抄録
Background and Aims : Activin is a growth factor which belongs to the TGF-β superfamily and it is produced by several tissues including the feto-placental unit. It is also reported that activin is involved in the regulation of insulin secretion. In the light of these facts it is thought that activin may influence organ development in the fetuses of diabetic mothers. There are few papers on activin in diabetic fetopathy, however, and the links between diabetes in the mother and activin in the fetus was studied. Method : Adult Wistar female rats were injected with streptozotocin and those whose blood glucose levels exceeded 200 mg/dl were determined as diabetic. Fetuses of diabetic and non-diabetic mother rats were delivered by cesarean section on the 20th day of pregnancy and blood was collected. The blood of adult rats was also collected. Serum activin A concentrations were measured by ELISA. Result : There was no significant difference in serum activin A concentrations between diabetic and non-diabetic adult rats. In fetuses, serum. activin A concentrations were higher in those of diabetic mother compared to those of non-diabetic mother. Conclusion : It is suggested that maternal diabetes affects the metabolism of activin in fetuses, but further study is required.
