Development of the gestational plasma hypoaminoacidemia in the rat.

The development of the gestational hypoaminoacidemia and the changes in amino acid blood compartmentation have been studied in virgin, 9 day, 12 day and 15 day pregnant rats. The drop of plasma amino acid levels is a rapid phenomenon which takes place between the 9th and the 12th day of pregnancy. It is mainly accounted for by gluconeogenic amino acids. Pregnant rats have lower plasma/cell amino acid ratios than virgin rats. Nine day pregnant rats have lower ratios than controls because of an important increase in the amino acid content of the cell fraction. Twelve and 15 day pregnant rats have lower ratios than controls because of the important drop in plasma levels, since cell content is similar to controls and lower than 9 day pregnant rats.