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PubMed1993

Erythropoietin does not cross the placenta into the fetus.

Erythropoiesis in the fetus is controlled by erythropoietin (Ep). To determine the role of maternal Ep in this process, we used catheterized preparations of sheep and monkey fetuses to assess the ability of Ep administered to the mother to cross the placental barrier into the fetus. Ep was injected into pregnant sheep (3,600 IU/sheep) or monkeys (800-2,000 IU/animal) as a single intravenous dose, or into sheep in intravenous doses of 2,000 IU once every 12 h for a total of 4 injections. Maternal and fetal blood samples for Ep and reticulocyte determinations were obtained before and at intervals after Ep injections. The administration of Ep resulted in significant increases in maternal circulating Ep levels in sheep and monkeys. Despite the presence of high levels of maternal Ep, however, no increase in fetal plasma Ep levels was detected. The administration of Ep to the mother caused significant increases in reticulocyte production in the mother but not the fetus; injection of Ep directly to the fetus stimulated fetal erythropoiesis. These results demonstrate that Ep does not cross the placenta into the fetus even under conditions of chronically elevated maternal Ep levels, and suggest that red cell production in the fetus is regulated by Ep produced from sites within the fetus.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effect of decapitation and ACTH on somatic development of the rabbit fetus.

Rabbit fetuses were decapitated, injected with ACTH or decapitated and injected with ACTH on day 24 of gestation. On day 29 the body weight and weight of the interscapular fat pad were compared with those of littermates. The weight, total DNA and weight/DNA ratio of the liver, heart and kidney were measured in experimental and control fetuses. A comparison was made between decapitated and control fetuses of the length of the hind limb bones and number of ossified vertebrae. The body weight of the decapitated or ACTH-injected fetus ranked significantly below the mean for the litter, but decapitated fetuses injected with ACTH ranked close to the litter mean. The growth retardation of the decapitated fetus was not manifest in the kidneys which were heavier and had a greater number of cells than normal, nor in the cell size of the heart, liver or kidneys which were equal to those of the heaviest fetus in the litter. Decapitation had no specific effect on ossification. Growth retardation of the ACTH-injected fetus was mirrored by different patterns of DNA and weight/DNA reduction in the three organs studied. Decapitation retards growth in body weight of the fetal rabbit which may be corrected by ACTH. It is concluded that the hypophyseal-adrenal axis plays a role in the control of normal fetal growth but that excess secretion of glucocorticoids results in stunting.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1994

Copper distribution in fetus and placenta of the macular mutant mouse as a model of Menkes kinky hair disease.

Menkes kinky hair disease (MKHD) in humans is caused by a disturbance in copper homeostasis. A mutant mouse shows clinical and biochemical features very close to MKHD. In an attempt to elucidate the defect in copper transport, the copper distribution in various organs of 18-gestational-day-old macular mouse embryos, following administration by a single injection of saline (control) or 50 micrograms of CuCl2 on day 16 of gestation or by two injections on days 15 and 17 of gestation to the dams, was examined both biochemically and histochemically. The copper content in the hemizygous fetus (Ml/y) born to the homozygous mother, who had no copper injection during gestation, was lower in the brain and liver but higher in the placenta than in the respective organs of the normal fetus. When 50 micrograms of CuCl2 was injected into heterozygous dams (Ml/+) on day 16 of gestation, their hemizygous fetuses showed a slight increase in the copper content in the brain and liver, but the amount of copper in these organs was still less than that of the normal fetus. Conversely, the copper content in the placenta of the hemizygous fetus was far higher than that of the normal fetus. In the copper staining of the fetuses harvested from heterozygous dams, some fetuses showed copper deposition in the placenta, but not in the liver. The others showed no copper deposit in both the placenta and liver, thus indicating that the former were hemizygous for the mutation and the latter were normal littermates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Longitudinal Doppler ultrasonographic assessment of alterations in regional vascular resistance of arteries in normal and growth-retarded fetuses.

