Metabolic alterations in the fetal hepatic and umbilical circulations during glucocorticoid-induced parturition in sheep.

Fetal hepatic amino acid metabolism has unique features in comparison to postnatal life. Thus, it seemed likely that this metabolism might be changed by the endocrine changes which precede birth. To explore the changes in placental and fetal carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism that occur during parturition, labor was induced in six ewes at 131 +/- 1 d gestation with a fetal infusion of dexamethasone. For purpose of chemical analysis, blood was withdrawn before and approximately 3 and 25 h from the start of the infusion from maternal arterial, uterine venous, umbilical venous, fetal arterial, and left hepatic venous catheters. Fetal oxygenation remained normal. At 25 h, both fetal and maternal arterial plasma glucose concentrations increased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02, respectively) and umbilical glucose uptake decreased (p < 0.05). Fetal glutamate showed a significant reduction in its hepatic output (p < 0.05) with a concomitant reduction in fetal arterial plasma concentration (p < 0.05) and placental uptake (p < 0.01). Fetal plasma concentrations of several other amino acids were markedly increased. The reduction in placental glutamate uptake was temporally associated with a decline in progesterone release by the pregnant uterus. These data suggest the hypothesis that glutamate plays a role in integrating the complex changes in placental and fetal hepatic metabolism that occur during parturition.