STUDY OF 9 CATION LEVELS IN TERM PLACENTAS .2. CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH TOXEMIA OF PREGNANCY AND FETAL PREMATURITY

Aliquots of term placentas were obtained at delivery for one year. Of 632 samples collected, 554 were from products of a normal gestation, 30 from a toxemic pregnancy, and 48 obtained at the deliveries of premature infants. The tissue levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, lead, copper, and iron were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A comparison of the resultant data of the three groups represented indicates that, in addition to differences in maternal, fetal, and placental weights, statistically significant differences were observed in the placental levels of sodium, calcium, and possibly potassium. Furthermore, a product-moment study between the monthly mean cation levels and the corresponding monthly incidence of toxemia indicates a positive correlation between toxemia and the placental levels of magnesium and iron, and a negative correlation with the placental levels of sodium, potassium, and lead. © 1969.