[Experimental studies on iron deficiency anemia in pregnant rat and its feto-maternal influence (author's transl)].

The purpose for this experiment is to know the influence on fetus of the iron deficient pregnant rat, fed with iron deficient diet. On day 21st of gestation in normal pregnant rat, RBC, Ht and non-hemin iron of maternal liver are significantly lower than those of non-pregnant, but in iron deficient pregnant, those indexes as well as Hb are slightly but further decreased. We studied ferrokinetics with 59Fe specific binding transferrin by 59Fe-NTAmethod. Plasma iron disappearance rate T (1/2) was 97 minutes in non-pregnant, 25 minutes in normal pregnant and 22 minutes in iron deficient pregnant rat. It is significantly faster in pregnant than non-pregnant rat, but there was little difference between normal and iron-deficient pregnant rat. The mean body weight of fetuses was 4.5g in iron deficient pregnancies against significantly higher 5.2g in normal pregnancies. Hb and non-hemin iron of fetal liver were significantly decreased in iron deficient group. These result suggest that maternal iron utilization must be maintained at minimum level, so that supply of iron to fetus can be kept at maximum level. When pregnant rat is fed with iron deficient diet, there are some adverse influences on fetus, especially of intrauterine fetal growth retardation.