Teratogenicity of zinc deficiency in the rat: study of the fetal skeleton.

Zinc deficiency (ZD) is teratogenic in rats, and fetal skeletal defects are prominent. This study identifies fetal skeletal malformations that affect calcified and non-calcified bone tissue as a result of gestational zinc deficiency in rats, and it assesses the effect of maternal ZD in fetal bone calcification. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (180-250 g) were fed 1) a control diet (76.

[Long term follow up of low birth weight newborns (author's transl)].

Two groups of low birthweight newborns were studied prospectively; one corresponded to "small for dates" and the other, to "adequate weight for gestational age". Follow up included body measuments and ophtalmological neurological, psychometrical and electroencefalographic evaluations. At the present stage of development, it seems apparent, that newborns having adequate weight for their gestational ages perform better than the group of "small for dates".