[Decrease of pulmonary phosphatidylglycerol in the fetuses of rats made diabetic by streptozotocin]

Abstract

Phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol were studied on gestational day 21.5 in the lung of Rat fetuses from streptozotocin-diabetic mothers (severe diabetes; maternal glycemia, 16.5 16.5 mmol/l). A 55% decrease of phosphatidylglycerol and a concomitant 60% increase of phosphatidylinositol were shown. These changes are qualitatively similar to those previously observed in amniotic fluid of human fetuses from diabetic mothers. Since in the severely diabetic pregnant Rat, the fetuses present hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia, instead of reactional hyperinsulinemia as the human fetus does, the changes observed in fetal lung are probably due to a direct effect of glucose excess, possibly through an increase of blood myoinositol.