title: Concentrations of vitamins A and E in amniotic fluid, extraembryonic coelomic fluid, and maternal serum in the first trimester of pregnancy.
abstract: Paired samples of amniotic fluid and coelomic fluid were obtained by transvaginal ultrasound guided amniocentesis from 15 women with an ultrasonographically normal pregnancy between 8 and 12 weeks' gestation. Vitamins A and E were measured in the two pregnancy fluids and in maternal serum by high performance liquid chromatography with detection by ultraviolet absorption and fluorimetry respectively. Concentrations of vitamins A and E were higher in maternal serum than in coelomic fluid and were generally undetectable in amniotic fluid. All differences in concentration were significant. The vitamin E/cholesterol ratio was similar in maternal serum and coelomic fluid. No correlation was shown between the vitamin concentrations in the three fluids. These findings suggest that the coelomic cavity plays a part in the maternofetal exchange of these vitamins.
authors.affiliation: Combined Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Reproductive Physiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wathen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Merryweather
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chard
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E