title: Electrolyte composition of fetuses, placentas, and maternal plasma during the last trimester of gestation in the rat.
abstract: Pregnant rats were sacrificed during their last trimester of pregnancy. Maternal plasma levels of calcium and zinc decreased during gestation, whereas calcium and zinc levels increased in fetuses as gestation progressed. Although sodium and potassium levels remained relatively constant in maternal plasma, the levels of these electrolytes in fetuses decreased with gestation. Magnesium levels remained relatively unchanged in both maternal plasma and fetuses. The changes in placenta electrolyte content resembled the pattern of changes in fetuses.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000032:analysis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D010920:Placenta / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes