Permeability of Human Placenta to Glucose, Fructose, and Xylose.

Abstract

Summary. The permeability of the human placenta to glucose, fructose, and d(+)xylose was studied in situ in connection with legal abortions. The mother was given an intravenous injection of the sugar at constant speed. Blood samples were taken during the injection from the umbilical vein as exposed through vaginal hysterotomy and simultaneously from the mother. In other experiments, sugar solutions were injected into the umbilical vein, and blood samples were taken repeatedly after the injection. The results are expressed as “apparent net transfer rates” (ANTR), i. e. as the change of umbilical vein glucose, fructose, or xylose level per minute, as divided by the mean mother‐foetus gradient along which the change was occurring. The transfer of glucose and xylose proved fast in comparison to that of fructose. The ANTR values are in the same range as the corresponding figures for guinea pig or sheep placentae. The value of the method and the implications of the results are discussed 1