Changes of Acid-Base Variables in Dairy Cows with Chronically Implanted Fetal and Maternal Catheters during Late Gestation and Calving.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in maternal and fetal arterial acid-base variables withdrawn from catheterized dams and fetuses during the last days before and during calving. The average gestation length in nine cows with chronically catheterized fetuses was 285 ± 10 (SD) days. The arterial acid-base variables of a catheterized dam and fetus were very stable during late gestation.

Development of a surgical technique for long-term catheterisation of bovine fetuses.

The aim of this study was to further develop and extensively describe a surgical technique in order to realise long-term fetal blood sampling in the bovine species. Eleven Holstein-Friesian 6- to 8-month pregnant cows (4-10 years old) were used for this study. Gestational age on the day of surgery varied from approximately 180 days (n = 1) to 240 days (minimum: 232 days, maximum 252 days; n = 10).

Reference values for fetal heart rate in cattle in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The aim of this study was to create a fetal heart rate (FHR) reference curve for singleton bovine fetuses in the first trimester of gestation and to determine its possible relationship with the outcome of pregnancy. Forty-eight Holstein-Friesian cows with one fetus and five cows with twins were used. Fetal heart beatings were recorded on videotape during transrectal scanning with a 5 and/or 7.

Spontaneous cyclic embryonic movements in humans and guinea pigs.

Motility assessment before birth can be used to evaluate the integrity of the nervous system. Sideways bending (SB) of head and/or rump, the earliest embryonic motility in both humans and guinea pigs, can be visualized sonographically. We know from other species that early embryonic motility is cyclic.

Effect of exogenous circulating anti-bPL antibodies on bovine placental lactogen measurements in foetal samples.

Background: The involvement of placental lactogen (PL) in the regulation of foetal growth has been investigated in different species by in vivo immunomodulation techniques. However, when circulating antibodies are present together with the hormone, the procedure for hormonal measurement becomes considerably complex. The aim of this study was the immunoneutralization of bovine placental lactogen (bPL) concentrations in bovine foetal circulation by direct infusion of rabbit anti-bPL purified immunoglobulins (IgG) via a foetal catheter (in vivo study).

Addition of chromic oxide to creep feed as a fecal marker for selection of creep feed-eating suckling pigs.

Objective: To determine whether the addition of chromic oxide (Cr(2)O(3)) to creep feed could be used as a visual marker in feces for selection of creep feed-eating suckling pigs.

Animals: 20 suckling pigs.

Procedures: Via syringe, 5 pigs (2 to 3 days old on day 0; 1 pig/treatment) from each of 4 litters received oral administrations of 10, 20, 30, or 40 g of creep feed containing 10 g of Cr(2)O(3)*kg(1) on each of 2 consecutive days (days 20 and 21) or 30 g of creep feed containing 10 g of Cr(2)O(3)*kg(1) on day 20 and 30 g of Cr(2)O(3)-free creep feed on day 21.

EMG activity of the muscular and stromal layer of the cervix in relation to EMG activity of the myometrium and cervical dilatation in PGF2alpha induced parturition in the cow.

The goal of this study was to quantify and characterize the electromyographic (EMG) activities in the cervical outer muscular layer and in the cervical stromal layer, and to characterize their relationship with myometrial EMG activity and cervical dilatation during PGF2alpha-induced parturition in term pregnant cows. We continuously measured the EMG activity of the uterine myometrium and cervical outer muscular layer as well as the cervical stromal layer in five cows using bipolar electrodes while at the same time measuring changes in the cervical diameter with ultrasound cervimetry. This we did from the moment a prostaglandin analogue was injected until the expulsion of the calf.

Response to LPS in female offspring from sows treated with cortisol during pregnancy.

Prenatal stress has been shown to program responsiveness of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and behavior in offspring. In pig husbandry, sows are exposed to stressful conditions during gestation. Previously, cortisol treatment of pregnant sows has been shown to alter stress responsiveness and immunological parameters in their piglets.

High iNOS mRNA and protein levels during early third trimester suggest a role for NO in prelabor cervical ripening in the bovine.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in the processes leading to cervical softening prior to labor. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) contributes most to the increased production of NO during labor, as demonstrated in the rat cervix, or at term pregnancy in women. Changes in expression of iNOS during late gestation have not yet been studied longitudinally in any species, because repeatedly taking biopsies could not be performed.

Cortisol administration to pregnant sows affects novelty-induced locomotion, aggressive behaviour, and blunts gender differences in their offspring.

Several behavioural effects of prenatal stress are reported in literature, and these seem to depend, among other factors, on the gender studied and the period of gestation in which prenatal stress is applied. In the present study, oral administration of hydrocortisone-acetate (HCA) to 41 pregnant sows was used as a model for prenatal stress, since corticosteroids are considered a key mediator in the effects of prenatal stress. HCA was orally administered to pregnant sows during three periods of gestation: 21-50 (period 1, P1, n = 10), 51-80 (period 2, P2, n = 10) and 81-110 (period 3, P3, n = 10) days after insemination (term 115 days).