The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate alterations in regional vascular resistance of arteries with advancing gestation in normal and growth-retarded fetuses. Color Doppler flow imaging and pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic assessments were performed on 13 normal and 7 growth-retarded fetuses, ranging from 15 to 40 weeks menstrual age. The pulsatility index was calculated for middle cerebral artery, descending aorta, splenic artery, renal artery, femoral artery and umbilical artery, respectively. Optimal models for these pulsatility index values were determined by regression analysis. A normal range of the pulsatility index for each artery generated in the normal fetuses. In the middle cerebral artery, the models showed a parabolic pattern during pregnancy in the two groups and the predicted pulsatility index values in growth-retarded fetuses were always lower than those in the normal fetuses, especially late in pregnancy. In the renal artery, the predicted pulsatility index values in growth-retarded fetuses were higher than those in normal fetuses near term. In other arteries, the predicted pulsatility index values showed their own specific patterns and there were no significant differences in predicted pulsatility index values in the two groups. In conclusion, alterations in regional vascular resistance of arteries with advancing menstrual age occur evidenced in both normal and growth-retarded fetuses.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Circulating thyrotropin in the ovine fetus: evidence for pulsatile release and the effect of hypothermia in utero.

The secretion of thyrotropin (TSH) has been investigated in the chronically catheterized ovine fetus (term 145-150 days). Forty-two random plasma samples from 25 fetuses (86-149 days of gestation) were measured for TSH concentrations by radioimmunoassay. Plasma TSH concentrations were highest in the youngest fetuses [86-110 days, 3.9 +/- (SD) 5.5 microU/ml, n = 13]. Thereafter TSH concentrations declined to 0.4 +/- 0.6 microU/ml (n = 13, p less than 0.05) at 130-150 days of gestation. However, serial sampling at 15-20 min intervals for 180 min from 14 individual fetuses (91-139 days) showed that TSH was secreted in a markedly exaggerated pulsatile manner compared to that observed after birth. The mean amplitude of TSH pulses fell (p less than 0.005) from 5.9 +/- 8.1 microU/ml in the fetuses to 2.1 +/- 1.1 microU/ml in five neonatal lambs (6-22 days) and to 1.5 +/- 0.4 microU/ml in three adult nonpregnant ewes. The mean pulse frequency for the 14 fetuses was 0.7 +/- 0.3 pulses/h and was reduced (p less than 0.001) to 0.3 +/- 0.1 pulses/h in lambs and to 0.3 +/- 0.1 pulses/h in the ewes. In the neonate, hypothermia is a potent stimulus to TSH release. To examine the ontogeny of this response, the temperature of the fetus in utero (106-127 days of gestation) was lowered by circulating water (14-18 degrees C) at either a fast or slow rate through a coil placed either externally around the fetus or internally in the fetal esophagus and stomach.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Hormone ontogeny in the ovine fetus. X. The effects of beta-endorphin and naloxone on circulating growth hormone, prolactin, and chorionic somatomammotropin.

The potential role of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) as a stimulus to fetal GH, PRL, and chorionic somatomammotropin secretion was investigated in the chronically catheterized ovine fetus. beta-EP (500 microgram/kg, iv) was administered to six fetuses between 84-100 days gestation and to four fetuses between 112-131 days gestation (term, 147 days). The peak incremental GH response of 104.4 +/- 21.1 ng/ml in the younger fetuses was greater (P less than 0.01) than that of the older fetuses (38.0 +/- 11.9 ng/ml). Pretreatment of the fetus with naloxone (100-500 microgram/kg, iv) 5 min before beta-EP reduced (P less than 0.02) the GH response to beta-EP, which suggests that the GH stimulating action of beta-EP was mediated via opiate receptors. Naloxone alone (400 microgram/kg, iv bolus, followed by 400 microgram/kg over 1 h of infusion) had no significant effect on fetal plasma GH. There was no significant change in plasma PRL after beta-EP; however, fetal PRL rose in the three oldest fetuses studied (122, 126, and 131 days). Fetal ovine chorionic somatomammotropin was not altered by either beta-EP or naloxone. The fetal hypothalamic pituitary unit can respond by mid-gestation to exogenous beta-EP with increasing GH secretion. However, in late gestation, the GH responsiveness to beta-EP decreases significantly. It is postulated that this decreased responsiveness is a consequence of the maturation of hypothalamic inhibitory mechanisms regulating GH secretion. The effects of beta-EP on GH and PRL secretion are dissociated in the ovine fetus.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Control of gonadotropin secretion in the ovine fetus. III. Effect of castration on serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels during the last trimester of gestation.

