A Caesarean Section Model to Characterize Coagulation in the Fetal and Uterine Circulation During Late Gestation in Dairy Cattle

Chorioamnionitis is an antecedent of preterm birth. We aimed to determine the effect of experimental chorioamnionitis in fetal sheep during late gestation on 1) nephron number, 2) renal corpuscle volume, and 3) renal inflammation. We hypothesized that exposure to chorioamnionitis would lead to inflammation in fetal kidneys and adversely impact on the development of nephrons, leading to a reduction in nephron number. At ∼121 days of gestation (term ∼147 days), pregnant ewes bearing twin or singleton fetuses received a single intra-amniotic injection of lipopolysaccharide ( n = 6; 3 singletons, 3 twins); controls were either untreated or received an intra-amniotic injection of saline ( n = 8; 4 singletons, 4 twins). One twin was used from each twin-bearing ewe. At ∼128 days of gestation, fetuses were delivered via Caesarean section. Kidneys were collected and stereologically analyzed to determine nephron number and renal corpuscle volume. Renal inflammation was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Experimental chorioamnionitis did not affect body weight or relative kidney weight. There was a significant reduction in nephron number but no change in renal corpuscle volume in LPS-exposed fetuses relative to controls. On average, nephron number was significantly reduced by 23 and 18% in singleton and twin LPS-exposed fetuses, respectively. The degree of renal inflammation did not differ between groups. Importantly, this study demonstrates that exposure to experimental chorioamnionitis adversely impacts on nephron number in the developing fetus.

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TRIENNIAL LACTATION SYMPOSIUM/BOLFA: Late gestation heat stress of dairy cattle programs dam and daughter milk production1

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/jas2017.2006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (12) ◽

pp. 5701-5710 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

G. E. Dahl ◽

S. Tao ◽

J. Laporta

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Late Gestation

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Management of Late Gestation lUGR: Induction or Caesarean Section?

Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽

10.1007/978-1-4471-0735-4_14 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 275-292

Author(s):

Stephen C. Robson ◽

Duncan W. Irons

Keyword(s):

Caesarean Section ◽

Late Gestation

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SERUM DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULPHATE IN BABOON (PAPIO PAPIO) PREGNANCY

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0850415 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 85 (2) ◽

pp. 415-421 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

John D. Townsley ◽

Gerald J. Pepe

Keyword(s):

Caesarean Section ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate ◽

Cord Serum ◽

Papio Papio ◽

In Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Dehydroepiandrosterone (D) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DS) concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay in peripheral sera of non-pregnant, pregnant (55 days to term) and newborn baboons and in umbilical sera of animals delivered by Caesarean section close to term. D concentrations (mean ± sd, μg/100 ml, N) in non-pregnant animals (1.61 ± 1.32, 23) were not different (P > 0.05) from those during pregnancy (1.80 ± 1.21, 101). DS concentrations, expressed as unconjugated D, in non-pregnant (13.5 ± 6.0, 23) and pregnant (15.1 ± 7.5, 101) animals were also similar (P > 0.05). However, both D (P < 0.01) and DS (P < 0.005) levels increased with gestational age such that serum D (2.46±1.39, 23, P < 0.05) and DS (18.9 ± 5.7, 23, P < 0.001) levels between 150 and 180 days gestation were greater than in non-pregnant animals. These increases may be important since oestrogen production rises rapidly during late gestation and both D and DS can serve as oestrogen precursors. In both non-pregnant (P < 0.005) and pregnant (P < 0.001) animals D and DS concentrations (ratio 1:8) were correlated. Cord serum D levels (2.4 ± 1.4, 5) were not different from those of maternal serum (P > 0.05), while cord DS levels (40.3 ± 14.8) were greater (P < 0.001) than those of maternal serum. This may reflect rapid equilibration of D but not DS between foetal and maternal circulations. In sera from neonates, D (19.4 ± 14.6, 8) and DS 567 ± 570, 8) concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) than those in maternal serum, indicating marked post-partal changes in clearance or production of both compounds. The high levels of D and DS in cord and newborn sera are compatible with the view that the baboon foetus makes appreciable contributions of oestrogen precursors in pregnancy.

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