JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
RESEARCH SUPPORT, U.S. GOV'T, P.H.S.
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Intrauterine growth retardation leads to the development of type 2 diabetes in the rat.

Diabetes 2001 October
Intrauterine growth retardation has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes in later life. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unknown. We have developed a model of uteroplacental insufficiency, a common cause of intrauterine growth retardation, in the rat. Bilateral uterine artery ligation was performed on day 19 of gestation (term is 22 days) in the pregnant rat; sham-operated pregnant rats served as controls. Birth weights of intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) animals were significantly lower than those of controls until approximately 7 weeks of age, when IUGR rats caught up to controls. Between 7 and 10 weeks of age, the growth of IUGR rats accelerated and surpassed that of controls, and by 26 weeks of age, IUGR rats were obese (P < 0.05 vs. controls). No significant differences were observed in blood glucose and plasma insulin levels at 1 week of age. However, between 7 and 10 weeks of age, IUGR rats developed mild fasting hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia (P < 0.05 vs. controls). At age 26 weeks, IUGR animals had markedly elevated levels of glucose (P < 0.05 vs. controls). IUGR animals were glucose-intolerant and insulin-resistant at an early age. First-phase insulin secretion in response to glucose was also impaired early in life in IUGR rats, before the onset of hyperglycemia. There were no significant differences in beta-cell mass, islet size, or pancreatic weight between IUGR and control animals at 1 and 7 weeks of age. However, in 15-week-old IUGR rats, the relative beta-cell mass was 50% that of controls, and by 26 weeks of age, beta-cell mass was less than one-third that of controls (P < 0.05). The data presented here support the hypothesis that an abnormal intrauterine milieu can induce permanent changes in glucose homeostasis after birth and lead to type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app