Some aspects of placental carbohydrate metabolism in the rat

Lactic acid production, glucose uptake and glycogen utilization were measured in term rat placentae in vitro in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The addition of adrenaline to the incubation media had no influence on these parameters. The findings contrast with the results of similar studies in human placentae and in other tissues of the rat. It is suggested that the difference in response between rat and human placentae casts doubts on the validity of using rodents for the assessment of potential drug effects in pregnant women.