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Intravenous administration of cocaine stimulates gravid baboon myometrium in the last third of gestation.

OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis for this investigation was that intravenous cocaine results in a dose-dependent increase in myometrial activity of the unanesthetized, chronically instrumented gravid nonhuman primate. STUDY DESIGN: Seven chronically instrumented gravid baboons were individually caged in an environment of 14 hours of light and 10 hours of darkness. Maternal femoral artery and vein catheters and three pairs of myometrial electromyographic wires were surgically placed at 90 to 121 days' gestation (term 180 days). At least 5 days after surgery, bolus intravenous cocaine hydrochloride doses of 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg maternal body weight were administered according to various schedules. Myometrial activity was analyzed by quantifying the myometrial electromyographic envelope data as the power spectral density window of contraction activity and as the total area under the rectified electromyographic voltage signal (i.e., total electromyographic activity) before and during the experimental period. RESULTS: Myometrial contraction activity increased after the 0.3 mg/kg dose (p < 0.01), the 0.5 mg/kg dose (p < 0.005), and the 1.0 mg/kg dose (p = 0.07) compared with baseline. The total myometrial electromyographic activity also increased as the cocaine dose increased. CONCLUSION: Intravenous cocaine results in increased myometrial contractions in the gravid baboon during the latter third of pregnancy.

Animals↗

Prolonged blockade of nitric oxide synthesis in gravid rats produces sustained hypertension, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, and intrauterine growth retardation.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in pregnant rats can produce a preeclampsia-like syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant rats were instrumented on day 14 of gestation (parturition day 21 to 22) and infused continuously through a venous catheter with L-nitro-arginine, a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, or with sterile saline solution from day 18 until 24 hours post partum. A group of virgin rats was treated identically. Blood pressure was recorded in unrestrained animals with an aortic catheter for 30 minutes before infusion and repeated each day throughout the experiment. Urinary albumin, platelet count, weight of newborn pups, blood chemistry, and several other parameters were determined. Data were analyzed by one-way, repeated-measures analysis of variance, with Dunnett's t test or by Student t test. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure increased from 102.6 +/- 2.8 to a mean maximum of 152.5 +/- 7.3 on the second day of infusion and remained in this range until delivery, after which it fell significantly, in spite of continuing infusion of L-nitro-arginine. This treatment increased urinary albumin (milligrams per 24 hours) from 8.3 +/- 1.5 to 56.3 +/- 14.3 in gravid and from 8.2 +/- 0.8 to 18.2 +/- 2.4 in virgin rats. Weight of newborn pups was reduced by L-nitro-arginine from 5.62 +/- 0.10 to 3.37 +/- 0.32 gm (p < 0.005) without affecting time of delivery or litter size. Platelet count was reduced 58% in gravid and 50% in virgin rats. CONCLUSION: Chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in gravid rats leads to sustained hypertension, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, and intrauterine growth retardation, providing a simple animal model for preeclampsia.

Animals↗

Anatomy of Tunga trimamillata Pampiglione et al., 2002 (Insecta, Siphonaptera, Tungidae) and developmental phases of the gravid female.

This paper deals with some internal anatomical features observed in histological sections and freshly dissected mounts of Tunga trimamillata, a Siphonaptera recently discovered in Andean regions of Ecuador from several mammals, including man. It was possible to study in males and also non-gravid and gravid females, the location and anatomy of several organs not previously described for this species: the testes, epididymis, ganglia, Malpighian tubules, eyes, rectal ampulla with one of its pads and structures which could be interpreted as midgut diverticula, whose presence has not been recorded in the Siphonaptera. The process of neosomy in the female during pregnancy is illustrated by photographs of the consecutive developmental phases, taken at the stereomicroscope. Furthermore, some details of the exoskeleton, spermatheca during different phases of pregnancy of the gravid female and the presence of a foreign body (parasite?) within the haemocoel have been displayed in specimens cleared with Hoyer's medium.

