Paternal genetics affects the regulation of blood glucose concentration

摘要

In a study of lambs born to ewes fed adequately throughout gestation, a glucose challenge test administered at day 155 post partum, resulted in a significantly elevated plasma glucose concentration 60 minutes after a challenge in lambs born to a ram with a high genetic potential for high muscle and low fat content compared to those born to a ram with a high genetic potential for daily live weight gain. No difference in plasma insulin concentration in response to the glucose challenge was found, suggesting that pancreas response and rate of insulin secretion are not different in these two groups of lambs. It is concluded that a high genetic potential for lean body mass predisposes to an impaired glucose tolerance in a direction similar to that associated with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.