Gonadal involvement in fetal FSH regulation was examined by studying FSH levels in 13 female (7 castrate and 6 sham control) and 13 male (8 castrate and 5 sham control) chronically catheterized ovine fetuses operated upon in utero at 106-115 days gestation (term = 147 days). These fetuses had been studied previously for pulsatile LH secretion every 2-7 days over a 2- to 38-day period until fetal delivery or death. From each study day, 3 1-h spaced blood samples (1.5-2.0 ml) were taken for FSH determination by RIA (NIH FSH-S8 standard), and the results were averaged. The overall mean was then calculated for each fetus. In female fetuses, there was no significant difference in mean serum FSH levels between castrates [53.4 +/- 5.0 ng/ml (+/- SEM)] and controls (52.5 +/- 14.4 ng/ml). In contrast, serum FSH levels in the eugonadal males were significantly (P less than 0.001) lower (23.4 +/- 8.0 ng/ml) than those in castrate males (56.9 +/- 7.1 ng/ml, a value comparable to those observed in both female groups). Mean serum FSH levels declined significantly (P less than 0.001) in castrate fetuses of both sexes after 125 days (61.5 +/- 5.6 vs. 42.4 +/- 7.7 ng/ml in females; 64.1 +/- 6.1 vs. 51.5 +/- 8.6 ng/ml in males). In the males, the FSH decline did not reach sham control levels, which remained unchanged with advancing gestation. Moreover, mean serum FSH levels were significantly higher in a group of 4 male fetuses (62.2 +/- 13.7 ng/ml) castrated at 121-130 days gestation compared to values in 3 age-matched sham castrate controls (22.1 +/- 2.6 ng/ml; P less than 0.001). The increment in serum FSH levels in castrate compared to sham castrate male fetuses demonstrates an important role for the fetal testis in FSH regulation from 106 days gestation until term. The lack of a detectable castration effect on the relatively high serum FSH levels in eugonadal females indicates that the fetal ovary does not play a similar role and suggests that in females, FSH is secreted in a functionally castrate mode. The decline in FSH levels after 125 days in castrate fetuses of both sexes may result at least in part from the previously reported coincident rise in circulating levels of feto-placental sex steroids and/or PRL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Circulating levels of ghrelin in human fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin is a GH secretagog isolated recently from rat stomach and involved in the stimulation of food intake and adiposity in rodents and humans. Moreover, subsequent studies showed that ghrelin is expressed in rat and human placenta, suggesting a possible influence of the peptide on fetal growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate circulating levels of ghrelin in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) or intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ghrelin levels between 20 and 39 weeks of gestation were measured in 16 AGA and nine IUGR fetuses in whom blood was collected by cordocentesis performed for prenatal diagnosis of different diseases or during elective cesarean section. In most samples, GH, cortisol and leptin levels were also evaluated. Results are expressed as means+/-S.D. Differences were tested using the Student's t-test with Welch correction. P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: All fetuses showed levels of ghrelin in the umbilical venous blood (100+/-99 pmol/l) that did not correlate with the gestational age or the maternal ghrelin levels. No difference was found between umbilical venous and arterial concentrations, suggesting that fetal tIssues are a source of ghrelin. Ghrelin levels in IUGR fetuses were significantly higher than those found in AGA fetuses (176+/-125 vs 58+/-44 pmol/l; P<0.005). Moreover, in samples obtained at birth, ghrelin concentrations correlated negatively with birth weight (P<0.05). In IUGR fetuses, GH and cortisol concentrations were higher and leptin levels lower than in AGA fetuses, although no significant correlation between these parameters and ghrelin levels was found. CONCLUSION: The presence of ghrelin in the fetal circulation as well as its increase in IUGR fetuses suggest a role of this peptide during intrauterine development.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Disruption of imprinting in cloned mouse fetuses from embryonic stem cells.

