title: Anomalies of fetal development in GK rats.
abstract: Fetal development was investigated in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Between days 15 and 20 after identification of a positive sperm plug, the GK rats gained less weight than control animals. The number of conceptuses in each litter was not significantly different in control and GK rats. The incidence of abortive fetal development, however, averaged 39.7% +/- 9.1% in GK rats, compared with only 5.6% +/- 0.2% in control animals. The placental weight in living fetuses was slightly lower in GK rats than control rats. The crown-rump length was identical in the fetuses of control and diabetic mothers. The number of ossification points in the lumbosacral spine, pelvic girdle and anterior and posterior limbs was significantly lower in fetuses of GK rats than control animals. These anomalies could not be blamed on a lower plasma insulin concentration in GK than control animals, whether before or during (days 15-20) pregnancy. Moreover, in both control and GK rats, the insulinogenic index was raised during pregnancy. These findings indicate that GK rats represent a new model for the study of diabetes-related fetal anomalies, their pathogenesis and prevention.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Brussels Free University, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malaisse-Lagae
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rypens
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Louryan
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Malaisse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007651:Keto Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010012:Osteogenesis; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007651:Keto Acids; C013082:alpha-ketoisocaproic acid; D005947:Glucose