| Maternal age and parity influence ultrasonographic measurements of fetal growth in Dutch Warmblood mares. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 19157730 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Ultrasonographic examination of the equine fetus in mid-late gestation is usually performed only if there are concerns about fetal or maternal health. Even then it is difficult to determine whether development is 'normal' for gestational age because the reference values include considerable error margins. This study examined maternal factors that influence fetal growth with the aim of producing more precise late gestation fetal growth curves for Dutch Warmblood horses. Fetal development was monitored at 2-week intervals from day 100 of gestation until term in 32 mares ranging from 4 to 18 years in age; seven of the mares were primiparous. Transrectal and/or transabdominal ultrasonographic measurement of the fetal eye orbit, cranium, aorta, heart rate and of the combined thickness of uterus and placenta (CTUP) were performed using a portable ultrasound machine equipped with 6 MHz linear and 3.5 MHz curved array probes. During days 100-250 of gestation, the CTUP was thicker in primiparous than multiparous mares (p<0.05). After day 220 the maximum cross-sectional area, but not diameter, of both the eye orbit and cranium were also greater in primiparous than multiparous mares (p<0.05). Fetal aorta diameter was not influenced by parity but was affected by maternal age, being smaller in mares > or =15 years of age than younger animals (p<0.05). Only biparietal cross-sectional surface area and aorta diameter increased linearly throughout late gestation. However, even allowing for the effects of parity and maternal age, the late gestational variation in fetal size is such that serial measurements may be required to definitively identify abnormal development. |
| | |
Authors:
|
W K Hendriks; B Colenbrander; G C van der Weijden; T A E Stout |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article Date: 2008-12-24 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Animal reproduction science Volume: 115 ISSN: 1873-2232 ISO Abbreviation: Anim. Reprod. Sci. Publication Date: 2009 Oct |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2009-08-03 Completed Date: 2009-10-26 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 7807205 Medline TA: Anim Reprod Sci Country: Netherlands |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 110-23 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Equine Sciences, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. W.K.Hendriks@uu.nl |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Allantois
/
physiology Animals Eye / embryology Female Fetal Development* Gestational Age Heart Rate, Fetal / physiology Horses Maternal Age Netherlands Parity* Postpartum Period / physiology Pregnancy Ultrasonography, Prenatal / veterinary |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Season of the year influences semen output and concentrations of testosterone in circulation of yaks...
Next Document: Effects of filtration through Sephadex columns improve overall quality parameters and "in vivo" fert...