Cloned mice typically display abnormal development, such as overgrowth of fetuses and placentae. Quantitative expression analysis of eight imprinted genes (H19, Igf2, Igf2r, Air, Peg1/Mest, Peg3, Nuronatin (Nnat) and Ndn) and an alternate transcript of Igf2 (P0) in embryonic stem cloned fetuses and placentae at days 9.5, 12.5 and 17.5 after mating was carried out by real time PCR to investigate whether epigenetic modification of imprinted genes is responsible for overgrowth of the fetus and placental hypertrophy. In addition, the methylation pattern through the bisulphite sequencing method in differentially methylated regions of H19 and Igf2r was examined in day 9.5 fetuses and placentae. The results showed clearly that the expression of H19 gene decreased in cloned fetuses at days 12.5 and 17.5 after mating and in placentae at day 17.5 after mating, and Igf2 was also repressed in fetuses at days 9.5 and 12.5 after mating and in placentae at day 17.5 after mating. In contrast, the transcription of P0, which is a placental-specific transcript variant of Igf2, increased at more than four times the control in cloned placenta at day 12.5 after mating. Day 9.5 fetuses that have developed normally revealed only hypermethylated alleles in the H19 differently methylated region (DMR), and both hyper- and hypomethylated alleles in the Igf2r DMR2. These results show that inappropriate reprogramming in some imprinted genes affects the development of cloned embryos, and that aberrant P0 Igf2 transcription in particular may cause the overgrowth of cloned fetuses and placentae.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

DNA hypomethylation of individual sequences in aborted cloned bovine fetuses.

Cloned bovines have a much higher abortion rate than those derived in vivo. Available evidence indicates that inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming of donor nuclei is the primary cause of cloning failure. To gain a better understanding of the DNA methylation changes associated with the high abortion rate of cloned bovines, we examined the DNA methylation status of a repeated sequence (satellite I) and the promoter regions of two single-copy genes (interleukin 3/cytokeratin) in aborted cloned fetuses, aborted fetuses derived from artificial insemination (AI), cloned adults and AI adults by bisulfite sequencing and restriction enzyme analysis. Two of four aborted cloned fetuses show very low methylation levels in the two single-copy gene promoter regions. One of the two fetuses also showed undermethylated status in the satellite I sequence. The other two aborted cloned fetuses have similar methylation levels to those of aborted AI fetuses. However, no difference in methylation was observed between cloned adults and AI adults. Our results demonstrate for the first time the undermethylated status of individual sequences in aborted cloned fetuses. These findings suggest that aberrant DNA methylation may contribute to the developmental failure of cloned bovine fetuses.

Aborted Fetus↗
PubMed1985

Blood parameters and body composition in fetuses from reciprocal crosses of genetically lean and obese swine.

Lines of swine previously selected for either high backfat (obese) or low backfat (lean) were investigated to determine the effect of maternal obesity and the relationship between serum parameters and body composition. Fetal weight, percentage body protein, fat, fat-free organic matter and ash, and serum concentrations of albumin, growth hormone, triiodothyronine, and cortisol were compared in fetuses from straight line and reciprocal crosses at 110 days of gestation. Fetuses from the obese line weighed less but had a greater percentage body protein, fat, and fat-free organic matter than did fetuses from the lean line. Serum concentrations of albumin and triiodothyronine were less whereas those of growth hormone were greater in fetuses from the lean line compared to fetuses from the obese line. Values for these parameters in fetuses from the reciprocal crosses were generally intermediate to those of fetuses from the lean and obese lines. Comparisons of fetuses from the reciprocal and line crosses by linear contrast showed that the observed differences were mainly due to the average genetic effect of individual fetal genotypes and not due to maternal effects. Correlations computed from the residual variance showed a positive relationship between percentage body protein, serum albumin, and triiodothyronine while percentage body fat was not correlated with any of the other traits. Serum growth hormone was negatively correlated with fetal weight. We conclude that there is no apparent maternal effect of obesity or relationship of fetal fat content with any of the other variables measured in these lines of swine at the stage of fetal development at which these determinations were made.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

