Plasma six-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and endocrine pancreatic function in the newborn infant of the diabetic mother.

Plasma concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), C-peptide and pancreatic glucagon and blood glucose levels were measured in 13 infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers at the age of 2 h. Plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels were lower in these infants when compared to those of healthy controls at the same age (p less than 0.05). Plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha correlated negatively with the C-peptide levels (r = -0.57; p less than 0.05) and positively with the pancreatic glucagon concentrations (r = 0.83; p less than 0.001) in the infants of diabetic mothers. No correlation with blood glucose concentrations was found. The data suggest that hyperinsulinemia in infants of diabetic mothers is associated with a decreased vascular prostacyclin production.