FIGURE 5.

Effect of pregnancy and SMTNL1 deletion on metabolic parameters of animals. A and B, energy expenditure in non-pregnant (A) and pregnant (B) mice. The volume of oxygen consumed, ml/kg/h (VO₂) was measured over time. C and D, the RER is the respiratory quotient of the consumed oxygen and exhaled carbon dioxide (VO₂/VCO₂), was calculated versus time of non-pregnant (C) and pregnant (D) mice. Heat production was measured (kcal/h) in light and dark cycles. E and F, the activities of non-pregnant (E) and pregnant (F) animals were measured as the unit of beam breaks. G, changes in blood glucose levels (mean ± 1 S.E.) in smtnl1^+/+ and -^−/−, either pregnant or non-pregnant mice in increasing times followed by intraperitoneal glucose injection. H and I, expression of Glut4 (H) and IRS1 (I) in non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant (PRE) plantaris muscle. SMTNL1 deletion caused decreases in Glut4 and IRS1 expression and pregnancy partially rescued its effect. Protein expression levels were determined in non-pregnant and pregnant mice plantaris muscle by SQ-WB. n = 4–13/group. Data are presented as the mean ± S.E. Results are expressed as the means ± S.E. (n > 6 mice/group). #, p < 0.05; ***, p < 0.001 (repeated measures analysis of variance).