SOME EFFECTS OF PREGNANCY AND LACTATION ON THE LIVER

Abstract

During pregnancy the livers of 3.5- to 4-mo.-old hooded rats of the Rowett strain showed a loss in glycogen, an increase in the non-glycogen water content, a slight rise in the desoxyribonucleic acid content, and a rise in the ribonucleic acid content independent of any change in the protein and phospholipin contents of the liver. These changes occurred either on the stock diet or on a protein-free diet for 5 days. Both turnover rate and total turnover of lipoid P of the liver were raised. The turnover rate of ribonucleic acid P was not increased, while the total turnover was increased. The loss of glycogen and the increased turnover of lipoid P and ribonucleic acid P were dependent on the presence of the fetuses, while the increase in ribonucleic acid content of the liver depended only on the intact and developing placenta.