Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 S38 / Master of Science

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Evan C. Titgemeyer / Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of late gestation and early lactation on the nutritional status of beef heifers fed low-quality, warm-season grass hay. The first experiment compared DMI, DM digestibility, and ruminal dynamics of pregnant and lactating beef heifers to non-gestating, non-lactating heifers of a similar age and size. This study demonstrated that pregnant heifers ate less than non-pregnant heifers while maintaining similar digestibilities. Intake was similar between lactating and non-lactating, though DM digestibility increased postpartum in lactating heifers. Ruminoreticular fill was less for pregnant than for non-pregnant heifers; ruminoreticular fill was similar regardless of lactation status. Ruminal NH3 increased with increasing intakes throughout the study. Lactating heifers had less ruminal NH3 than non-lactating heifers. Total ruminal VFA concentration was similar from 10 wk prepartum through 10 wk postpartum except at 2 wk prepartum when gestating heifers had less total ruminal VFA concentration. The second experiment compared DMI, DM digestibility, passage rate, and plasma glucose and BHBA concentrations between pregnant heifers, pregnant cows, lactating heifers, and lactating cows which were fed low-quality, warm-season grass hay supplemented with 450 g/d of soybean meal. This study demonstrated that DMI increased with progressing gestation in heifers. Lactating heifers had greater intake than other groups postpartum. DM digestibility decreased with advancing gestation; gestating animals had greater digestibility than non-gestating animals. Lactation status did not influence DM digestibility, though lactating heifers had greater digestibility from 3 to 7 wk postpartum. Digestibility was not influenced by age. Pregnant animals had faster digesta passage rates than non-pregnant counterparts. Plasma glucose concentration increased during the prepartum period; pregnant and lactating animals had lesser plasma glucose concentrations than non-gestating, non-lactating animals. Plasma BHBA concentration was greater in pregnant and lactating animals than in non-pregnant and non-lactating animal; age was not an influence on BHBA concentration. Calves from mature cows grew faster than calves from heifers. These studies showed that beef heifers do not have the same patterns of intake as mature cows during late gestation. Heifers and their calves exhibited poorer performance when compared to mature cows when fed low-quality, warm-season grass hay.

A Institucionalização da assistência ao parto colaborou muito para o avanço da obstetrícia. Foi possível acompanhar o desenvolvimento primeiro do parto e puerpério e depois do período gestacional, o que proporcionou aos profissionais detectar e tratar as complicações do período gravídico-puerperal, fazendo com que o principal objetivo da institucionalização da assistência ao parto fosse alcançado, a diminuição das taxas de mortalidade materna e neonatal. Mas com o avanço das práticas obstétricas, a maioria das gestações e partos, de baixo risco obstétrico, com evolução fisiológica, também foram encarados como de alto potencial para complicações. Isso fez com que procedimentos desnecessários e de rotina fossem introduzidos na assistência a gestação, parto e puerpério. O uso desenfreado desses procedimentos na assistência ao parto, no final do século passado, trouxe como consequência um aumento da morbimortalidade materna e perinatal, e a incorporação de intervenções danosas se tornou problemática. Objetivo: identificar a prevalência de intervenções obstétricas realizadas em mulheres durante o trabalho de parto e parto. Metodologia: trata-se de um estudo transversal descritivo, de caráter quantitativo, com coleta retrospectiva de dados em prontuário, sobre o emprego de intervenções obstétricas em parturientes atendidas no Centro de Referência da Saúde da Mulher - MATER, durante outubro, novembro e dezembro de 2009 e janeiro, fevereiro e março de 2010, totalizando 810 prontuários. Resultados: A maioria (83,6%) das mulheres apresentavam entre 18 e 34 anos de vida, realizaram pré-natal e estavam na primeira gestação. A amniotomia foi praticada em 41,7% das mulheres, sendo a maioria realizada (56,9%) na fase ativa do trabalho de parto; a infusão de ocitocina foi utilizada em 61,7% das parturientes e o início da infusão, em 63,4% das mulheres, aconteceu na fase ativa do trabalho de parto; 56,8% das mulheres receberam analgesia de parto, a maioria (75,4%) realizada na fase ativa do trabalho de parto e 77,6% das mulheres que receberam analgesia receberam apenas uma dose da medicação; a monitorização eletrônica fetal (cardiotocografia) foi realizada em 32,5% das mulheres, na maioria (65,4%) apenas uma vez; e a episiotomia esteve presente em 37,3% dos partos vaginais; a incidência de parto cesárea foi de 28,8% e de parto fórceps de 