AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 259, Issue 4 E568-E575, Copyright © 1990 by American Physiological Society
Maternal diet and insulin secretion in islets of lactating, nonlactating, and young rats
C. R. Bliss, D. E. Wiedenkeller and G. W. Sharp
Department of Pharmacology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853.
The effects of dietary phosphorus (P) on insulin secretion by pancreatic
islets of rats at peak lactation (14 days after parturition) and by islets
of nonlactating previously pregnant rats have been determined. In addition,
the effects of changed dietary P in the maternal diet on insulin secretion
by islets of the 1- and 14-day-old offspring were studied. Lactating rats
had increased food intake relative to nonlactating rats and correspondingly
increased P intake on the 0.4 and 0.7% P diets. Serum P levels were
elevated in lactating rats consuming the 0.7% P feed relative to those on
the 0.4% P feed and also relative to the nonlactating rats on the 0.7% P
feed. Lactating rats had decreased bone calcium compared with the
nonlactating rats. Islets from lactating rats on the 0.7% P feed secreted
more insulin in response to glucose or to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine
(IBMX) than lactating rats on the 0.4% P feed. Additionally, lactating rats
on the 0.7% P feed secreted more insulin in response to glucose than
nonlactating rats on the same 0.7% P feed. The maternal diet had no
influence on the endocrine pancreatic responses of the 1- and 14-day-old
offspring in response to glucose or IBMX.
