Effects of glucose and insulin on acyl ghrelin and desacyl ghrelin, leptin, and adiponectin in pregnant women with diabetes

The aim of the study was to compare the regulation of ghrelin, leptin, and adiponectin by insulin and glucose during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in women with diabetes. We studied 9 pregnant women with diabetes. All women were treated with insulin and omitted the morning dose on the day of the test. After collection of baseline fasting samples, we performed 3 successive glucose clamps: 2 euglycemic clamps (glucose, 5 mmol/L; insulin infusion at 20 and 40 mU m−2 min−1) and 1 hyperglycemic clamp (glucose, 10 mmol/L; insulin infusion at 40 mU m−2 min−1). We determined concentrations of acyl and desacyl ghrelin (using a double-antibody sandwich assay that recognizes the full-length molecule), leptin, and adiponectin. Fasting desacyl ghrelin concentrations decreased, whereas insulin and leptin concentrations increased, between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (P ≤ .011). During the clamp studies, desacyl ghrelin concentrations decreased by 33% (second trimester, P = .004) and 27% (third trimester, P = .09) with increasing glucose and insulin concentrations, whereas acyl ghrelin, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations were unaffected. Glucose and insulin regulate desacyl ghrelin concentrations in pregnant women with diabetes. Impaired desacyl ghrelin regulation may affect energy metabolism in pregnant women with poorly controlled diabetes.