PREGNANCY IN INSULIN-TREATED ALLOXAN DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

1. The fertility and outcome of pregnancy have been studied in alloxan diabetic rats treated with insulin. The diabetes was only partly controlled, but the general condition of the diabetic mothers was good. 2. Fertility rate was increased compared with that in animals in which the diabetes was not treated with insulin. Stillbirth rate and neonatal death rate (5% combined loss) and the percentage of weaned animals (89%) were normal, as contrasted with a 37% combined stillbirth and neonatal mortality rate and 50% death-rate before weaning in the offspring of untreated diabetic mothers. 3. It is concluded that alloxan diabetes does not adversely affect the foetal mortality, neonatal death-rate or the feeding of young animals unless it impairs the general health of the mother.