title: Iron deficiency in the rat: biochemical studies of fetal metabolism.
abstract: The effects of dietary-induced iron deficiency on fetal and maternal metabolism were studied in the rat. Concentrations of phenylalanine, but not tyrosine, were significantly elevated in plasma from iron-deficient maternal and fetal rats at day 20 of gestation with individual fetal plasma levels of phenylalanine as high as 10 mg per 100 ml. Concentrations of total 5-hydroxyindole compounds were significantly decreased in brain tissue from iron-deficient fetuses (day 20 of gestation), suggesting that synthesis of the compounds may be inhibited by iron deficiency. Mitochondrial NADH oxidase activity was markedly decreased (60%) in homogenates of fetuses at day 14 of gestation and may account for the high fetal resorption rate and small fetal size observed in the rat in iron deficiency.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D010651:Phenylalanine Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D014443:Tyrosine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D010651:Phenylalanine Hydroxylase; C023107:NADH oxidase; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases