| Affiliation: | (1) Division of Animal Production, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Prospect, NSW, Australia;(2) Beef Cooperative Research Council, Armidale, NSW, Australia;(3) School of Environment and Agriculture, University of Western Sydney, Richmond, NSW, Australia |
| Abstract: | Background Elevated non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations in non-pregnant animals have been reported to decrease pancreatic responsiveness. As ovine gestation advances, maternal insulin concentrations fall and NEFA concentrations increase. Experiments were designed to examine if the pregnancy-associated rise in NEFA concentration is associated with a reduced pancreatic sensitivity to glucose in vivo. We investigated the possible relationship of NEFA concentrations in regulating maternal insulin concentrations during ovine pregnancy at three physiological states, non-pregnant, non-lactating (NPNL), 105 and 135 days gestational age (dGA, term 147+/- 3 days). |
