ABSTRACT
The non-heme iron, folates, and vitamin B12 in the liver of 77 fetuses were assayed as were serum levels of these metabolites in 70 of their mothers. The findings indicate the existence of independent placental transport mechanisms, switched on and off at different stages of late gestation, and peculiar to each metabolite.
Subject(s)
Anemia , Fetus/metabolism , Liver/metabolism , Anemia/metabolism , Female , Folic Acid/metabolism , Humans , Iron/metabolism , Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Vitamin B 12/metabolismABSTRACT
The folate and vitamin B12 content of 61 fetal livers divided into 3 groups immature (13 cases); premature (27 cases); at terminus (21 cases) were determined microbiologically. The average concentration (mug/g) and the reserve (mug) of hepatic folate for the immature group were 2 and 43.2 (net weight); for the premature group were 3.05 and 163.6; for the third group were 2.54 and 225.3, respectively. The average concentration (mug/g) and the reserve (mug) of hepatic vitamin B12 for the immature group were 0.173 and 4.1; for the premature group were 0.207 and 10.7; for the third group were 0.300 and 27.3 respectively.
