Expression during rat fetal development of GLUT12 - a member of the class III hexose transporter family

Glucose is an essential molecule for most mammalian cells, and is particularly important during fetal development, when cells are rapidly dividing and differentiating. In rats, GLUT1 is present at high levels in most fetal tissues, with levels decreasing after birth. We used immunohistochemistry to localise GLUT12 protein, a recently identified member of the sugar transporter family, and GLUT1 during rat fetal development. GLUT12 staining was observed in heart muscle from gestational days 15 to 21. GLUT12 staining in skeletal muscle increased from gestational days 17 to 21, and GLUT12 was also detected in brown adipose tissue. The expression of GLUT12 in insulin-responsive tissues supports a potential role for GLUT12 in the provision of glucose to these tissues before the appearance of GLUT4. GLUT12 protein was also expressed in fetal chondrocytes from gestational day 15 onward, in kidney distal tubules and collecting ducts from day 19, and in lung bronchioles from day 19. The specific pattern of expression observed in the rat fetus suggests that GLUT12 may be important in hexose delivery to developing tissues.