High-Risk Pregnancy Is Associated With Increased Alpha-Fetoprotein Concentrations in the Amniotic Fluid and Foal Plasma.
Abstract: This study aimed to determine alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations in amniotic fluid, plasma of mares and respective foals: carrying normal pregnancies and delivering healthy foals (n = 20; Group 1); carrying apparently normal pregnancies and delivering sick foals (n = 15; Group 2); carrying high-risk pregnancies and delivering sick foals (n = 14; Group 3). High-risk pregnancy was defined by a history of premature udder development/lactation or increased of the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta, or vulvar discharge and/or mares' systemic illness. Sick foals were affected by neonatal encephalopathy, sepsis, prematurity/dysmaturity, or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Based on histological examination of the chorioallantois, AFP trend was analyzed in pregnancies with pathologic (PFM) and normal fetal membranes (NFM). Concentrations of AFP were measured using a commercially available immunoassay previously validated for horses. Mares' plasma AFP did not change during the last 15-20 days of pregnancy in the three groups, and there was no difference among them. Amniotic fluid AFP was higher in Group 3 (P = .014). Foals' plasma AFP concentration was higher from birth to 72hours in foals of Group 2 and 3 than in healthy ones, and foals of Group 3 had the highest value. The strong association (r = 0.84; P < .0001) between AFP in amniotic fluid and foals' plasma at birth is likely due to the presence of AFP in fetal urine. AFP was higher in pregnancy with PFM than with NFM in mare's plasma at admission (P = .031), amniotic fluid (P = .004), foal's plasma at birth (P = .002), at 24 (P = .005) and at 72 hours of life (P = .004). AFP is higher in pregnancy with histopathological lesions of the chorioallantois providing the evidence of the differences between pregnancy with a normal placental barrier and the more compromised ones. The increased AFP concentration in the amniotic fluid and plasma of high-risk foals suggests upregulation.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2022-09-23 PubMed ID: 36154851DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104124Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research investigates a correlation between high-risk pregnancies in horses and increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in amniotic fluid and foal plasma. The study utilized three distinct groupings of mare pregnancies: normal (Group 1), normal pregnancies yielding sick foals (Group 2), and high-risk pregnancies yielding sick foals (Group 3). Findings suggest that high-risk pregnancies and those with pathological fetal membranes have higher AFP concentrations, hinting at its potential use as an indicator for pregnancy complications.
Participant Groupings
- Pregnancy conditions in this study were divided into three distinct groups: Group 1 (normal pregnancies resulting in healthy foals), Group 2 (normal pregnancies resulting in sick foals), and Group 3 (high-risk pregnancies resulting in sick foals).
- High-risk pregnancies were identified by history of premature udder development/lactation or variations in the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta, vulvar discharge, or systemic illness in mares.
- Sick foals suffered from neonatal encephalopathy, prematurity/dysmaturity, sepsis, or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
AFP Measurements
- AFP concentrations were measured in the plasma of mares, amniotic fluid, and in the foals’ plasma.
- The researchers used a commercially available immunoassay, previously validated for use in horses, to make these measurements.
AFP Concentration Results
- The study revealed no significant AFP changes in the mare’s plasma across the three groups during the last 15-20 days of pregnancy.
- In contrast, amniotic fluid and foal’s plasma demonstrated increased AFP concentrations in Group 3 pregnancies.
- Furthermore, an observed strong association between AFP in amniotic fluid and foals’ plasma suggests the presence of AFP in fetal urine.
AFP and Fetal Membranes
- The research also unveiled a correlation between AFP levels and the state of the fetal membranes. Higher AFP was found in pregnancies with pathological fetal membranes (PFM) compared to those with normal fetal membranes (NFM).
- Such results suggest a distinction between pregnancies with normal placental barriers and pregnancies where this barrier is compromised.
Potential Implications
- An increase of AFP concentration observed in amniotic fluid and the plasma of high-risk foal pregnancies implies possible upregulation of AFP. This finding potentially sets ground for more targeted future research.
- AFP levels, therefore, may serve as potential biomarkers to indicate complications in horse pregnancies.
Cite This Article
APA
Lanci A, Mariella J, Ellero N, Canisso IF, Dondi F, Castagnetti C.
(2022).
High-Risk Pregnancy Is Associated With Increased Alpha-Fetoprotein Concentrations in the Amniotic Fluid and Foal Plasma.
J Equine Vet Sci, 119, 104124.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104124 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy; Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Humans
- Pregnancy
- alpha-Fetoproteins / chemistry
- Amniotic Fluid / chemistry
- Horses
- Parturition
- Placenta
- Pregnancy, High-Risk / metabolism
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