Localization and quantification of glucose transporters in liver of growth retarded fetal and neonatal rats. Lane, Robert H., Susan E. Crawford, Annette S. Flozak, Rebecca A. Simmons. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Medical School and Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL and Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania
APStracts 5:0085E, 1998.
To determine if altered transport of glucose into the hepatocyte may be an important factor contributing to abnormal hepatic glucose metabolism in the growth retarded (IUGR) fetus and newborn, we measured glucose transport (glucose uptake, GLUT protein and mRNA) and localization of GLUT protein in liver of control (sham operated) and growth retarded fetal (F20) and postnatal (J1, 4, 14, and 21 days) rats. GLUT 1 and 2 protein were localized to the hepatocyte. Glucose uptake and GLUT 1 protein and mRNA levels, were increased in IUGR fetal and neonatal liver. GLUT 2 protein and mRNA levels were low in IUGR and control fetal liver. After birth, GLUT 2 abundance did not differ from controls. Run-on experiments showed that the rate of transcription of GLUT 1 and GLUT 2 did not differ between IUGR and controls. However, transcription rate of GLUT 1 decreased with age and GLUT 2 transcription rate increased with age. These studies indicate that the metabolic and physiologic factors that cause intrauterine growth retardation also alter glucose transporter expression in fetal liver.

Received 10 June 1997; accepted in final form 16 April 1998
APS Manuscript Number E291-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1998 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 24 April 1998