3,2%. Conclusão: considerando os resultados obtidos e a discussão realizada, podemos constatar que a maternidade em estudo possui índice da maioria das intervenções abaixo dos índices nacionais e, algumas vezes, índices próximos a de países desenvolvidos, porém a maioria das intervenções tem índices acima dos recomendados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde e pelo Ministério da Saúde brasileiro. Sendo assim, é necessária a revisão de alguns protocolos institucionais, assim como uma conscientização da equipe assistencial quanto aos riscos e benefícios reais das intervenções obstétricas empregadas durante o trabalho de parto e parto. / The institutionalization of delivery care contributed greatly to the advancement of obstetrics. It was possible to first follow the development of childbirth and later the period of pregnancy, which allowed professionals to detect and treat complications of the pregnancy and puerperal period, enabling the achievement of the main goal of institutionalization of labor care, to decrease maternal and neonatal mortality rates. The advancement of obstetrical practices, however, made most pregnancies and births with low obstetric risk, with physiological evolution, to be seen as with high potential risk for complications. This caused unnecessary and routine procedures to be introduced into pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. The rampant use of these procedures in delivery care, at the end of last century, caused an increase in maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, and the practice of damaging interventions has become problematic. Objective: to identify the prevalence of obstetric interventions performed on women during labor and delivery. Methods: this is a cross-sectional, quantitative and descriptive study, with retrospective data collection in patient files, about the use of obstetric interventions in pregnant women who receive care at the Reference Center for Women\'s Health - MATER, from October 2009 to March 2010, totaling 810 patient files. Results: Most (83.6%) women were aged between 18 and 34 years, received prenatal care and were at their first pregnancy. Amniotomy was performed in 41.7% of women, most (56.9%) were held in the active phase of labor, oxytocin infusion was used in 61.7% of pregnant women and start of infusion for 63.4% of women occurred at the active phase of labor. Of the total, 56.8% received labor analgesia, most (75.4%) were performed at the active phase of labor and 77.6% of women who underwent analgesia received only one dose of medication. Electronic fetal monitoring (cardiotocography) was performed in 32.5% of women, in most (65.4%) only once, and episiotomy was present in 37.3% of the vaginal deliveries, the incidence of cesarean section was 28.8% and of forceps deliveries was 3.2%. Conclusion: considering the results obtained and discussions held, it was noted that the studied hospital has rates for most interventions lower than the Brazilian rates, and sometimes levels are close to the ones found in developed countries, however, most interventions have rates above those recommended by the World Health Organization and the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Thus, there is need to review some institutional protocols, as well as raising awareness of the health care team regarding the real risks and benefits of obstetric interventions used during labor and delivery.

As diversas interações hormonais durante e gestação e parto na espécie canina são parcialmente conhecidas. A resposta dos tecidos frente ao estímulo hormonal é dependente da expressão gênica de seus receptores, bem como da concentração local dos hormônios. Desta maneira, o presente estudo apresentou como objetivos: caracterizar a expressão gênica dos receptores de estrógeno e ocitocina no endométrio, miométrio e placenta, correlacionando com as concentrações séricas dos respectivos hormônios durante a gestação e o parto. As cadelas gestantes foram alocadas em 4 grupos de acordo com a idade gestacional: até 20 dias de gestação (grupo 1, n=11), de 20 a 40 dias de gestação (grupo 2, n=12), de 40 a 60 dias de gestação (grupo 3, n=12) e em pródromos do parto (grupo 4, n=11). As cadelas dos grupos 1, 2 e 3 foram submetidas à ovário-histerectomia e as cadelas do grupo 4, à cesariana seguida da ovário-histerectomia. Amostras de endométrio, miométrio e placenta foram colhidas, bem como amostras de sangue para obtenção do soro sangüíneo. A extração do RNA total e a confecção do cDNA das amostras foram realizadas a partir de kits comerciais. As reações da PCR em tempo-real foram realizadas para os genes (RNAm) do receptor do estrógeno α (REα) e receptor da ocitocina (OTR), utilizando o 18S e RPS5 como controles endógenos. As dosagens hormonais foram realizadas por radioimunoensaio. A expressão gênica do RNAmREα e RNAmOTR diferiram de acordo com o tecido e período gestacional. No endométrio, a expressão do RNAmREα foi constante durante toda a gestação e parto, enquanto