Animals↗

Effects of preblood-meal sugar on sugar seeking and upwind flight by gravid and parous Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Sugar seeking and upwind flight of gravid and parous female Aedes aegypti (L.) was measured by their attraction to honey in a dual-port airflow olfactometer at selected time intervals after a blood meal. Comparisons were made between pre-blood-meal sugar-fed and unfed females. Sugar-fed females had greater total energy reserves, mostly because of elevated lipid levels. Gravid mosquitoes in both groups showed a strong tendency to fly upwind. This appears to be a pre-ovipositional response. Gravid female orientation to honey was greater in unfed females than in sugar-fed females. After oviposition, parous females became more strongly attracted to honey, if their honey response was not already high.

Aedes↗

Maternal and fetal effects of isoproterenol in the gravid ewe.

Detection of the intravascular placement of epidural catheters is an important but difficult task. In this study, we evaluated maternal and fetal hemodynamic responses to intravenous (i.v.) and epidural injection of isoproterenol (ISO), a proposed chronotropic test dose, in gravid ewes. Near-term, chronically instrumented, gravid ewes with single fetuses were studied at least 48 h after surgery. We continuously recorded maternal heart rate (MHR), systemic and pulmonary blood pressures, uterine blood flow (UBF), and fetal blood pressure and heart rate. Maternal cardiac output was measured by thermodilution. In random sequence, each ewe (n = 11) received i.v. injections of saline, epinephrine (EPI) 15 microg; ISO 4, 16, and 80 microg; or epidural (n = 9 ewes) injections of saline, ISO 4 microg and ISO 40 microg. All variables returned to baseline between experiments. Sections of lumber spinal cord were harvested from five animals for later histopathological study. I.v. ISO caused a dose-related increase in MHR. Cardiac output also increased transiently after all doses of ISO but not after EPI. Maternal diastolic blood pressure decreased after ISO 16 and 80 microg. UBF decreased significantly for 120 s after EPI 15 microg. Epidural ISO did not significantly change maternal systemic or pulmonary blood pressure, cardiac output, or UBF. The 40-microg dose increased MHR significantly. No histopathological changes were seen in three ISO-exposed and two control spinal cords. I.v. ISO reliably induces maternal tachycardia in nonstressed gravid ewes. Unlike EPI, I.v. ISO lacks a statistically significant effect on UBF. However, ISO seems to be rapidly absorbed from the epidural space. Identifying the source of maternal tachycardia after epidural injection of a large dose of ISO could be difficult. If the absence of histopathological change is confirmed, ISO represents an alternative to EPI as a chronotropic test dose.

Adrenergic Agonists↗

Does magnesium sulfate alter the maternal cardiovascular response to vasopressor agents in gravid ewes?

Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) attenuates the maternal compensatory response to hemorrhage in gravid ewes, perhaps by decreasing the response to endogenous vasopressors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MgSO4 alters the cardiovascular response of gravid ewes to vasopressor agents. Sixteen gravid ewes underwent a series of experiments consisting of administration of two exogenous and two endogenous vasopressors, each with and without a concurrent MgSO4 infusion. Dose-response curves were constructed for phenylephrine (an alpha 1-adrenergic agonist), ST-91 (an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist), angiotensin II, and arginine vasopressin (AVP). MgSO4 significantly attenuated the increase in maternal mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance and the decrease in cardiac output during ST-91 infusion but not during phenylephrine, angiotensin II, or AVP infusions. MgSO4 significantly attenuated the increase in uterine vascular resistance during phenylephrine, ST-91, and angiotensin II infusions and the decrease in uterine blood flow during phenylephrine and angiotensin II infusions. MgSO4 also appeared to attenuate the decrease in uterine blood flow during ST-91 infusion (P = 0.067). The present study suggests that MgSO4 antagonizes the effects of alpha 1-adrenergic agonists, alpha 2-adrenergic agonists, and angiotensin II on the uterine vasculature, thus providing a level of protection for the fetus in situations of maternal stress.

