The effect of hyperglycemia on acid-base and sympathoadrenal responses in the hypoxemic fetal monkey

We investigated the influence of hyperglycemia on the fetal acid-base and sympathoadrenal responses to hypoxemia (maternal FIO2 9%) in rhesus monkey fetuses. In chronic preparations, we determined PO2, O2 content, PCO2, pH, lactate, glucose, insulin, catecholamines, heart rate, and arterial pressure. Combined hyperglycemia and hypoxemia resulted in a decrease in fetal pH and an increase in lactate; however, the magnitude of these changes was only modestly, and not significantly, greater than those observed during euglycemic hypoxemia. These effects were much less striking than expected, based on earlier work in sheep (Shelley, Bassett & Milner, 1975; Robillard, Sessions, Kennedy & Smith, 1978). Although catecholamines increased significantly in response to hypoxemia both in hyperglycemic and euglycemic fetuses, the increase was less in the hyperglycemic group, possibly resulting from a modulating effect of the high glucose concentration on catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla. Finally, a significant fetal insulin response to hyperglycemia was seen which, suggestively, was partially inhibited in the presence of hypoxemia and its associated increase in sympathoadrenal activity.