Clinical and morphological studies in streptozotocin diabetic pregnant rats.

Diabetes was induced in pregnant rats by administration of streptozotocin and the changes of the feto-placental unit were investigated. Dead fetuses were found in 12% of the untreated diabetic animals. In comparison to the controls, the fetal weights were significantly smaller and placental weights greater in diabetic animals. The changes were clearly characterized by the ratio fetal placental weight. Edema and cystic degeneration were characteristic of insulin treated diabetic placentas while fibrosis and ischemia were observed mainly in untreated animals. Insulin treatment resulted in hemorrhages and necrosis in the placenta of normal pregnant rats; the change is ascribed to hypoglycaemia.