SERUM-LIPID, APOLIPOPROTEIN AND LIPOPARTICLE LEVELS IN THE HUMAN FETUS

Blood collected from 62 fetuses aged 20-38 weeks of gestation was stud ied. The values of ten lipid parameters were determined: cholesterol ( TC), triglycerides (TGs), apolipoprotein A1 (ape A1), apolipoprotein B (apo B), apolipoprotein E (apo E), total apolipoprotein CIII (apo CII I), apolipoprotein CIII present in particles containing apo B (apo CII I LpB) or not (apo CIII Lp non-B), lipoparticles A1 (LpA1), and lipopr otein a (Lp(a)). The results show that, except for apo E, all the stud ied parameters were present in lower concentrations than in adults and newborns, and that Lp(a) is not detectable at that stage in life.