Water and ion metabolism in placenta. I. water and ion content of rabbit placenta in different periods of gestation.
Total tissue water of rabbit plancenta decreases by 18% between the 9th day and the end of gestation. In the same period intracellular water decreases by 40% and the extracellular compartment swells. Total tissue sodium and chloride content increase by 34% and 27% respectively from the 16th to the 33rd day while potassium decreases by 30%. The intracellular concentration of these ions does not vary greatly during gestation. Moreover the total tissue magnesium content decreases by about 23% at the end of gestation while its intracellular concentration does not show marked changes. Calcium content of rabbit placenta substantially increases during gestation and intracellular calcium shows a fivefold increase from the 16th to the 33rd day of gestation. The results are discussed in terms of relation between water and ion content and placental tissue growth and aging.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance