In order to elucidate a causative factor of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in toxemic mother, contents of protein, DNA, RNA were determined in placental tissue from toxemic patients without IUGR and toxemic patients with IUGR and were compared...
In order to elucidate a causative factor of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in toxemic mother, contents of protein, DNA, RNA were determined in placental tissue from toxemic patients without IUGR and toxemic patients with IUGR and were compared with those from normal pregnant women. The results obtained were as follows; 1) Protein and RNA contents of placental tissues were significantly decreased in toxemic patients without IUGR and toxemic patients with IUGR as compared with that in normal pregnant women. Also observed was a decrease in placental protein and RNA contents in toxemic patients with IUGR than in toxemic patients without IUGR. 2) No significant changes were observed in DNA contents of placental tissue in all groups of patients studied. 3) Chemical changes do occur in the placental tissues of toxemic mother with IUGR with respect to protein and RNA. But cell number of the placental tissue was not changed. This suggested that reduction of cell size may attributed to the decreased uteroplacental blood flow.