Abstract
Extract: In human fetal liver cultures addition of glucagon or dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) plus prednisolone to the medium for 24 hr evokes an increase in tyrosine α-ketoglutarate transaminase (TTA) activity which is much greater than the sum of the rises due to glucagon, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, or prednisolone alone. This effect is time (24 hr of incubation) and age (the largest effect in the oldest fetus) dependent. This synergistic effect is not seen with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPK). Glucagon alone or norepinephrine alone has only a very dubious effect on TTA but both hormones raise PEPK activity by about 60% in culture.
Alanine and aspartate transaminases are not affected by any of the inducers tested, but both increase in activity during culturing.
Speculation: Theoretically, it is possible that injections of steroids to pregnant mothers together with higher than normal levels of dibutyryl cyclic AMP in fetal liver can cause large increases in fetal hepatic tyrosine transaminase. The metabolic consequences of such a rise for the fetus are completely unknown. It is not even known whether such a rise would be permanent or transient. In view of our ignorance, we should be hesitant about treating pregnant women with steroid drugs.
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Kirby, L., Hahn, P. Enzyme Response to Prednisolone and Dibutyryl Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate in Human Fetal Liver. Pediatr Res 8, 37–41 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197401000-00007
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197401000-00007