Maternal Alkalosis and Fetal Oxygenation
There are two conventional approaches available for the investigation of placental transfer. The first is to derive a mathematical model of the placenta. On the basis of this model, the response of the placenta to a change can be predicted. The second method is to perform experiments on living animals, and observe the response of the animal to a change. Sometimes the two methods are compatible and sometimes they are not. Where there is disagreement, it is often due to the complex nature of the animal response. The response that was predicted from the mathematical model may exist, the the ability of the investigator to observe this response will be hindered by compensatory reflexes which mask the predicted response.