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The Journal of physiology2005; 565(Pt 3); 1019-1030; doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2004.078469

Development of cardiovascular function in the horse fetus.

Abstract: In mammals, the mechanisms regulating an increase in fetal arterial blood pressure with advancing gestational age remain unidentified. In all species studied to date, the prepartum increase in fetal plasma cortisol has an important role in the maturation of physiological systems essential for neonatal survival. In the horse, the prepartum elevation in fetal cortisol and arterial blood pressure are delayed relative to other species. Hence, the mechanisms governing the ontogenic increase in arterial blood pressure in the horse fetus may mature much closer to term than in other fetal animals. In the chronically instrumented pony mare and fetus, this study investigated how changes in fetal peripheral vascular resistance, in plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and vasopressin, and in the maternal-to-fetal plasma concentration gradient of oxygen and glucose relate to the ontogenic changes in fetal arterial blood pressure and fetal plasma cortisol concentration as term approaches. The data show that, towards term in the horse fetus, the increase in arterial blood pressure occurs together with reductions in metatarsal vascular resistance, elevations in plasma concentrations of cortisol, vasopressin, adrenaline and noradrenaline, and falls in the fetal : maternal ratio of blood P(a,O(2)) and glucose concentration. Correlation analysis revealed that arterial blood pressure was positively related with plasma concentrations of vasopressin and noradrenaline, but not adrenaline in the fetus, and inversely related to the fetal : maternal ratio of blood P(a,O(2)), but not glucose, concentration. This suggests that increasing vasopressinergic and noradrenergic influences as well as changes in oxygen availability to the fetus and uteroplacental tissues may contribute to the ontogenic increase in fetal arterial blood pressure towards term in the horse.
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Publication Date: 2005-03-24 PubMed ID: 15790668PubMed Central: PMC1464542DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2004.078469Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study explores the development of cardiovascular function in horse fetuses, focusing on the unidentified mechanisms that regulate an increase in fetal arterial blood pressure with advancing gestational age. The research discovered that an increase in fetal arterial blood pressure occurs together with changes in hormone levels and falls in the ratio of blood oxygen and glucose concentration in horse fetuses as term approaches.

Study Overview

  • The research was carried out in the chronically instrumented pony mare and fetus. The aim was to identify the factors related to the ontogenic increase in arterial blood pressure towards the end of the gestational period.
  • The study focused on tracking changes in variables like fetal peripheral vascular resistance, plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline, and vasopressin, as well as the maternal-to-fetal plasma concentration gradient of oxygen and glucose.

Key Findings

  • The data revealed that, as the term in the horse fetus advances, an increase in arterial blood pressure coincides with reductions in metatarsal vascular resistance and elevated plasma concentrations of cortisol, vasopressin, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.
  • The research also highlighted a concomitant decrease in the fetal to maternal ratio of blood oxygen (P(a,O(2))) and glucose concentration.
  • The study proposed that the arterial blood pressure in the fetus was positively related with plasma concentrations of vasopressin and noradrenaline. However, the research found no direct relation between arterial blood pressure and the adrenaline in the fetus.
  • The study also documented an inverse relationship between arterial blood pressure and the fetal to maternal ratio of blood oxygen, but no relation was found with glucose concentration.

Implications

  • The study suggests that the ontogenic increase in fetal arterial blood pressure towards term in horses may be impacted by increasing vasopressinergic and noradrenergic influences as well as changes in oxygen availability to the fetus and uteroplacental tissues.
  • This research contributes valuable knowledge to the understanding of the development of cardiovascular functions in mammals, and could guide future investigations into therapeutic interventions for cardiovascular immaturity in preterm newborns.

Cite This Article

APA
Giussani DA, Forhead AJ, Fowden AL. (2005). Development of cardiovascular function in the horse fetus. J Physiol, 565(Pt 3), 1019-1030. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2004.078469

Publication

The Journal of physiology
ISSN: 0022-3751
NlmUniqueID: 0266262
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 565
Issue: Pt 3
Pages: 1019-1030

Researcher Affiliations

Giussani, Dino A
  • Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK. dag26@cam.ac.uk
Forhead, Alison J
    Fowden, Abigail L

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Blood Glucose
      • Blood Pressure / physiology
      • Cardiovascular System / embryology
      • Epinephrine / blood
      • Female
      • Fetus / physiology
      • Gestational Age
      • Hormones / blood
      • Horses / embryology
      • Hydrocortisone / blood
      • Norepinephrine / blood
      • Oxygen / blood
      • Pregnancy
      • Vascular Resistance / physiology
      • Vasopressins / blood

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      This article has been cited 9 times.
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