Glycogen content and lipid biosynthesis in the lungs of fetuses of diabetic rats.
The fetal pulmonary glycogen content and the pulmonary biosynthesis of neutral lipids and phospholipids were estimated at gestational days 18, 20, and 22 in the offspring of normal, manifest diabetic, and insulin-treated diabetic rats. In all groups the fetal pulmonary glycogen concentration was highest on gestational day 20 and decreased during the subsequent 2 days. At the same time the biosynthesis of neutral lipids and phospholipids increased in the fetal lungs. The fetuses of the manifest diabetic rats showed an increased glycogen concentration and decreased total lipid biosynthesis compared with the other two groups. Insulin treatment of the rat mothers largely normalized the pulmonary lipid biosynthesis and glycogen accumulation in their fetuses. These data suggest that the diabetic maternal environment induces a transient block in the fetal utilization of pulmonary glycogen for the biosynthesis of lipids, in particular for the production of surfactant phospholipids.
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D008055:Lipids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D006003:Glycogen