Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
Published on: October 25, 2015
Relationship between resting glucose consumption and insulin secretion in the ovine fetus
Abstract:
In the chronically catheterized fetal sheep, umbilical glucose uptake has previously been found to be related to maternal glucose concentration over a wide range of values. The relative contribution of fetal insulin secretion to resting umbilical glucose uptake has not previously been assessed. Simultaneous measurements of umbilical glucose uptake and an estimate of fetal insulin secretory rate were performed in 21 fetal lambs in late gestation over 1-hour sampling periods. Because of the relatively narrow range of maternal blood glucose concentrations, no relationship was apparent between maternal glucose concentration and umbilical glucose uptake. However, a significant relationship was present between the area beneath the insulin concentration curve, a rough estimate of insulin secretory rate, and umbilical glucose uptake. The data suggest that fetal insulin secretory rate may be an important regulator of fetal glucose uptake under physiologic circumstances.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine
Insulin Secretory Vesicles
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Glucose Homeostasis: Regulation of Blood Glucose
During fasting, when blood glucose levels are low, the pancreas secretes glucagon. it...
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...

