A prospective and controlled in vivo study to determine if acute episodes of high glucose concentrations in the extra-embryonic celomic cavity could be related to spontaneous abortion

Abstract

Objectives: In vitro preparations have provided evidence suggesting that acute and chronic exposure to very high glucose concentrations can lead to embryonic demise via disruption of the extra-celomic membranes and yolk sac. In this study, we sought to determine, in vivo, if an acute increase in extra-embryonic fluid glucose concentration could cause spontaneous abortion. Materials and methods: We employed a pregnant non-human primate model and ultrasound-guided celocentesis at 38–42 days from conception. In three control animals, partial replacement of the extra-embryonic celomic fluid was performed using normal saline containing 0.6 mg/mL of glucose. In four study animals, the extra-celomic fluid was replaced with a similar solution containing high glucose concentrations. All animals were then followed until delivery. Results: Immediately after celocentesis, the estimated celomic fluid glucose concentration in experimental animals ranged between 5 mg/mL and 83.8 mg/mL (8–140 times the physiologic glucose concentration of 0.6 mg/mL). All animals delivered live newborns at term without congenital abnormalities. Conclusions: These findings suggest that transitory increases in the extra-celomic fluid glucose concentration are not likely to cause a spontaneous abortion detectable with the sample size of our study.

Keywords::

• Baboons
• diabetes
• miscarriage
• non-human primates
• pregnancy
• teratogens

Acknowledgements

This study was presented at the 16th World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, London, UK. The study was selected as the best free communication presentation in its category. This work was supported in part by a grant from the Amarillo Women’s Health Research Institute of Texas Tech University, The Center for Research and Mentorship at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The authors are grateful to Mr. Candido DeLeon for assistance with graphics.

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.