Fetal liver iron concentration and hepcidin expression increase in the third trimester. (A) Total iron concentration in fetal livers harvested at e13.5 (n = 27) and e17.5 (n = 28) and in maternal livers at e17.5 (n = 5). (B) Relative hamp mRNA expression in fetal livers harvested at e13.5 (n = 6) and e17.5 (n = 6) and in maternal livers at e17.5 (n = 5). (C) Correlation between relative hamp expression and total iron concentration in fetal livers at e17.5 (n = 18). Values are shown as mean ± SEM. P values are calculated using Student t test. r is Pearson’s correlation coefficient. fet, fetal; mat, maternal.