title: Effect of different intensities of iron-deficient anemia in pregnant rats on maternal tissue iron and fetal development.
abstract: Effect of the different intensities of iron-deficient anemia in pregnant rats on the maternal tissue iron and the fetal development was investigated. The different intensities of iron deficiency were produced by changing period of feeding on the iron depleted diet (0.38 mg/100 g diet) prior to gestation. The anemic rats were divided into three groups with the hemoglobin levels of 12, 10 and 8 g/100 ml on the first day of gestation. Then, rats of each group were fed on the iron adequate and on the depleted diets during gestation. The whole body weights of the three deficient animals were lower than those of the corresponding controls on day-21 of gestation. Food intakes of the three deficient groups tended to be lower than those of corresponding controls. The values of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht) and red blood cells (RBC) decreased with the progress of pregnancy, and the hypochromic anemia was observed in all deficient animals. Iron contents of various tissues and the ratio of ferritin iron to total iron in liver and spleen of each deficient group were also apparently lower than those of corresponding controls. The numbers of placenta of the deficient groups were similar to those of corresponding controls. The litter size of severe anemic-animals was less than those of light and moderate anemic-animals, and the average body weight of fetus in severe anemic-animals was much lower than those of other groups. These results suggested that a higher severity of anemia in the mother at the beginning of pregnancy may result in a more frequent resorption of the fetus but the anemic status did not affect the ability of gestation itself.
mesh_terms: D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000209:etiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006128:Growth; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008098:Litter Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron