Concentrations of electrolytes and trace metals in amniotic fluid and body tissues of rabbits during the last two weeks of gestation.
Uterus and placenta of the mother animals, amniotic fluid as well as skin, ossified bone tissue and skeletal muscle of the fetuses were examined. The natural concentrations of Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Ba2+-ions were determined in the third and fourth weeks of gestation. The concentrations of trace metals down to 10(-9) g metal/g tissue could be determined, with a standard deviation of less than +/- 10%, by field desorption mass spectrometry. Correlations between lithium concentrations and bone growth were discerned. Differentiation-processes of the fetal skin were indirectly verified by the marked decrease of all metal ions with the progress of gestation. Concentration changes of metals in uterus tissue during gestation correspond to the changes in maternal serum at the same stage.
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
D004573:Electrolytes; D014131:Trace Elements