title: Effect of hypoinsulinemia on growth in the fetal rabbit.
abstract: Insulin is an important regulatory hormone in the control of fetal growth. In a fetal rabbit model, a non-ruminant species, the effects of insulin deprivation on glucose, growth and protein metabolism were studied. The fetuses of 10 pregnant New Zealand white rabbits in one uterine horn received a subcutaneous injection on day 25 of gestation (term = 30 days) of 0.1 mg streptozotocin (STZ)/gm fetal weight. The fetuses in the opposite horn received a sham injection of buffer. The dams were then killed on day 29. The fetal insulin concentration was depressed by 38%, and the serum glucose concentration was elevated by 28% in animals given STZ when compared to control animals. Fetal weights, carcass weights and skeletal growth, as measured by crown-rump length and tibial length of STZ-treated fetuses, were significantly reduced by 7-13%. However, organ weights were not significantly different, except for the kidneys which were 17% lighter. Protein and mineral contents of the carcasses were also reduced compared to the control fetuses. Thus, insulin deprivation in fetal rabbits results in significant growth impairment in a pattern similar to that of human asymmetric intrauterine growth retardation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Chaffin
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Philipps
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013311:Streptozocin