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Blood Volume and Serum Protein in the Deoxypyridoxine-Fed Rat during Pregnancy^1,2,

Department of Foods and Nutrition, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Changes in blood volume, hemoglobin and serum protein have been investigated in deoxypyridoxine-fed pregnant and non-pregnant rats and in control rats fed pyridoxine under similar conditions.

Total blood volume increased significantly in pregnant animals fed pyridoxine. There was a slight increase in total blood volume in deficient animals carrying young. Decreases in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels appeared to be associated with hemodilution in control pregnant animals but apparently were more directly attributable to the effect of the antagonist in deoxypyridoxine-fed animals. Support for this conclusion is drawn from the observation that the absolute amount of circulating hemoglobin as determined from total blood volume was not diminished in control pregnant rats, whereas, both the concentration and absolute quantity of hemoglobin were reduced in the deoxypyridoxine-fed animals.

Concentrations of serum total protein and albumin were lower in pregnant animals, but the total circulating protein and albumin were higher in pregnant than in non-pregnant animals. Gamma globulin concentrations and total circulating gamma globulin were reduced in pregnant animals and in deoxypyridoxine-fed non-pregnant animals.

Changes in blood volume, hemoglobin and serum protein in the deoxypyridoxine-fed animals have been compared with those reported for human toxemia of pregnancy. Although the physiological response of the pregnant rats fed deoxypyridoxine was altered from that of controls fed pyridoxine and on this basis may be considered abnormal, there were no clearcut similarities between the response of the deoxypyridoxine-fed animals and the toxemic syndrome as it occurs in the human.

² Supported in part by a grant from The Nutrition Foundation, Inc.

³ Taken in part from a dissertation submitted to The Graduate School of The Pennsylvania State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

⁴ Mary Swartz Rose Fellow, 1955–56. Present address: Human Nutrition Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. D. A., Washington, D. C.

Manuscript received 6 February 1960.