Insular function of mother and fetus

Summary Insulin was extracted from blood plasma on strong sulfacationic ion-exchange resin, trade mark SDV-3, 60–80 mesh, swelling coefficient 3.0 in hydrogen form. Bio-assay for insulin activity was performed by rat epididymal fat pad technique. Insulin activity as assayed in maternal venous and umbilical venous blood at birth and mean error values of insulin activity were 226±26.3 and 223±25.7 U/ml respectively. There was no difference between insulin activity of maternal venous, retroplacental and umbilical venous blood either in mean values or individually. Since placenta is impermeable to insulin it is presumed that at birth insular function of fetus is relatively high and roughly equal to that of adult women at the end of pregnancy.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR V. G. Baranov) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 55, No. 8, pp. 21–24, August, 1963