Objective:To investigate the endocrine functions of the islet β cells and insulin sensitivity in the adult male rats

with intrauterine growth retardation induced by maternal starvation during pregnancy.Methods:The foods were available ad libitum throughout the pregnancy to the control group(n=8) and the rats in the experimental group(n=9) were fed 50% of the control group.The average birth weight of the offspring in the experimental group were below the mean values of the birth weights of the control group more than 2SD

defined as IUGR.The glucose tolerance test and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp were done in the adult male offspring(n=9 for each group).Results:(1)Litter size was not affected by maternal undernutrition.The birth weights of the rats in the maternal starvation during the pregnancy were significantly lower(4.37±0.34g)than those in the control group(6.42±0.29g) as defined as IUGR.The postnatal survival rate of the IUGR rats(75.4%) is significantly lower than that of the normal offspring(94.9%).The mean weight of the IUGR male rats was still lower than that of control group (279.8±30.3g vs 341.3±36.6g

P<0.01) until week 12 postnatally;(2)There were no significant differences in the values of MBCI between the two groups(66.52±21.66 vs 57.43±10.82

P=0.286).The values of SSGIR in the IUGR rats were lower than that in the normal rats(9.97±2.65 mg/(kg·min) vs 22.55±4.05 mg/(kg·min)

P<0.001).Conclusion:Maternal malnutrition during pregnancy caused intrauterine growth retardation in the fetus.The male rats with IUGR did not achieve catch up growth even in the adult life.Though there was no significant difference in the β cell endocrine function

the IUGR rats developed severer insulin resistance in their adult life which is closely related to the metabolic syndrome.