Alterations in fetal lung phosphatidylinositol metabolism associated with maternal glucose intolerance.

Prior to conception, female rabbits were made hyperglycemic by streptozotocin administration. Fetal hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia were documented. Although plasma myoinositol concentration were higher in the fetuses of diabetic mothers, the ratio of lung to plasma myoinositol concentrations in 29-day fetal rabbits were lower than control values. CDP-diglyceride:inositol phosphatidyltransferase was reduced by 70% in the diabetic fetuses and their lung tissue phosphatidylinositol content was decreased.