Maturation of pancreatic beta-cell function in the fetal horse during late gestation.
Abstract: At birth, the endocrine pancreas becomes more directly involved in the control of glycaemia than in utero. However, compared with other tissues, relatively little is known about the maturational changes that occur in the fetal endocrine pancreas in preparation for extrauterine life. This study examined the pancreatic beta-cell response to exogenous administration of glucose and arginine in fetal horses with respect to their gestational age and concentration of cortisol, the hormone responsible for prepartum maturation of other fetal tissues. Glucose administration had no effect on fetal insulin secretion between 175 and 230 days of gestation but evoked a rapid insulin response in fetuses closer to term (290-327 days). In late gestation, the beta-cell response was more rapid and greater in magnitude in fetuses with basal cortisol levels higher than 15 ng/ml than in those with lower cortisol values at the time of glucose administration. The fetal beta-cell response to arginine was unaffected by the rise in fetal plasma cortisol towards term. These findings show that there are maturational changes in pancreatic beta-cell function in fetal horses as cortisol levels rise close to term. Primarily, these prepartum maturational changes were in the mechanisms of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, which would enable the beta cells to regulate glycaemia at the higher glucose levels observed postnatally.
Publication Date: 2005-09-02 PubMed ID: 16135666DOI: 10.1677/joe.1.06176Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research focused on studying the development of pancreatic beta-cell function in fetal horses during the late stages of gestation. The scientists explored the pancreas’ response to administration of external glucose and arginine in regards to the gestational age and cortisol concentration.
Study Overview
- The research aimed to assess the maturation of pancreatic beta-cells in fetal horses during their gestation period. The study focused on the beta-cell response to exogenously administered glucose and arginine, two substances that significantly influence insulin secretion.
- Scientists examined the level of cortisol, a hormone responsible for the maturation of fetal tissues before birth, as it could potentially influence the development of pancreatic beta cells.
Methodology and Results
- Glucose was administered to the fetuses between 175 and 230 days of gestation and between 290 and 327 days of gestation. It was found that there was no effect on insulin secretion in the earlier period, but a quick insulin response was noticed in fetuses closer to term.
- During late gestation, the beta-cell response was faster and more significant in fetuses with basal cortisol levels higher than 15 ng/ml as compared to those with lower cortisol levels at the time of glucose administration. This suggests an association between cortisol levels and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.
- Contrarily, the fetal beta-cell response to arginine did not show any effect from the rise in fetal plasma cortisol towards term.
Findings and Conclusion
- The research demonstrated that there are significant maturational changes in pancreatic beta-cell function in fetal horses as they approach term and cortisol levels rise.
- Primarily, these prepartum maturational changes were observed in the mechanisms of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. These changes would potentially enable the beta cells to regulate glycaemia at the higher glucose levels observed postnatally.
- The results enhance our understanding of fetal development and the role of pancreatic beta cells in glucose regulation, which could have implications for managing gestational diabetes and other similar conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Fowden AL, Gardner DS, Ousey JC, Giussani DA, Forhead AJ.
(2005).
Maturation of pancreatic beta-cell function in the fetal horse during late gestation.
J Endocrinol, 186(3), 467-473.
https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.1.06176 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK. alf1000@cam.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arginine / pharmacology
- Female
- Fetal Blood / chemistry
- Fetal Development / physiology
- Gestational Age
- Glucose / pharmacology
- Horses / physiology
- Hydrocortisone / blood
- Insulin / blood
- Islets of Langerhans / drug effects
- Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
- Islets of Langerhans / physiology
- Pregnancy
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Robles M, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Peugnet P, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Camous S, Tarrade A, Wimel L, Serteyn D, Bouraima-Lelong H, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy Affects Testicular and Bone Development, Glucose Metabolism and Response to Overnutrition in Weaned Horses Up to Two Years. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0169295.
- Li C, Shu ZJ, Lee S, Gupta MB, Jansson T, Nathanielsz PW, Kamat A. Effects of maternal nutrient restriction, intrauterine growth restriction, and glucocorticoid exposure on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-1 expression in fetal baboon hepatocytes in vitro. J Med Primatol 2013 Aug;42(4):211-9.
- Rumball CW, Harding JE, Oliver MH, Bloomfield FH. Effects of twin pregnancy and periconceptional undernutrition on maternal metabolism, fetal growth and glucose-insulin axis function in ovine pregnancy. J Physiol 2008 Mar 1;586(5):1399-411.
- Owens JA, Gatford KL, De Blasio MJ, Edwards LJ, McMillen IC, Fowden AL. Restriction of placental growth in sheep impairs insulin secretion but not sensitivity before birth. J Physiol 2007 Nov 1;584(Pt 3):935-49.
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