Angiotensin II↗

Gravidity, blood pressure, and hypertension among white women in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Gravidity and parity have been hypothesized as possible protective factors for hypertension in women, but results of previous studies have been conflicting; none of three U.S. studies has clearly demonstrated this relation. We studied the association of number of pregnancies to blood pressure and hypertension in a cross-sectional study of 4,626 white women, ages 20-74 years, examined in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In univariate analyses, neither mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic blood pressure, nor prevalence of hypertension varied systematically with the number of pregnancies. In multivariate analyses that included age, body size, smoking, oral contraceptive use, education, poverty status, and alcohol use, systolic blood pressure declined modestly with greater gravidity. The association of gravidity with systolic blood pressure was stronger for younger premenopausal women. The odds of hypertension also declined with each additional pregnancy as compared with no pregnancies: there was an odds ratio of 0.90 (95% confidence interval = 0.81-0.99) for premenopausal women and an odds ratio of 0.95 (95% confidence interval = 0.92-0.98) for postmenopausal women. These findings indicate a slight negative relation of number of pregnancies to both blood pressure and hypertension.

Adult↗

Pressor effect of endothelium-derived relaxing factor inhibition in conscious virgin and gravid rats.

We used pressor responses to N-methylarginine (NMA), a specific inhibitor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) biosynthesis, to assess the contribution of EDRF to control of basal blood pressure in conscious, chronically instrumented virgin and gravid rats. Hypotheses were that NMA would raise blood pressure in conscious animals in spite of intact cardiovascular reflexes and that differing effects in virgin and pregnant animals would reveal contributions of EDRF to the physiological vasodilation of pregnancy. Basal mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were 106 +/- 12 mmHg and 394 +/- 27 beats/min (n = 31) in virgin and 102 +/- 8 mmHg and 378 +/- 18 beats/min (n = 14) in gravid rats. After NMA (150 mg/kg iv), increments in MAP and decreases in HR were similar in each group (virgin, delta MAP = 38 +/- 12 mmHg, delta HR = -65 +/- 27 beats/min, n = 14; gravid, delta MAP = 33 +/- 8 mmHg, delta HR = -63 +/- 20 beats/min, n = 6). Pretreatment with excess L-arginine reduced pressor responses to NMA by 80% in both pregnant and virgin animals. In contrast, L-arginine had no significant effect on the pressor response to phenylephrine (6.4 mg/kg iv). EDRF contributes importantly to regulation of basal blood pressure in conscious animals, and pregnancy does not alter the pressor effect of EDRF inhibition in the rat.

Animals↗

Differential regulation of contractility and nitric oxide sensitivity in gravid and nongravid myometrium during late pregnancy in a marsupial.

Marsupials have two anatomically separate uteri; and in macropodids (kangaroos and wallabies), there is a single ovulation from alternate ovaries in each cycle. During late pregnancy, the two uteri are differentially regulated by local hormonal influences from the corpus luteum, the fetus, and placenta on one side and by the developing Graafian follicle on the other. In this study, we report striking differences in contractile behavior of nongravid and gravid myometrium from the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) in late pregnancy and immediately post partum. Nongravid myometrium, from the uterus ipsilateral to a Graafian follicle, was spontaneously active but unresponsive to the oxytocic peptide mesotocin and the smooth muscle relaxant nitric oxide. Myometrium from the contralateral, gravid uterus, which contained a conceptus and was associated with an active corpus luteum, was not spontaneously active. Gravid myometrium became increasingly sensitive to mesotocin stimulation as pregnancy progressed, and nitric oxide induced marked relaxation at all stages examined, by a guanylyl-cyclase mediated pathway. These results provide further evidence that the two uteri of marsupials are under differential control, suggesting that local endocrine and paracrine influences, derived from the ovaries, the fetus, and placenta, can regulate concurrent but distinct physiological responses in the reproductive tracts of these mammals.

Animals↗

Effect of pregnancy on gravid sclerosis of bovine uterine arteries.

Gravid sclerosis of the uterine artery was histologically examined in multiparous cows. This sclerosis was characterized by a thickening of the intima and a lamination of the internal elastic lamina. It was clearly observed at non-pregnant and early-pregnant stages and in the late postpartum period, but it could not be detected at term-pregnant stages and in the early postpartum period. These results suggest that the gravid sclerosis disappears during pregnancy and re-establishes after parturition. The importance of local factors, e.g. hemodynamics, in the cyclic appearance of gravid sclerosis is discussed.

