Effects of diabetes on uterine condition, decidualization, vascularization, and corpus luteum function in the pseudopregnant rat.
The effects of alloxan-induced diabetes on uterine decidualization and the associated changes in uterine blood flow (UBF) and corpus luteum activity were evaluated in rats between days 4-9 of pseudopregnancy (day 0 = ovulation). Rats were made diabetic (D) with a 40 mg/kg injection (iv) of alloxan on day 1 of pseudopregnancy. Saline-treated rats served as controls (C). Uterine weights were depressed in D rats between days 6-7 of pseudopregnancy in association with elevated blood glucose levels (greater than 300 mg/dl) relative to control values. UBF rates were also depressed in D rats between days 6-7 of pseudopregnancy compared with control values. Insulin replacement therapy (6 IU bovine/day) effectively normalized both uterine weight and UBF in diabetic rats. Decidual tissue (DT) growth was impaired in D rats between days 7 and 9 of pseudopregnancy (DT induction on day 4 of pseudopregnancy) compared with controls. Tissue blood flow rates were severely depressed throughout pseudopregnancy in D rats, but insulin treatment normalized both uterine parameters to control levels. Serum progesterone levels were lower in D rats than in controls between days 7 and 9 of pseudopregnancy. Daily insulin treatment normalized luteal function to control levels. The depressed DT weights in D rats were mimicked by the experimental reduction of DT blood flow in control rats. These results indicate that the uterine atrophy and poor endometrial decidualization that characterized the D rat are accompanied by impaired UBF and luteal activity. These findings suggest that the D-associated depression in female reproductive performance is related to the lack of proper hormone support of tissue vascular dynamics.
Garris
D R
DR
Department of Anatomy, Cleveland Research Laboratory, Kansas City, Missouri 64131.
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003656:Decidua / Q000473:pathology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009929:Organ Size; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011555:Pseudopregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D011374:Progesterone