Table 1.

Litter size, feto-placental growth and placental protein measurements.

Days gestation (dg)	Litter number	Placentae weights (g)	Fetal body weights (g)	Protein concentration (mg/g wet wt)	Protein content (mg/tissue)
16	12 ± 1	0.313 ± 0.010	0.513 ± 0.016	90.904 ± 3.559	28.489 ± 1.893
19	11 ± 1	0.508 ± 0.012*	2.371 ± 0.060*	98.004 ± 3.476	49.709 ± 1.014*
21	9 ± 1*	0.546 ± 0.007*	5.387 ± 0.166*	95.307 ± 3.713	52.053 ± 2.037*

Values are mean ± S.E.M. for four different dams. A significant increase (p < 0.001) in placental and fetal body weights during gestation and a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in litter number between 16 and 21 dg was detected. Placental protein concentration was measured using the Bradford method; a significant increase in protein content was observed between 16 and 19 dg and 16 and 21 dg (*p < 0.001; LSD test).