que o RNAmOTR foi mais expresso no grupo 4. Em relação ao miométrio, a expressão do RNAmREα foi maior nos grupos 2 e 4, já o RNAmOTR foi mais expresso nos grupos 3 e 4. Na placenta, o RNAmREα apresentou maior expressão nos grupos 1 e 2, e o RNAmOTR não sofreu mudanças durante a gestação e o parto. As concentrações séricas de ocitocina mantiveram-se constantes, enquanto os níveis estrogênicos aumentaram a partir de 40 dias de gestação até o início do parto. Conclui-se que a expressão gênica dos REα e OTR diferem de maneira temporal durante a gestação e o parto nos tecidos avaliados e as concentrações séricas de ocitocina não interferem na expressão gênica de tais receptores, enquanto os níveis de estrógeno elevam-se ao final da gestação, sendo possível atribuir a tal perfil a diferente modulação dos REα e OTR nos tecidos estudados. / Several hormone interactions during pregnancy and parturition in the canine species are still unknown. Tissue response to hormonal stimulation is dependent on the expression of its receptor gene, as well as of the local hormonal concentration. Hence, the present study aimed to characterize the expression of the canine estrogen and oxytocin receptor genes in the endometrium, myometrium and placenta and its correlation with blood levels of the referred hormones during pregnancy and parturition. Pregnant bitches were allocated into 4 groups according to the gestational period: up to 20 days of pregnancy (Group 1, n=11), from 20 to 40 days of pregnancy (Group 2, n=12), from 40 to 60 days of pregnancy (Group 3, n=12) and in the early stage of labor (Group 4, n=11). Bitches from groups 1, 2 and 3 were subjected to ovaryhisterectomy and bitches from group 4 were submitted to cesarian section followed by ovaryhistectomy. Endometrium, myometrium and placenta samples were colleted, as well as blood samples. Extraction of the total RNA and cDNA synthesis were accomplished through commercial kits. The real-time PCR reactions were performed for the estrogen-α (REα) and oxytocin (OTR) receptor genes, using the 18S and RPS5 as control. Estrogen and oxytocin hormonal assays were performed by radioimunoassay. The results of the mRNAREα and mRNAOTR gene expression differed among gestational periods and tissues. In the endometrium, RNAmREα expression was homogeneous during pregnancy and labor, whereas group 4 presented a higher expression of RNAmOTR. In relation to the myometrium, RNAmREα expression increased in groups 2 and 4, whilst RNAmOTR expression was higher in groups 3 and 4. In the placenta, groups 1 and 2 presented the highest RNAmREα expression and the RNAmOTR expression did not change during pregnancy and parturition. Blood concentration of oxytocin remained constant, while estrogen levels increased from 40 days of gestation to labor. In conclusion, the expression of canine REα and OTR genes differed temporally during pregnancy and parturition in the experimented tissues. Oxytocin blood levels did not influence the receptor gene expression, whereas estrogen concentrations increased at the end of the gestation, possible modulating REα and OTR expression in the canine endometrium, myometrium and placenta.

A segurança do paciente e a cultura de segurança das instituições são atributos prioritários da qualidade dos sistemas de saúde. Na área obstétrica devido aos elevados índices de mortes maternas e neonatais, há necessidade de problematizar a Segurança do Paciente na assistência ao parto e nascimento a partir do olhar dos profissionais, com uma visão de melhoria e qualidade do cuidado. Neste contexto, o objetivo geral do estudo é analisar a percepção dos profissionais de saúde sobre a segurança do paciente no processo assistencial ao parto e nascimento. À luz do referencial de Segurança do Paciente, desenvolveu-se um estudo descritivo-exploratório e analítico com abordagem qualitativa. O cenário de estudo foi o Serviço Materno-Infantil do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Os dados foram coletados entre agosto e novembro de 2016, por meio de seis encontros de grupos focais, com um total de 12 profissionais da saúde participantes, entre médicos, enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem das unidades: centro obstétrico e internação obstétrica. Utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo do tipo Temática para tratamento dos dados. A pesquisa tramitou na Plataforma Brasil, obteve aprovação do Comitê de ética em Pesquisa, mediante CAAE: 57781016.1.0000.5327. Os resultados e discussões foram organizados e agrupados em três temas principais. O primeiro, “A Cultura de Segurança do Paciente no Processo de Parto e Nascimento”, desvela algumas especificidades de cada dimensão da cultura de segurança que merecem um olhar mais atento e indica a existência de uma cultura de segurança em construção. No segundo tema denominado “Promoção da Segurança do Paciente em Obstetrícia: das Metas Internacionais às Fragilidades no Cuidado”, identificou-se que a maioria das metas já foram implementadas pelo