Changes in fetal mannose and other carbohydrates induced by a maternal insulin infusion in pregnant sheep |
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Authors: | Laura D Brown Stephanie R Thorn Alex Cheung Jinny R Lavezzi Frederick C Battaglia Paul J Rozance |
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Affiliation: | 1.Perinatal Research Center, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA;2.Center for Women’s Health Research, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA |
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Abstract: | BackgroundThe 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.ResultsA maternal insulin infusion resulted in lower maternal (50%, P < 0.01) and fetal (35-45%, P < 0.01) mannose concentrations, which were highly correlated (r2 = 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).ConclusionsChronically 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. |
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Keywords: | Fructose Glucose Inositol Insulin Mannose Pregnancy |
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