Abstract
Conclusions
(a) Starvation in the pregnant ewe is associated with an increase in maternal blood concentrations of acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate.
(b) Despite elevated maternal concentrations of acetoacetate, the umbilical venous-arterial blood acetoacetate difference does not change during maternal starvation. However, rising maternal levels of β-hydroxybutyrate are associated with increasing umbilical venous-arterial β-hydroxybutyrate concentration differences.
(c) Neither acetoacetate nor β-hydroxybutyrate umbilical uptake is used by the sheep fetus as a major fuel of aerobic metabolism, even during maternal starvation.
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