title: Changes in fetal mannose and other carbohydrates induced by a maternal insulin infusion in pregnant sheep.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The importance of non-glucose carbohydrates, especially mannose and inositol, for normal development is increasingly recognized. Whether pregnancies complicated by abnormal glucose transfer to the fetus also affect the regulation of non-glucose carbohydrates is unknown. In pregnant sheep, maternal insulin infusions were used to reduce glucose supply to the fetus for both short (2-wk) and long (8-wk) durations to test the hypothesis that a maternal insulin infusion would suppress fetal mannose and inositol concentrations. We also used direct fetal insulin infusions (1-wk hyperinsulinemic-isoglycemic clamp) to determine the relative importance of fetal glucose and insulin for regulating non-glucose carbohydrates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A maternal insulin infusion resulted in lower maternal (50%, P < 0.01) and fetal (35-45%, P < 0.01) mannose concentrations, which were highly correlated (r(2) = 0.69, P < 0.01). A fetal insulin infusion resulted in a 50% reduction of fetal mannose (P < 0.05). Neither maternal nor fetal plasma inositol changed with exogenous insulin infusions. Additionally, maternal insulin infusion resulted in lower fetal sorbitol and fructose (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronically decreased glucose supply to the fetus as well as fetal hyperinsulinemia both reduce fetal non-glucose carbohydrates. Given the role of these carbohydrates in protein glycosylation and lipid production, more research on their metabolism in pregnancies complicated by abnormal glucose metabolism is clearly warranted.
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research Center, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA ; Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research Center, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Thorn
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research Center, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research Center, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Jinny R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lavezzi
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research Center, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Frederick C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research Center, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA ; Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rozance
keywords: Fructose; Glucose; Inositol; Insulin; Mannose; Pregnancy