serviço e são parte integrante do processo assistencial na área obstétrica, entretanto, foram indicadas algumas fragilidades do processo, como possibilidade de melhorias. O terceiro tema, “Fortalecimento da Cultura de Segurança na Área Obstétrica”, aborda recomendações positivas para a melhoria da segurança do paciente, tais como: estratégias para redução das interrupções no serviço; ações de investigação e engajamento da administração geral; estratégia para a horizontalidade da gestão e maior envolvimento de todos os profissionais; estratégias a partir do processo de formação com o uso de simulação clínica; a acreditação hospitalar como um gatilho importante, promotor de mudanças; estratégias para o fortalecimento das orientações; sugestões para os mecanismos e materiais de identificação; o uso de tecnologias de informação na saúde para processos mais seguros; ações práticas na assistência ao transporte intra-hospitalar; estratégia de comunicação na transferência das pacientes; desconstrução de hierarquia para a comunicação efetiva; instrumentos para denunciar abusos nas relações profissionais; o estimulo ao trabalho multiprofissional e multidisciplinar; valores de satisfação dos profissionais; e o uso da técnica de grupos focais como estratégia para a sensibilização e o fortalecimento de uma cultura de segurança do paciente. Conclui-se que na percepção dos profissionais de saúde, é necessário investimento individual, coletivo e institucional com a implementação de estratégias de sensibilização e ações práticas para a efetivação da cultura de segurança e da segurança do paciente no processo assistencial ao parto e nascimento na instituição. / Patient safety and the safety culture of institutions are priority attributes to the quality of health systems. In the obstetric area due to the high rates of maternal and neonatal deaths, there is a need to problematize patient safety in the delivery assistance and delivery care from the perspective of professionals with a vision of improvement and quality for the service. In this context, the general objective of the study is to analyze the perception of health professionals about patient safety in the care process at birth and delivery. In the light of the Patient Safety referral, an exploratory and analytical descriptive study with a qualitative approach was developed. The study scenario was the Maternal-Infant Service of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Data collected between August and November of 2016, through six focus group meetings, with 12 participating health professionals, among doctors, nurses and nursing technicians from the units of the Obstetric Center and Obstetric Internment. Thematic content analysis used to evaluate the data. The research carried out in Plataforma Brasil, obtained approval through CAAE: 57781016.1.0000.5327. The results and discussions were organized and grouped into three main themes. The first, “The Culture of Patient Safety in the process of delivery and birth”, which reveals some specificities of each dimension about safety culture that deserve a closer look and indicates the existence of a safety culture under construction, which requires of much institutional and individual investment, through the implementation of awareness strategies and practical actions for a major envelopment. In the second theme entitled “Promotion of Patient Safety in obstetrics: from the International Goals the fragilities in Care”, along those was identified that most of the goals have already been assimilated by the service and are an integral part of the care process in the obstetric area, however they were pointed out also some weaknesses of the process, as a possibility of improvement. The third theme, “Strengthening of Safety Culture in the obstetric area”, approach positive recommendations to the improving of Patient Safety, such as: reduction strategies of disruption; research actions and engagement of the general administration; strategy for horizontality of management and greater involvement of all professionals. strategies from the training process with the use of clinical simulation; hospital accreditation as an important trigger, change promoter; strategies to the strengthening of guidelines; Suggestions for identification mechanisms and materials; the use of health information technologies for safer processes; practical actions in in-hospital transport assistance; communication strategy in patient transference; breakdown of hierarchy for effective communication; instruments to denounce abuse in professional relations; the stimulation of multiprofessional and multidisciplinary work; values of professional satisfaction and, finally, we suggest the use of focal group technique as a strategy to raise awareness and strengthen a culture of patient safety. Concluded that in the perception of the health professionals, it is still necessary investment for the effectiveness of safety culture and patient safety in the care process at delivery and birth of the institution.

