Effect of Diabetes on Circulating Pancreatic Hormones in Pregnant Rats and Their Offspring

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Reproductive Biology
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• The intrauterine environment significantly influences fetal development and long-term health.
• Maternal diabetes can lead to fetal growth abnormalities and metabolic dysregulation.
• Pancreatic hormones like insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin play critical roles in glucose homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a diabetic intrauterine environment on circulating levels of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin.
• To examine these hormonal changes in pregnant rats (dams), their fetuses, and offspring.
• To understand the role of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in altering pancreatic hormone profiles across generations.

Main Methods:

• Induction of diabetes in Wistar rats using streptozotocin at birth or adulthood.
• Categorization of rats into control, mildly diabetic (MD), and severely diabetic (SD) groups.
• Assessment of dams, fetuses (day 21 pregnancy), and offspring (day 10 postpartum) for hormonal levels and glucose tolerance.

Main Results:

• Severely diabetic (SD) dams exhibited impaired glucose tolerance, lower body weight, and reduced insulin levels.
• SD fetuses showed hyperglycemia with decreased insulin and glucagon.
• SD newborns had diminished pancreatic insulin and plasma somatostatin; mildly diabetic (MD) groups displayed lower glucagon and somatostatin levels.
• MD offspring maintained lower somatostatin levels into the neonatal period.

Conclusions:

• A diabetic intrauterine environment profoundly alters circulating pancreatic hormone levels in dams, fetuses, and offspring.
• Gestational diabetes can lead to persistent hormonal imbalances affecting offspring's metabolic programming.
• These findings highlight the critical role of maternal metabolic health in offspring development and endocrine function.