lactate in vivo for the fetal lamb over a relatively short time period are described. The fraction of fetal glucose or lactate oxidized was defined as the ratio of 14CO2 excretion across the umbilical circulation to the net entry of [14C]glucose or [14C]lactate into fetal tissues. The fraction of glucose oxidized over a 3-h study averaged 61.2%, accounting for 2.55 mg .cntdot. min-1 .cntdot. kg-1 of glucose oxidized and for 28% of the simultaneous net O2 uptake. The fraction of lactate oxidized averaged 71.5%, accounting for 4.12 mg .cntdot. min-1 .cntdot. kg-1 of lactate oxidized. Oxidation fractions and rates for glucose and lactate increased with their concentrations in fetal blood suggesting sparing of other fuels for oxidation at higher glucose and lactate concentrations.

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