Lithium, sodium, potassium and rubidium cation concentrations during the development of certain organs of unborn...

The distribution of lithium, sodium, potassium and rubidium in rabbit fetuses was determined during the last two weeks of gestation. Samples of eye, brain, lung, heart, liver and kidney were investigated. Co-actions between the ion pairs Li+/Na+ and K+/Rb+ could be discerned. The essential properties of lithium and rubidium for the fetal development of rabbits were examined by investigating the supply of the fetal organs with these elements. Correlations between organ differentiation processes and metal concentrations were established and compared with the results obtained for the fetal development of other vertebrates.