Storage iron in human foetal organs

Maternal plasma iron and storage iron (non-heme) in the foetal liver were estimated in 108 foetuses whose gestational ages ranged from 12-44 weeks. Simultaneous estimations of storage iron were also made on the spleen and kidney in 70 and 69 of these foetuses respectively. Although the concentration of iron per g wet tissue in these organs remained practically the same at all gestations, the total storage iron content increased with the increase in gestation due to growth of these organs. The liver, in particular, showed a steep rise in total iron content in the last 8 weeks of gestation. There was a significant positive correlation between the total storage iron content in the foetal organs and the birth weight and gestational age of the foetus, suggesting that the preterm infants had smaller iron stores at birth as compared to infants born at term. The direct relation of the concentration as well as the total content of storage iron in the foetal liver with the maternal plasma iron levels suggested that babies born to iron deficient mothers had poor iron stores in their livers.