Mg deficiency alters mRNA expression of desaturases and elongases in maternal and fetal livers. Scd1, D5d and D6d (desaturases) mRNA expression (A, C) and Elovl1 (v1 and v2,3), Elovl2, Elovl4 (v1,2), Elovl5 and Elovl6 (elongases) mRNA expression (B, D) in maternal livers (A, B) and fetal livers (C, D), respectively, are shown. Values are means (fold change) ± SD; n = 5–7 mice per group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.0001 versus control. ND, not detectable; v1, variant 1; v1,2, variants 1 and 2; v2,3, variants 2 and 3.