Animals↗

Nitrogen metabolism of gravid and nongravid female swine fed every third day.

Crossbred gilts were adapted for 40 d to a 12% crude protein corn-soybean meal gestation diet fed either as a single 1.9-kg meal every day (ED) or as an accumulated 5.7 kg meal every third day (E3D). In the first experiment the effect of meal frequency on N balance was evaluated using eight gravid gilts in a 12-d balance trial. Average N retention was greater (P less than .08) for gilts fed ED (15.32 g/d) than for those fed E3D (12.64 g/d). Daily urinary N excretion showed a quadratic effect (P less than .01) with the greatest N output occurring during the second 24-h period after the meal for gilts fed E3D. The effect of physiological state on the N metabolism response to E3D feeding was measured in a second experiment using four nongravid and four gravid gilts in a 12-d N balance experiment. Average daily N retention was greater (P less than .04) for gravid gilts fed E3D (15.04 g) than for nongravid gilts fed E3D (11.82 g). Digestibility of N and energy was not affected (P greater than .10) by feeding regimen.

Animals↗

An unusual over-gravid female of Enterobius vermicularis recovered from a child.

An unusual over-gravid female of Enterobius vermicularis was recovered from a 15-month old child by cello-tape anal swab. The patient resided in Inchon and complained of severe anal itching. The worm measured 7.8 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, and retained typical morphologic features of E. vermicularis such as cephalic alae and a sharply pointed posterior end. In this gravid female, peculiarly, the uterus was tremendously distended, and about 99% of the whole body length was completely packed with a great number of eggs. Other internal organs were difficult to observe. This paper describes a peculiar over-gravid female of E. vermicularis.

Animals↗

Pulmonary dirofilariasis: restudy of worms reported gravid.

A worm in the lung of a man in Colombia, whose death was caused by lymphoid leukemia, originally reported as Wuchereria bancrofti with embryos in the uterus, was re-examined and identified as a Dirofilaria sp. and its gravid condition confirmed. A Dirofilaria sp. in the lung of a man in Japan, reported as gravid, was found to be nongravid with sloughed fragments of lining of the uterus mistaken for microfilariae. Noteworthy in the Colombia case is the association of lymphoid leukemia in the host and the gravid condition of the worm.

Adult↗

Commercial mosquito trap and gravid trap oviposition media evaluation, Atlanta, Georgia.

Field trials evaluating the effectiveness of selected gravid trap oviposition media and commercially available mosquito traps were conducted in southern Fulton County (Atlanta), GA, from June 9 to June 18 and June 24 to July 4, 2002, respectively. Total number of mosquitoes and number of each species captured during the tests were compared using a Latin square design. For the gravid trap infusion media, significant differences were found for total number of mosquitoes collected where sod > or = hay > or = hay side-by-side diluted hay > dilute hay side-by-side hay > or = oak > diluted hay. Only Aedes albopictus (oak), Culex quinquefasciatus (sod and both concentrated hay infusions), and Culex restuans (sod) were captured in significantly greater numbers using a particular infusion. Significant differences for the total number of mosquitoes collected were also observed in the commercial mosquito traps such that the gravid trap > ultra violet up-draft > or = Mosquito Magnet Pro > or = omnidirectional Fay-Prince trap with CO2 > up-draft CDC-style with CO2 > or = CDC-style with CO2. Significant differences in numbers collected among traps were noted for several species, including Aedes vexans, Aedes albopictus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. restuans, and Culex salinarius. Results from these field trap and infusion evaluations can enhance current surveillance efforts, especially for the primary vectors of West Nile virus and other arboviruses.

Aedes↗

Field evaluation of CDC gravid trap attractants to primary West Nile virus vectors, Culex mosquitoes in New York State.

