Transfers of trace elements from the placenta to the fetus of pregnant rat

Abstract

The transfers of trace elements via placenta to fetus have been studied by applying the multitracer technique in order to learn the placenta functions as the barrier between fetus and mother. The uptake behaviors of 13 kinds of elements in the placenta and the fetus of 17 day pregnant rat were investigated. The uptake rates of 13 elements were shown in a figure, and the uptake behaviors of every elements in the placenta and the fetus were presented respectively. By the comparison of the uptake behaviors in the placenta and the fetus, it was found that the uptakes of Zn and Na were similar each other, while the uptakes of other elements in placental tissue were different from those in fetus. It was suggested that the transfers of trace elements from placenta to fetus were to be affected by the uptake behavior of trace elements in fetus and placenta, because the trace elements for fetus must be obtained from their mother across placenta. It was found that the transfers of Na and Zn were fast, and that half of them in the placenta were transferred to the fetus.

胎児と母体との間の障壁としての胎盤の機能を調べるため、胎盤を経由して胎児への微量元素の移動を多重トレーサ手法を適用して研究した。妊娠17日のラットの胎盤および胎児内への13種類の元素の取込み挙動を検討した。13元素の取込み率を図示し、胎盤と胎児内の各元素の取込み挙動をそれぞれについて述べた。胎盤と胎児の取込み挙動の比較により、ZnとNaの取込み挙動は互いに類似し、一方で他の元素の胎盤組織内取込み挙動は胎児内の取込み挙動とは異なることが分かった。胎児への微量元素は胎盤を経由して母体から吸収されるため、胎盤から胎児への微量元素の移動は胎児と胎盤内の微量元素の取込み挙動により影響を受けることを示唆している。NaとZnの移動は速く、胎盤内にあるNaとZnの半分が胎児に移動することが判明した。