The Synthesis of Fetal and Adult Hemoglobin in Sheep During the Perinatal Period

SummaryThe presence of adult hemoglobin has been detected in fetal sheep blood by column chromatography as early as 4 weeks prior to birth. The transition from fetal to adult hemoglobin synthesis in sheep is essentially completed within a 2-month period including one prenatal month and one postnatal month. This rate of transition is much faster than in man.