Umbilical V-A Differences of Acetoacetate and β-Hydroxybutyrate in Fed and Starved Ewes 1

Conclusions

(a) Starvation in the pregnant ewe is associated with an increase in maternal blood concentrations of acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate.

(b) Despite elevated maternal concentrations of acetoacetate, the umbilical venous-arterial blood acetoacetate difference does not change during maternal starvation. However, rising maternal levels of β-hydroxybutyrate are associated with increasing umbilical venous-arterial β-hydroxybutyrate concentration differences.

(c) Neither acetoacetate nor β-hydroxybutyrate umbilical uptake is used by the sheep fetus as a major fuel of aerobic metabolism, even during maternal starvation.