[Genetic analysis of a fetus with Short-rib thoracic dysplasia 8 with or without polydactyly due to variants of DYNC2I1 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of a fetus with Short-rib thoracic dysplasia 8 with or without polydactyly (SRTD8) due to variants of DYNC2I1 gene. METHODS: A fetus identified to have short ribs, short long bones, and narrow thorax at 26+1 weeks of gestation at the Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University in September 2024 was selected as study subject. The fetus underwent termination of pregnancy at 35+5 weeks of gestation. Clinical data of the fetus were retrospectively collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out on fetal tissue, and candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. Difference between the wild type and variant DYNC2I1 proteins was analyzed using AlphaFold v3.0.1 and PyMOL v2.5.6 software. Pathogenicity of the variant was rated based on guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Using keywords such as "DYNC2I1 gene", previous literature on patients due to biallelic DYNC2I1 gene variants were retrieved from the PubMed databases, CNKI, and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and the genetic variant and clinical phenotypes of patients were analyzed. The literature retrieval time was set from the establishment of database to December 31, 2025. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: 2023-094). RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound revealed that the fetus had short ribs, short long bones, and narrow thorax at 26+1 gestational weeks. WES and Sanger sequencing revealed that the fetus has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the DYNC2I1 gene, namely c.265_268 (p.Gln89GlyfsTer15) in exon 3 and c.1777C>T (p.Arg593Trp) in exon 14, which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. Prediction of the DYNC2I1 protein structure suggested that the c.265_268del variant has formed a premature termination codon, which may significantly alter the protein's secondary structure. The c.1777C>T variant may disrupt the electrostatic interaction between Arg593 and Asp729. Based on the ACMG guidelines, the c.265_268del (p.Gln89GlyfsTer15) variant was predicted to be likely pathogenic (PM2_Supporting +PVS1), whilst the c.1777C>T(p.Arg593Trp) variant was rated as uncertain significance (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP4). Literature search has identified five articles related to biallelic DYNC2I1 variants involving a total of 11 fetuses/patients. Together with the fetus from this study, typical phenotypes included short ribs (6 cases), narrow thorax (6 cases), short limb bones (6 cases), and hand polydactyly (6 cases), and foot polydactyly (5 cases), albeit with significant clinical heterogeneity. A total of 12 genetic variants were identified, among which c.44delC was the most common (16.7%, 4/24), followed by c.1777C>T, c.2246C>T, and c.2305G>A (each accounting for 12.5%). No mutational hotspot was identified. CONCLUSION: The c.265_268del (p.Gln89GlyfsTer15) and c.1777C>T (p.Arg593Trp) compound heterozygous variants of the DYNC2I1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of SRTD8 in this fetus. This study has enriched the mutational spectrum of the DYNC2I1 gene and facilitated etiological diagnosis and treatment of DYNC2I1-related diseases.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Study on the metabolic fate of catena-(S)-[mu-N alpha-(3-aminopropionyl)histidinato(2-)-N1,N2,O:N tau]-zinc]. 3rd communication: transfer into fetus and milk in rats.

Studies on the transfer into the fetus and the milk were performed after administration of 14C-Z-103 and 65Zn-Z-103 (catena-(S)-[mu-[N alpha-(3-aminopropionyl)histidinato(2-)-N1,N2,O:N tau]- zinc], CAS 107667-60-7) to rats. After oral administration of 14C-Z-103 to pregnant rats, the transfer of radioactivity to the fetus was studied by means of whole body autoradiography (ARG) and measurement of radioactivity in the fetus. The concentration of radioactivity in the fetus was approximately the same as those in the blood and the placenta of the maternal animal. The transfer of radioactivity into the milk was demonstrated after administration of 14C-Z-103 to lactating rats. Radioactivity in the fetus and milk are considered to be due to metabolites of L-carnosine of Z-103, such as amino acid or protein. The distribution of radioactivity in the fetus was also observed after administration of 65Zn-Z-103 to pregnant rats. However, after administration of non-radioactive Z-103 to pregnant rats, the zinc level in the fetus was found to be almost the same level as that in the fetus of the untreated rats. The transfer of radioactivity to the milk was studied after administration of 65Zn-Z-103 to the lactating rats, and it was seen that the concentration of radioactive zinc in the milk was much lower than the endogenous level of zinc in the milk at any of the time points investigated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A contribution to knowledge of the compartments and the fascial and septal formations of the popliteal fossa in the human fetus and the adult.

