Mild maternal undernutrition in the first half of ovine pregnancy influences placental morphology but not fetal Doppler flow velocity waveforms and fetal heart size
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Karim D. Kalache
Abstract
Aims. We wanted to investigate whether experimental dietary manipulations during early pregnancy influence placental growth and subsequently the cardiovascular system as assessed non-invasively by ultrasonography in the sheep fetus.
Methods. 21 ewes bearing singletons of uniform age were randomly assigned for the first half of pregnancy to one of the following study groups: fed 100% of their nutritional requirements (i. e. controls), global reduction in total intake by 30% (i. e. 70% global) and reduction in protein intake by 30% (i. e. 70% protein).
Results. Placentas from the 70% protein group had significantly more small placentomes, but significantly fewer large placentomes compared to the 70% global group. However, there were no significant differences between the three dietary groups for either the aortic or the umbilical Doppler velocimetry parameters and the fetal heart rate or heart size.
Conclusions. The present study shows that early mild maternal undernutrition produces subtle changes in cotelydonary weight. However, Doppler and echocardiographic parameters were not affected by these changes.
Copyright © 2001 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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Articles in the same Issue
- The first 40 years – a subjective review
- The effect of postnatal steroids on growth and development
- Mild maternal undernutrition in the first half of ovine pregnancy influences placental morphology but not fetal Doppler flow velocity waveforms and fetal heart size
- Longitudinal study of fatty acids in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids during pregnancy
- Women’s perceptions and experiences of childbirth in United Arab Emirates
- A role for the 72 kDa gelatinase (MMP-2) and its inhibitor (TIMP-2) in human parturition, premature rupture of membranes and intraamniotic infection
- The value of ultrasonographic examination of the uterine cervix in predicting post-term pregnancy
- Maternal complications associated with cesarean section
- Patent ductus arteriosus in very low birthweight infants: complications of pharmacological and surgical treatment
- Bedside functional imaging of the premature infant brain during passive motor activation
- Effects of selective inhibition of the Endothelin A and B receptors on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in newborn piglets
- Surfactant lavage and replacement in meconium aspiration syndrome with pulmonary hemorrhage
- Gelastic seizures in clusters in a case of West syndrome after perinatal hypothalamic hemorrhage
- Fetal pulse oximetry is a safe method during high-risk delivery
- WAPM-Newsletter No 2
