Abstract
Fasting caused a significantly greater hyperketonaemia and hypoglycaemia in late pregnant rats than in non‐pregnant rats, and the hyperketonaemia after 1 day of fasting was greater in primiparous than in pregnant multiparous rats. In primiparous rats with hypertrophic adrenals produced by ACTH pretreatment, the degree of fasting ketosis was reduced to that in non‐treated pregnant multiparous rats. The adrenal weight of late pregnant rats was significantly heavier, and the adrenal gland of non‐pregnant multiparous rats was bigger than that of virgin rats but smaller than that of pregnant rats. Progesterone administration in virgin and adrenalectomized virgin rats caused greater fasting ketosis and less hypoglycaemia. Progesterone administration in pregnant rats caused toxaemic changes, and in pregnant multiparous rats a more severe fasting ketosis. Oestrogen administration in virgin rats increased the ketosis and decreased the hypoglycaemia after fasting. The present study indicates that increased fetal demands for glucose and increased endocrine activity contribute to metabolic changes which cause pregnancy ketosis.
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