Insulin fetal production

In monoclonal antibody purification, biological risks are primarily related to the host animal cells, but also to animal supplements for culture medium such as fetal bovine serum or pure proteins (e.g., bovine albumin, insulin, and transferrin). A special risk associated with production of antibodies with rodent cell lines is their high load of C-type particles. These particles are considered as incomplete retroviruses. The danger regarding infecting humans is not clear. Thus, the efficient separation of these particles must be guaranteed. These particles are quantified either by immunological techniques or electron microscopy. 

Figure 2. SDS gel electrophoresis of the products of partial cystine cleavage for several test proteins. A. molecular weight standards, B. yeast alcohol dehydrogenase. C. P-lactoglobulin, D. hen egg lysozyme, E. ovalbumin, F. calf fetal serum fetuin. Molecular weight standards are indicated by arrows on the left side of the gel and are bovine serum albumin (66,300), bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase (55,400), porcine muscle lactate ddiydiogenase (36,500), bovine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase (31,000), soybean trypsin inhibitor (21,500), hen egg lysozyme (14,400), bovine lung aprotinin (6,000), unresolved bovine pancreatic insulin A and B chains.

Thyroid hormones also accelerate fetal lung maturation. Fetal thyroid hormone levels may be increased by antenatal administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a tripeptide that crosses the placental barrier, stimulates fetal pituitary production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and which, in turn, increases fetal thyroid hormone production (Chapter 33). This indirect method of enhancement of fetal thyroid hormone production is utilized because thyroid hormones do not readily cross the placental barrier. Insulin delays surfactant synthesis and so fetal hyperinsulinemia in diabetic mothers may increase the incidence of RDS even in the full-term infant. Androgen synthesized in the fetal testis is the probable cause of a slower onset of surfactant production in male fetuses. Prophylactic, or after onset of RDS, administration of synthetic or natural pulmonary surfactants intratracheally to preterm infants improves oxygenation and decreases pulmonary morbidity. 

Oral hypoglycemics are not used during pregnancy because they cross the placental barrier they stimulate fetal insulin production and may be teratogenic. 

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