A contribution to knowledge of the compartments and the fascial and septal formations of the popliteal fossa in the human fetus and the adult. A study was made in human fetuses from the 3rd month onwards, newborn and the adult of the fascial and septal formations and the compartments of the popliteal fossa. Observations of serial sections of the knee of human fetuses, of macroscopic preparations of the knee of newborns and of ultrasound images of the popliteal fossa in adults showed that: the fascial formation covering the popliteal fossa consists of the popliteal fascia and the superficial fascia. The bud of the popliteal fascia is observable in the 3-month fetus as a layer of thin fibrillar connective tissue which is thicker in the tracts between the muscle buds. At birth the popliteal fascia is clearly a separate anatomical entity of continuous laminar structure which is thicker in the tracts between the muscles and thinner where it covers them. The superficial fascia becomes evident in fetuses at a later stage (6th month) in the form of a thin lamina in the frontal plane which at birth is well defined and observable as a thin continuous line deep below the subcutaneous layer. The septal formation consists of four septa: two in the sagittal plane (lateral and medial) and two in the frontal plane (lateral and medial). The bud of these septa appears in 4-month fetuses after the appearance of the popliteal fascia. They branch off from the thicker connective areas between the muscles buds as connective prolongations which later assume a laminar aspect and eventually become compact and form septa. In at-term fetuses and newborns these septal formations are clearly recognizable as antomical entities, which branch off from the deep surface of the thicker tracts of the popliteal fascia and are inserted into the femur. The relationships and connections with the muscular groups are also clearly visible. The organization and demarcation of the compartments, which is already delineated in the 6-month fetus, seems to be completed at birth, considering the presence of the superficial fascia, the popliteal fascia and the septa. It is possible to distinguish a superficial compartment between the popliteal and the superficial fascia an a deep compartment between the frontal septa, the skeletal plane and the popliteal fascia. This deep compartment is clearly subdivided by the two sagittal septa into three sectors (medial, intermediate and lateral). The medial and lateral sectors contain muscles, while the intermediate compartment contains the vasculonervous bundle and the popliteal adipose body.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Blood flow to the placenta and lower body in the growth-retarded guinea pig fetus.

Blood flow to the placenta and lower body of control and growth retarded (IUGR) guinea pig fetuses was measured between 60-64 days of pregnancy by the microsphere technique. Further information about the hepatic blood supply and its interlobular distribution was obtained by injecting microspheres into the umbilical vein and a branch of the portal vein. Liver weight was reduced by 60% in IUGR fetuses from 5.0 +/- 0.2 to 2.0 +/- 0.1 g, compared to a decrease in body weight of 50% from 91.6 +/- 3.0 to 45.4 +/- 2.6 g. In addition, there was a proportionately greater reduction in the size of the right liver lobe. Umbilical blood flow was 10.8 +/- 1.0 ml min-1 in control fetuses and 4.9 +/- 1.2 ml.min-1 in IUGR fetuses, whilst blood flow in the portal vein was reduced from 1.4 +/- 0.1 to 0.8 +/- 0.3 ml min-1 and that in the hepatic artery from 0.6 +/- 0.1 to 0.3 +/- 0.1 ml.min-1. Since ductus venosus flow was absent or negligible, the umbilical venous return accounted for greater than 80% of the hepatic blood supply in both control and IUGR fetuses. Blood flows were, however, unequally distributed between the liver lobes. The right lobe was supplied mainly by the portal vein in IUGR fetuses as well as the controls, and received less than 6% of the umbilical venous return. No significant change occurred in total liver perfusion, which was 2.8 +/- 0.2 ml min-1 per g in control fetuses and 2.6 +/- 0.4 ml min-1 per g in IUGR fetuses. It is therefore suggested that a high rate of liver metabolism is maintained in IUGR, but by a smaller tissue mass, and that the rate of umbilical blood flow may be one factor determining the size of the liver. The relatively greater reduction in size of the right lobe in IUGR is probably the result of poor oxygenation of the portal venous blood.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Must the European fetus be a legal chameleon?].

