Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T03:23:40.842Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effects of maternal intake and gestational age on materno-fetal transport of vitamin C in the guinea-pig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

S. Das  and
H. J. Powers
S. Das
Affiliation:
Division of Child Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TH, UK
H. J. Powers*
Affiliation:
Division of Child Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TH, UK
*
*Corresponding author:Dr Hilary Powers, fax +44 (0)114 275 5364, email H.J.Powers@Sheffield.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The effects of maternal intake and gestational age on materno-fetal transport of vitamin C were investigated in female Dunkin-Hartley guinea-pigs. Twenty-four time-mated dams were fed on either a moderate-vitamin C (group A) or a high-vitamin C (group B) diet, throughout pregnancy. At days 49, 63 and 66 of gestation, and at term, three animals from each group were killed and fetuses removed by hysterectomy. Plasma, liver, kidney, lungs, heart, placenta and amniotic fluid were collected from dams and fetuses and subsequently analysed for vitamin C. Fetal plasma and amniotic fluid concentrations showed negative associations with gestational age for both dietary groups, independent of an effect of dam (P < 0.001). A similar, though not significant, effect of gestational age was observed on placental vitamin C and group A fetal tissue concentrations. Fetal plasma, placental and amniotic fluid vitamin C concentrations were significantly higher in group B than group A (P < 0.001), suggesting the influence of maternal diet. Although the level of maternal vitamin C intake can influence the circulating concentration in the fetus, there is a decrease associated with increasing gestational age, independent of the maternal diet. The gestational age-dependent change in the fetal accumulation of vitamin C may reflect changes in the rate of placental transfer.

Keywords

Vitamin CMaterno-fetal transportGuinea-pig
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 80 , Issue 5 , November 1998 , pp. 485 - 491
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1998

References

Baker, H, Frank, O, Thomson, AD, Langer, A, Munves, ED, De Angelis, B & Kaminetzky, HA (1975) Vitamin profile of 174 mothers and newborns at parturition. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 28, 56–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berger, TM, Rifai, N, Avery, ME & Frei, B (1996) Vitamin C in premature and full-term human neonates. Redox Report 4, 257–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Choi, J & Rose, RC (1989) Transport and metabolism of ascorbic acid in human placenta. American Physiological Society 257, C110–C113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dison, PJ, Lockitch, G, Halstead, AC, Pendray, MR, Macnab, A & Wittmann, BK (1993) Influence of maternal factors on cord and neonatal plasma micronutrient levels. American Journal of Perinatology 10, 30–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ek, J & Magnus, E (1982) Plasma and red cell folate values and folate requirements in formula-fed term infants. Journal of Pediatrics 100, 728–744.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gutteridge, JM (1991) Plasma ascorbate levels and inhibition of the antioxidant activity of caeruloplasmin. Clinical Science 81, 413–417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Habibzadeh, N, Schorah, CJ & Smithells, RW (1986) The effects of maternal folic acid and vitamin C nutrition in early pregnancy on reproductive performance in the guinea-pig. British Journal of Nutrition 55, 23–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kelly, FJ & Lubec, G (1995) Hyperoxic injury of immature guinea pig lung is mediated via hydroxyl radical. Pediatric Research 38, 286–291.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelly, FJ, Rickett, GM, Hunt, AN, Town, GI, Holgate, ST & Postle, TD (1991 a) Biochemical maturation of the guinea pig lung and survival following premature delivery. International Journal of Biochemistry 81, 467–471.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelly, FJ, Town, GI, Phillips, GJ, Hogate, ST, Roche, WR & Postle, AD (1991 b) The pre-term guinea-pig: a model for the study of neonatal lung disease. Clinical Science 81, 439–446.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kime, R, Gibson, A, Hider, R & Powers, H (1996) Chromatographic method for the determination of non-transferrin-bound iron suitable for use on the plasma and broncheoalveolar lavage fluid from preterm babies. Clinical Science 91, 633–638.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindeman, JHN, Houdkamp, E, Lentjes, EGWM, Poorthuis, BJHM & Berger, HM (1992) Limited protection against iron-induced lipid peroxidation by cord blood plasma. Free Radical Research Communications 16, 285–294.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindeman, JHN, Lentjes, EGWM & Berger, HM (1995) Diminished protection against copper-induced lipid peroxidation by cord blood plasma of preterm and term infants. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 19, 373–375.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindeman, JHN, Zoeren-Grobben, DW, Schrijver, J, Speek, AJ, Poorthuis, BJHM & Berger, HM (1989) The total free radical trapping ability of cord blood plasma in preterm and term babies. Pediatric Research 26, 20–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Myllyla, R, Kuuti-Svolainen, E & Kivirikko, KI (1978) The role of ascorbate in the prolyl hydroxylase reaction. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 83, 441–448.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pate, SK, Lukert, BP & Kipp, DE (1996) Tissue vitamin C levels of guinea pig offspring are influenced by maternal vitamin C intake during pregnancy. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 7, 525–528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Powers, HJ, Loban, A, Silvers, K & Gibson, AT (1995) Vitamin C at concentrations observed in premature babies inhibits the ferroxidase activity of caeruloplasmin. Free Radical Research Communications 22, 57–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saugstad, OD (1996) Mechanisms of tissue injury by oxygen radicals: implications for neonatal disease. Acta Paediatrica 85, 1–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silvers, KM, Gibson, AT & Powers, HJ (1994) High plasma vitamin C concentrations at birth associated with low antioxidant status and poor outcome in premature infants. Archives of Disease in Childhood 71, F40–F44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silvers, KM, Gibson, AT, Russel, JM & Powers, HJ (1998) Anti-oxidant activity, packed cell transfusions and outcome in premature infants. Archives of Disease in Childhood 78, F214–F219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vuilleumier, JP & Keck, E (1989) Fluorometric assay of vitamin C in biological materials using a centrifugal analyser with fluorescence attachment. Journal of Micronutrient Analysis 5, 25–34.Google Scholar
Zachman, RD (1989) Retinol (vitamin A) and the neonate: special problems of the human premature infant. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, 413–424.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed