Subhuman primate pregnancy complicated by streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus.

Polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and glucosuria followed the administration of streptozotocin to 6 nonpregnant and 15 pregnant monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in the first trimester of pregnancy. The diabetogenic action of the drug was also reflected in an induced but variable deterioration in maternal intravenous glucose tolerance and a marked attenuation of maternal plasma insulin responsiveness to intravenous glycemic stimuli. The products of conception were examined in 29 pregnancies.

Factors affecting the response to insulin in the normal subhuman pregnant primate.

The concentrations of plasma glucose, free fatty acids, insulin, growth hormone, and placental prolactin in subhuman primate fetal and maternal plasma were examined following intravascular administration of insulin and glucagon to the fetus and mother. The neonatal plasma responses to these same stimuli were also examined. Fetal plasma glucose concentrations were minimally altered by direct fetal insulin injections, whereas neonatal glucose levels declined with similar injections.

Metabolic clearance and production rates of human growth hormone.

The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of human growth hormone (HGH) was determined by the constant infusion to equilibrium technique utilizing HGH-(125)I. 22 control subjects had a MCR of 229 +/-52 ml/min (mean +/-SD). No difference was evident between sexes, or between various age groups.

Fetal insulin and growth hormone metabolism in the subhuman primate.

The concentrations of plasma glucose, insulin, growth hormone, and immunoreactive growth hormone-like substance in subhuman primate fetal and maternal plasma were examined after the intravascular administration of glucose, arginine, or tolbutamide to the fetus. Cannulation of interplacental vessels permitted studies on the fetus in utero without disruption of fetal-placental-maternal anatomic integrity. Single glucose injections, glucose infusions, and arginine infusions into the fetus did not alter fetal plasma insulin concentrations.