DIABETES AND EXPERIMENTAL PREGNANCY IN RATS - COURSE OF MATERNAL BLOOD-GLUCOSE LEVELS AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS ON THE BLOOD-GLUCOSE LEVELS ANDPANCREAS OF NEWBORN PUPS

The objective of the present investigation was to determine the course of maternal blood glucose levels in pregnant rats and its repercussio ns on the glucose levels and pancreas of their newborn pups. Diabetes was induced by alloxan (42 mg/kg body weight) and streptozotocin (40 m g/kg). Sixty-two pregnant Wistar rats weighing 180 to 250 g were divid ed into a control group and two groups with moderate (120 to 200 mg/dl glucose) and severe diabetes (greater than 200 mg/dl glucose), respec tively. Blood glucose levels were measured in the dams on the 1st, 14t h, and 21st days of pregnancy and in the pups at birth. The results we re pooled for each litter. The fetal pancreases were removed after ces arian section performed on the 21st day of pregnancy, pooled for each litter and processed for histopathologic examination by light microsco py. Maternal blood glucose levels were significantly increased compare d with the first day of pregnancy in both normal and diabetic rats sta rting on the 14th day of pregnancy. Fetal blood glucose levels correla ted with maternal levels. The histopathologic changes characterized by vacuolization and basophilia of the cytoplasm of endocrine pancreas o f newborn pups from darns with moderate or severe diabetes suggested p ancreatic hyperactivity.