Protein Metabolism in the Pregnant Rat

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Abstract
During the first two weeks of pregnancy in the rat, marked storage of fat and water occurs in the maternal carcass while there is little fetal growth. At about the 15th day of gestation, a definite decrease in fat stores occurs and the retention of protein increases. Accompanying protein retention there are decreases in blood amino nitrogen, in hepatic alanine-glutamic transaminase and in the rate of urea formation in liver slices. It is suggested that growth hormone may be implicated in the alteration in metabolism observed at about the 15th day of gestation.