Abstract
Eleven studies of fetal serine fluxes were performed in chronically catheterized fetal lambs by continuous infusion of [1-13C]- and [U- 14C]serine into a fetal brachial vein. At tracer serine steady state, samples were collected from the fetal abdominal aorta, umbilical vein, fetal hepatic vein, and fetal femoral vein and from the maternal femoral artery and uterine vein. Analyses were performed for plasma serine and glycine concentration, for serine and glycine 13C mole percent enrichment, and for whole blood 14CO2 and O2 concentrations. Uterine and umbilical blood flows were also measured. The placenta had a significant net uptake of fetal serine (2.1 ± 0.5 μmol · min-1 · kg-1, P < 0.01). Fetal plasma serine disposal rate (DR) was 42.5 ± 3.9 μmol · min-1 · kg-1. CO2 production from decarboxylation of fetal plasma serine represented 7.9 ± 0.5% of DR, or 10.1 ± 1.2 μmol CO2 · min-1 · kg-1. Fetal plasma glycine enrichment was 59.7 ± 4.9% of fetal plasma serine enrichment. There was a significant loss of tracer serine from the fetal circulation into the placenta accounting for ~45% of infused tracer. Fifteen percent of this was converted to glycine and released into the umbilical circulation. There was a significant uptake of tracer serine by both fetal liver and fetal hindlimb with a significant CO2 production by both sites with serine oxidation predominantly in the carcass. These results indicate a high fetal serine disposal rate in the lamb, with rapid fetoplacental serine exchange, resulting in a net uptake of fetal serine by the placenta. Significant placental glycine production from fetal plasma serine was demonstrated, supporting the concept of interorgan cycling of serine and glycine between the fetal liver and placenta.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | E786-E793 |
Journal | American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism |
Volume | 263 |
Issue number | 4 26-4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1992 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- fetal serine disposal rate
- placental glycine production
- placental serine uptake
- serine oxidation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Physiology
- Physiology (medical)