Comparison of accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography, progesterone and pregnancy-associated glycoproteins tests for discrimination between single and multiple pregnancy in sheep.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and, compare the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonographic (US) and the progesterone (P4-RIA) and ovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (ovPAG-RIA) tests for the discrimination between single and multiple pregnancy in sheep. One hundred pregnant AwassixMerino ewes were scanned by transabdominal ultrasonography (3.5 MHz linear-array transducer) at Days 43-56 and 81 of these ewes were scanned at Days 76-87 of gestation.

Validation of pressure measurements and electromyographic results for the uterus of cattle during the early postpartum period.

Objective: To evaluate methods for on-farm measurements of uterine contractility in postpartum dairy cows by comparing data simultaneously recorded by use of 2 intrauterine pressure (IUP) devices and quantified electromyographic (EMG) signals.

Animals: 5 cows during the first 48 hours after parturition.

Procedure: 2 EMG electrodes were implanted on the surface of the gravid uterine horn.

Lower birth weight and attenuated adrenocortical response to ACTH in offspring from sows that orally received cortisol during gestation.

Prenatal stress is known to affect several offspring characteristics, but its effects depend among other factors on the period of gestation in which it is applied. In the present study, oral administration of hydrocortisone-acetate (HCA) was used to elevate cortisol concentrations in pregnant sows to levels also observed after psychological stress. HCA was administered during three different periods of gestation (115 days in pigs): period 1: 21-50 (P1, n = 10), period 2: 51-80 (P2, n = 10) and period 3: 81-110 (P3, n = 10) days after insemination.

Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring during late gestation in cattle by means of Doppler ultrasonography: reference values obtained by computer-assisted analysis.

Continuous fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring using transabdominal Doppler ultrasonography can be assumed to provide information about the viability of the bovine fetus during late gestation, as has been found in humans. To be able to recognize unfavourable fetal conditions, first the normal ranges of FHR parameters in cattle should be established. Therefore, in this study we aimed to determine the normal ranges of computerized FHR parameters, like basal fetal heart rate (BHR), number of accelerations and decelerations per hour and short and long term variation (STV and LTV) during the last 3 weeks before calving (n = 21 cows).

Ultrasonographic appearance of the conceptus, fetal heart rate and profiles of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) and prostaglandin F2alpha-metabolite (PGF2alpha-metabolite) after induction of fetal death with aglepristone during early gestation in cattle.

A higher incidence of fetal losses, especially after the use of artificial reproduction techniques, asks for more intensive monitoring of bovine pregnancies. In this study, a model for fetal death (FD) was created by administering the antiprogesterone aglepristone twice, at Day 47 and 48 of gestation (n=5). Control heifers received the solvent (n=5).

The effect of a single oxytocin or carbetocin treatment on uterine contractility in early postpartum dairy cows.

The uterotonic characteristics and effectiveness of a single treatment with either oxytocin or carbetocin were quantified in early postpartum dairy cows after normal, uncomplicated calvings. Both the short-term (within 4 h), and the long-term effects (between 12 and 36 h) of the two treatments were compared. Between 14 and 16 h after parturition, 27 multiparous Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, without fetal membrane retention, were selected and divided into three groups.

Characteristics of bovine early puerperal uterine contractility recorded under farm conditions.

A non-invasive, digital technique was used to measure and quantify intrauterine pressure (IUP) changes in early postpartum dairy cows kept under farm conditions in order to document physiological changes in uterine contractility after uncomplicated calvings. In addition, possible relationships between characteristics of uterine contractility and blood ionized calcium (Ca(2+))-concentrations were investigated. Recordings of uterine contractility were made by using a transcervically inserted open tip catheter in 12 healthy cows during their first 48h after calving.

Evaluation of oral administration of cortisol as a model for prenatal stress in pregnant sows.

Objective: To design a treatment that increases plasma corticosteroid concentrations to mimic prenatal stress in pregnant sows.

Animals: 24 pregnant sows.

Procedure: Sows were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups; treatment consisted of twice-daily oral administration of a placebo or 20, 60, or 180 mg of hydrocortisone acetate (HCA)/sow from 7 to 11 weeks of gestation.

Ultrasonography of the female reproductive organs in farmed ostriches (Struthio camelus spp.).

The main objective of this study was to determine whether transcutaneous ultrasonography could be used as a diagnostic tool to monitor the reproductive organs of female breeding ostriches. An additional aim was to investigate whether the use of this technique could facilitate prediction of the start or end of the egg production season. A technique for on-farm ultrasound scanning is described and examples of ultrasonographic images of different ovarian structures, developing ova and eggs within the genital tract are presented.

The monitoring of bovine pregnancies derived from transfer of in vitro produced embryos.

Both an increased rate of embryonic, foetal and perinatal losses, and the occurrence of deviations in foetal and placental development are associated with bovine pregnancies obtained from in vitro produced embryos. This thus requires for a more accurate and frequent monitoring of foetal and maternal functions during pregnancies. Such approaches will enable to establish the period during which these losses and deviations in development occur and to plan possible clinical interventions.