Effects of Exogenous Insulin and Alloxan Diabetes on Rat Placenta

Cell disruption with vacuolization of the third trophoblast layer and increased glycogen deposition in the second layer of the rat placental labyrinth have been found following insulin administration throughout pregnancy. These changes were also seen to a lesser extent in alloxan-diabetic animals treated with insulin, but not in a diabetic animal which survived without insulin treatment. It is suggested that abnormalities with these characteristics seen in the placentas of diabetic patients may be a consequence of insulin administration rather than due to the primary carbohydrate disorder.