A field study was conducted to evaluate two CDC gravid trap attractants available for the West Nile virus surveillance program in New York State (NYS). According to potential attractiveness, a common lawn sod in NYS, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) infusion and a rabbit chow infusion were compared for attractiveness to primary West Nile virus vectors, Culex mosquitoes. Attractiveness of each infusion was measured by the number of adult mosquitoes caught in CDC gravid traps and the number of egg rafts laid in ovitraps. Both gravid trap and ovitrap studies demonstrated that lawn sod infusion with a 7-day incubation period had better attractiveness to Culex restuans/Culex pipiens than rabbit chow infusion with the same incubation period. Attractiveness of lawn sod infusions was increased as they became aged within a week's period. Lawn sod infusion also attracted more Ochlerotatus japonicus, a potentially important West Nile virus vector in New York.

Animals↗

Does calcium chloride help restore maternal blood pressure and uterine blood flow during hemorrhagic hypotension in hypermagnesemic gravid ewes?

Magnesium sulfate worsens maternal hypotension and fetal oxygenation during hemorrhage in gravid ewes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether calcium chloride administration is a useful adjunct to blood transfusion during hemorrhagic hypotension in hypermagnesemic gravid ewes. Sixteen experiments were performed in eight chronically instrumented animals between 0.8 and 0.9 of timed gestation. The experimental sequence included (a) T = 0: magnesium sulfate 4 g IV; (b) T = 5: infusion of magnesium sulfate 4 g/h IV; (c) T = 90: maternal hemorrhage 20 mL/kg over 55 min; (d) T = 147: calcium chloride 10 mg/kg or normal saline (NS-control) 0.1 mL/kg IV; (e) T = 160: transfusion of collected maternal blood over 55 min. Magnesium sulfate alone slightly decreased maternal mean arterial pressure (P = 0.002) and increased uterine blood flow (P = 0.0001) in both groups before hemorrhage. During hemorrhage, maternal mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and uterine blood flow, and fetal PO2 and pH all decreased sharply (P = 0.0001). Cardiac output increased (P = 0.0005) modestly just after the intravenous bolus of calcium chloride. Maternal mean arterial pressure was significantly higher (P = 0.03) during transfusion in the calcium chloride group than in the NS-control group, but only after mean arterial pressure was near baseline measurements. Maternal uterine blood flow and fetal PO2 and pH responses over time were similar in the two groups. We conclude that intravenous administration of calcium chloride (10 mg/kg) transiently increased cardiac output during hemorrhagic hypotension and slightly increased mean arterial pressure during transfusion in hypermagnesemic gravid ewes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Differential environmental preferences of gravid female Aedes mosquitoes in ovipositing their eggs.

A prospective field study was carried out to investigate any preferential differences of gravid female Aedes mosquitoes in ovipositing their eggs in man-made containers placed in different environmental conditions. The findings of this study show that gravid female Aedes mosquitoes preferred to breed in containers found in the outdoor garden than those placed on the patio and or inside the house. The findings also show that if the breeding habitats in the garden were removed, they would favorably use the breeding habitats found on the patio or inside the house as alternatives. An incidental interesting finding in this study shows that ultra-low volume fogging of insecticides using the vehicle-mounted equipment carried out outside the house may promote the gravid female Aedes mosquitoes to enter the house to breed.

Aedes↗

[Chronic renal disease and gravidity--case study].

Uremia, the result of renal failure, is a serious clinical problem. Rising azotemia during gravidity significantly increases perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study presents the case of 34 years old patient with 27-year medical history of diabetes mellitus type 1 with diabetic nephropathy and chronic renal insufficiency. The patient got pregnant in the stage of preterminal renal failure. During the first trimester, she showed hypertension and proteinuria. In her 25th week of pregnancy, she was hospitalized with progressive proteinuria, almost uncontrollable hypertension and increased azotemia. Intensive conservative therapy led to a slight decrease of azotemia and proteinuria levels which, however, remained high. In fact, we considered using elimination methods several times. Due to severe hypoxia of the foetus, the gravidity was terminated by section at 30 weeks. After the parturition, the newborn had to be resuscitated. In the first days, the newborn showed increased azotemia which decreased spontaneously after several days. In a month after the termination of gravidity, N-substances increased again and the patient was enrolled in the chronic dialysis programme.

Adult↗