The haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum iron and total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin concentrations in umbilical cord blood samples taken from 96 appropriate-for-gestational age infants delivered at term were measured and compared to the respective maternal values measured at 36 weeks’ gestation. All the values were higher in cord blood. Only maternal mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin were correlated with cord serum iron. Cord blood haematological indices were not correlated with either gestation at delivery or birth weight. However, newborn serum ferritin was positively correlated with gestation at delivery, while the maternaknewborn ferritin ratio was inversely correlated with gestation and birth weight. The results suggest that maternal haematological and iron indices are not predictive of the haemoglobin or iron status of the newborn, and that the fetus continues to take up iron from the mother until delivery.

Summary:A 29 year old woman presented with menorrhagia secondary to hypothyroidism. Subsequent investigation confirmed the presence of a lingual thyroid. Features of cretinism were present despite the late presentation. This unusual case is discussed with reference to previous publications.

The maternal and newborn renal function in 84 normal pregnant women delivering at term was investigated. There was no difference between maternal and newborn plasma concentrations of urea (3.9 ± 1.0 vs. 3.9 ± 1.2 mmol/l) and creatinine (65.8 ± 13.3 vs. 65.3 ± 11.6 µmol/l). The plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were significantly higher in the newborn (139.6 ± 4.1vs. 136.8 ± 5.1 mmol/lp < 0.001, and 5.1 ± 1.3 vs. 4.2 ± 0.9 mmol/l, p < 0.001, respectively). Significant correlations were found between newborn sodium (p < 0.02) and potassium (p = 0.0001) with maternal potassium concentrations, newborn urea with maternal urea concentrations (p= 0.0001), and newborn creatinine with maternal creatinine concentrations (p = 0.0001), gestation of delivery (p < 0.05) and birth weight (p = 0.025).

Human oocytes that failed to cleave after insemination were examined for the presence of fucosyl glycoconjugates in the perivitelline space by staining with Ulex europeaus lectin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocynate. Oocytes that formed two or three pronuclei following first insemination always exhibited positive lectin staining similar to that observed with in vitro fertilized mouse oocytes. Among those oocytes that failed to form any pronuclei after the first insemination attempt, only 5% contained lectin positive substances in the perivitelline space. Upon reinsemination, a higher percentage of those oocytes produced lectin-positive materials, although pronuclei were still absent. The appearance of fucosyl glycoconjugates in these oocytes might be the result of the release of cortical granules triggered by sperm penetration or, more likely, due to spontaneous granule discharge in senescent oocytes.