Metabolic quotients of the gravid uterus of the chronically catheterized guinea pig

Steven M. Block, John W. Sparks, Robert L. Johnson, Frederick C. Battaglia

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The uptake of substrates by the pregnant uterus defines the “diet” of the uterus and concept us. In order to determine the uterine substrate uptake, catheters were placed in the femoral artery and uterine veins of guinea pigs at 40-49 days gestation. After at least 2 days recovery from perioperative stress, systemic arterial and uterine venous concentrations of oxygen, glucose, lactate, acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, acetate, and free fatty acids were measured and metabolic quotients were calculated. The glucose/O2 quotient was 1.22 ± 0.07 (mean ± SEM), the lactate/O2 quotient was -0.40 ± 0.09, the acetoacetate/O2 quotient was 0.03 ± 0.02, the βhydroxy-butyrate/O2 quotient was 0.01 ± 0.006, the acetate/O2 quotient was 0.03 ± 0.01, and the free fatty acid/O2 quotient was 0.24 ± 0.21. Among the substrates measured, glucose appears to be the major metabolic fuel of the pregnant guinea pig uterus, but does not account for all of the oxygen consumed by the uterus if adjusted for lactate production, since lactate is produced within the gravid uterus in large quantities. Acetoacetate and S-hydroxybu-tyrate are utilized in negligible amounts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)840-845
Number of pages6
JournalPediatric Research
Volume19
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1985
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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