Effect of maternal glucose infusion on brown adipose tissue and liver development in the neonatal lamb.
The effect of maternal glucose infusion over the final 5-7 days of gestation in under-fed ewes on perirenal brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver development in lambs over the first month of neonatal life was examined. During glucose infusion, higher maternal plasma concentrations of glucose and thyroid hormones, and lower plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and 3-hydroxybutyrate were observed, compared with saline-infused controls. These differences were not observed 1-1.5 h before parturition when plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, cortisol and thyroid hormones all increased in control ewes. Lamb birthweight and liver and BAT weights were similar between groups, but lambs born to glucose-infused ewes had a higher hepatic glycogen content and greater iodothyronine 5'deiodinase activities in liver and BAT. The norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine contents were also greater in BAT sampled from lambs born to glucose infused ewes. Three lambs born to glucose-infused ewes failed to survive beyond the second week of life and exhibited abnormally low plasma triiodothyronine concentrations. It is concluded that maternal glucose infusion stimulates development of the fetal sympathetic nervous system during late gestation but this adaptation does not appear to improve postnatal survival.
School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, UK.
L
L
Clarke
D C
DC
Andrews
M A
MA
Lomax
M E
ME
Symonds
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012756:Sheep; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D019344:Lactic Acid; D005947:Glucose; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone