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Lactate uptake by the fetal sheep liver
Journal of Developmental Physiology
|June 1, 1985
Summary
Fetal sheep liver takes up lactate, a key nutrient from the placenta. This hepatic lactate uptake is closely linked to the amount of lactate transferred from the umbilical circulation.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Physiology
- Fetal Metabolism
- Hepatic Function
Background:
- Lactate is a crucial metabolic fuel for fetal sheep, produced by the placenta.
- Direct assessment of lactate exchange by the fetal liver has been limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify lactate flux across the fetal sheep liver.
- To investigate the relationship between hepatic lactate uptake and other physiological parameters.
Main Methods:
- Chronic catheterization of fetal sheep (129 days gestation) in major blood vessels.
- Measurement of blood lactate, hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, and blood flow (microsphere technique).
- Calculation of net hepatic lactate uptake and extraction.
Main Results:
- Net hepatic uptake of lactate was observed (5.0 +/- 4.4 mg/min per 100 g liver).
- Hepatic lactate extraction was low (7.7 +/- 6.5%) despite significant lactate delivery.
- Hepatic lactate uptake correlated significantly with umbilical lactate uptake.
Conclusions:
- The fetal liver actively takes up lactate, contributing to fetal metabolic homeostasis.
- Hepatic lactate uptake is primarily influenced by umbilical lactate supply, not hepatic oxygen or glucose metabolism.
- This finding highlights the coordinated metabolic roles of the placenta, umbilical circulation, and fetal liver.