Effect of chronic modification of diet fat and cholesterol during gestation on plasma hormones and hepatic enzyme activities in rat fetus.

Diet-induced elevation of cholesterol and corticosterone in pregnant rats had no effect on fetal plasma cholesterol or corticosterone, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A or hepatic reductase activities. The data suggest that increasing the maternal cholesterol pool has no effect on cholesterol transfer to, or metabolism in, the developing offspring, and that the late gestation fetus can maintain corticosterone levels appropriate to gestational age despite diet-induced elevations in the maternal plasma.