title: Does insulin affect placental glucose metabolism and transfer?
abstract: An in vitro recycled perfusion of the human placenta was used to investigate the effect of insulin on placental metabolism and transfer of glucose. Human insulin, 1000 microU/ml, was introduced into either maternal or maternal and fetal compartments. In one series of experiments placentas were used as either a control group or study group, whereas in the other series each placenta served as its own control. Metabolic effects were determined by measuring placental glucose and oxygen consumption and lactate production rate. The effect of insulin on transfer was studied by the use of 3-O-methylglucose labeled with tritium; this effect was expressed as the slope of maternal minus fetal concentrations on a natural logarithmic scale and compared with the antipyrine tagged with carbon 14. The stability of perfusate volume was used as an index for placental integrity, whereas absence of tissue edema demonstrated adequacy of perfusion. Neither of the metabolic parameters studied was significantly affected by insulin, and insulin did not have an effect on 3-O-methylglucose transfer rate. It was concluded that, in contrast to other tissues in the body, placental glucose metabolism and transfer are not sensitive to the action of insulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology A, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Urbach
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mor
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ronen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brandes
mesh_terms: D019325:3-O-Methylglucose; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D008757:Methylglucosides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007773:Lactates; D008757:Methylglucosides; D019325:3-O-Methylglucose; D019344:Lactic Acid; D005947:Glucose; D000983:Antipyrine