Influence of Excess Dietary Phenylalanine on Pregnant Rats and Their Fetuses

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Abstract
Summary High blood phenylalanine levels and low phenylalanine hydroxylase activity were found in pregnant female rats fed excess phenylalanine. Fetal plasma phenylalanine levels averaged twice as high as the maternal levels. Tyrosine levels were elevated in pregnant females and in their fetuses. The ratio of fetal tyrosine to maternal tyrosine was lower in phenylalanine fed pregnant rats than in normally fed pregnant rats. The valuable help of Robert Colwell and Daren McLay is gratefully acknowledged.