Combined pregnancy and starvation effects on rat tissue iron, zinc and copper contents.

The essential metal copper, zinc and iron content in starved virgin and pregnant rat tissue has been studied. The copper content of the whole rat, which was actually increased in pregnant rats, decreased in starved pregnant rats. The differences were significant in 19-day pregnant rats. The total copper content of the conceptus was not affected by starvation. Iron distribution and net tissue content showed the same pattern as that of copper. With regard to zinc, however, there was a decrease of its content associated with starvation in rat tissue. This decrease was statistically significant on the 21st day of gestation both in the mother and in fetuses, which marks a difference compared with the copper-iron pattern. It must be pointed out, however, that--with the significant exception of zinc--the maternal stores of the metals are enough to supply the fetus during starvation despite significant reductions in the maternal reserves.