Post-Natal Changes in Blood Glucose, Phosphopyruvate Carboxylase and Tyrosine Aminotransferase after Normal Birth and Premature Delivery in the Rat

Abstract

The relationship between post-natal changes in blood glucose and hepatic enzyme induction was examined in the newborn rat after delivery in the last 3 days of gestation (22 days). A period of transient hypoglycaemia followed normal birth, delivery under ether anaesthesia on day 21 and delivery without anaesthesia on day 22. When fetuses were delivered without anaesthesia on days 20 and 21 the blood glucose concentration was low at birth, was constant for 3 h then increased at a rate similar to that observed for older animals. Phosphopyruvate carboxylase and tyrosine aminotransferase developed in utero after day 21 and at term the activities were high and increased immediately after birth. The time lag for the increase in enzyme activity shortened as gestation progressed. It is concluded that postnatal changes in blood glucose concentration do not have any specific effect on hepatic enzyme induction.