[Maternal and fetal response to hemorrhagic anemia during organogenesis in rats]

The effects of artificial oligemic anemia on dams and their fetuses were investigated in pregnant rats. Animals divided into ten groups of four to six each were bled from the jugular vein at various stages of gestation. Hematological examination was performed on day 20 of gestation, then dams were sacrificed. Depression of maternal weight gain, decrease of food intake and increase of water intake were recognized in all the bled groups. These changes were more conspicuous in the groups venipunctured at early stages of organogenesis. At autopsy, there was no evidence of anemia in any of the groups bled before day 10 of pregnancy whereas the does bled after day 12 were found anemic. In term fetuses from these anemic mothers, however, no adverse findings suggestive of feto-toxicity and teratogenicity were noted.