Currently a legal "haze" surrounds the problem of the fetus in Europe, and there is a need to set this problem in order as a safety for intervening physicians. Actually, some legislation tends to protect the fetus while others authorize its destruction. Under the French law, the fetus appears quite personalized. For instance, in the jurisprudence of non-assistance to a person in danger, it was suggested that an obstetrician perform an immediate caesarean section after death. Other authors have advocated emergency transfusion of blood or blood products to a pregnant woman who refuses any treatment because of religious beliefs, when a fetal risk was demonstrated. Most jurisdictions indict for voluntary homicide when an obstetrician's or a midwife's fault has resulted in fetal death in utero or during delivery. On the contrary, suppression on intra-uterine life may be considered as legal within the framework of the law on VIG (voluntary interruption of pregnancy), as no date-limit is provided for therapeutic interruption of pregnancy. Therefore, severe maternal distress and the strong probability of a fetal malformation incompatible with life, leave the specialists quite undecided in the face of requests for therapeutic interruptions that some jurists have justifiably advised to name, most of the time, "eugenic". The author mentions the fetus conceived after rape or incest, the fetus presenting a malformation, the fetus with trisomy..., who are not particularly protected from a legal standpoint, as well as the fetus threatened of destruction after a sex selection or if the fetus is among an excessive number resulting from ovarian hyperstimulation.

Female↗
PubMed1985

The effects of ACTH1-24 or cortisol on pulmonary maturation in the adrenalectomized ovine fetus.

Pulmonary maturation in 8 ovine fetuses bilaterally adrenalectomized at 98-101 days and infused at term with either ACTH1-24 or cortisol was compared with that in 4 untreated sham-operated controls. Four of the adrenalectomized fetuses were infused intravascularly with ACTH1-24 5 micrograms/h for 84 h before delivery and the other four were infused with cortisol 1 mg/h for 72 h. The high plasma concentrations of immunoreactive ACTH in the adrenalectomized fetuses (2762 +/- 1339 ng/l, mean +/- SD) were not significantly elevated by infusion of ACTH1-24 but were markedly depressed by infusion of cortisol. Distensibility (V40) of the lungs was less than that of controls in both the ACTH1-24-infused and cortisol-infused fetuses (1.86 +/- 0.31 ml/g vs 0.62 +/- 0.13 ml/g and 1.27 +/- 0.34 ml/g respectively) but it was significantly greater in the cortisol-infused fetuses compared to those infused with ACTH1-24. The volume of air retained at 5 cm H2O pressure (V5) during deflation was markedly reduced in adrenalectomized fetuses (controls 1.14 +/- 0.52 ml/g vs 0.25 +/- 0.25 ml/g and 0.12 +/- 0.6 ml/g). The wet weight of the lungs and the concentrations of saturated phosphatylcholine in lung tissue and lavage fluid were lower in the adrenalectomized fetuses than in controls but the differences were not significant. It is concluded that infusion of ACTH1-24 at term in adrenalectomized fetuses is probably without effect whereas cortisol enhances distensibility.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1983

Skeletal development in fetuses of rats consuming alcohol during gestation.

Sprague-Dawley female rats were fed either 20% ethanol in drinking water and rat chow ad libitum (alcohol group) or were pair-fed to the alcohol group, with starch substituted isocalorically for ethanol (pair-fed group) or were fed rat chow and tap water ad libitum. After 4 weeks they were bred and the alcohol group was changed to 30% ethanol in water. On day 20 of gestation the fetuses were removed and stained with Alcian Blue and Alizarin Red S. The skeletons were examined for the appearance of ossification centers and the ossification centers in the fore- and hindlimbs were measured. Fetuses from the alcohol group weighed significantly less than those of the two control groups. Ossification centers expected to appear in the skull on day 20 were absent in most of the alcohol group fetuses, but present in the control fetuses. There were fewer ossification centers in the sternum and in the limbs, and the ossification of vertebral centra has progressed less (both anteriorly and posteriorly) in the alcohol fetuses than in the controls. Dimensions of the ossification centers in the limbs were less in the alcohol fetuses than in the controls. No gross malformations were seen in any of the fetuses. It is concluded that by day 20 of gestation skeletal development is retarded by approximately one day in the fetuses of rats given alcohol prior to and throughout gestation.

Animals↗