This research project addressed pain at parturition in pigs using three different approaches. Firstly, a survey study explored UK pig farmer and veterinarian attitudes to pain and the use of pain relief in order to understand the commercial context behind decisions relating to pain and its management. Secondly, an observational study was conducted to investigate the use of behaviour to assess pain associated with the process of giving birth (or farrowing) in pigs. A final experimental study was used to investigate the administration of a pain relief drug post-farrowing to improve pig welfare and increase productivity. In a questionnaire to farmers and veterinarians, individuals were asked to identify the anti-inflammatory drugs they used or prescribed and how often for selected conditions in pigs. They were also asked to rate the painfulness of different conditions and indicate their level of agreement with statements about pain and the use of pain relief. Results showed anti-inflammatories were widely used, with high agreement that pigs recovered better when given these drugs. Farmers and vets gave similar scores for painful conditions but females and younger respondents scored higher for specific conditions. The results suggest that potential barriers to the increased use of pain relief include a lack of up to date knowledge and communication between farmers and vets about pain and how best to treat it. A preliminary investigation was conducted to identify novel behavioural measures to assess pain in sows over the periparturient period. A set of spontaneous putative pain behaviours were characterised and quantified, using observations of sows before, during and after farrowing. These potential behavioural pain indicators were rare or absent before farrowing and the highest levels were seen during farrowing. For the post-farrowing observations, levels were highest for the immediate post-farrowing period and remained higher than pre-farrowing values up to 24 hours after the last piglet was born. Positive correlations between behavioural variables measured during and after farrowing indicate the individual consistency in the expression of these behaviours. Putative pain behaviours, along with other measures of welfare and productivity were then used to test the benefits of administering the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen, compared with a saline placebo, 1.5 hours post farrowing in primiparous and multiparous sows. No clear treatment differences were observed for the sow welfare measures, including the putative behavioural indicators of pain. For primiparous sows treated with ketoprofen, fewer piglets died, but this could be due to an unexpected treatment difference in piglet birth weight, which is strongly linked with piglet mortality. Further research is needed to validate the spontaneous behaviours used in this study as indicators of pain in periparturient sows.

As diversas interações hormonais durante e gestação e parto na espécie canina são parcialmente conhecidas. A resposta dos tecidos frente ao estímulo hormonal é dependente da expressão gênica de seus receptores, bem como da concentração local dos hormônios. Desta maneira, o presente estudo apresentou como objetivos: caracterizar a expressão gênica dos receptores de estrógeno e ocitocina no endométrio, miométrio e placenta, correlacionando com as concentrações séricas dos respectivos hormônios durante a gestação e o parto. As cadelas gestantes foram alocadas em 4 grupos de acordo com a idade gestacional: até 20 dias de gestação (grupo 1, n=11), de 20 a 40 dias de gestação (grupo 2, n=12), de 40 a 60 dias de gestação (grupo 3, n=12) e em pródromos do parto (grupo 4, n=11). As cadelas dos grupos 1, 2 e 3 foram submetidas à ovário-histerectomia e as cadelas do grupo 4, à cesariana seguida da ovário-histerectomia. Amostras de endométrio, miométrio e placenta foram colhidas, bem como amostras de sangue para obtenção do soro sangüíneo. A extração do RNA total e a confecção do cDNA das amostras foram realizadas a partir de kits comerciais. As reações da PCR em tempo-real foram realizadas para os genes (RNAm) do receptor do estrógeno α (REα) e receptor da ocitocina (OTR), utilizando o 18S e RPS5 como controles endógenos. As dosagens hormonais foram realizadas por radioimunoensaio. A expressão gênica do RNAmREα e RNAmOTR diferiram de acordo com o tecido e período gestacional. No endométrio, a expressão do RNAmREα foi constante durante toda a gestação e parto, enquanto que o RNAmOTR foi mais expresso no grupo 4. Em relação ao miométrio, a expressão do RNAmREα foi maior nos grupos 2 e 4, já o RNAmOTR foi mais expresso nos grupos 3 e 4. Na placenta, o RNAmREα apresentou maior expressão nos grupos 1 e 2, e o RNAmOTR não sofreu mudanças durante a gestação e o parto. As concentrações séricas de ocitocina mantiveram-se constantes, enquanto os níveis estrogênicos aumentaram a partir de 40 dias de gestação até o início do parto. Conclui-se que a expressão gênica dos REα e OTR diferem de maneira temporal durante a gestação e o parto nos tecidos avaliados e as concentrações séricas de ocitocina não interferem na expressão gênica de tais receptores, enquanto os níveis de estrógeno elevam-se ao final da gestação, sendo possível atribuir a tal perfil a diferente modulação dos REα e OTR nos tecidos estudados. / Several hormone interactions during pregnancy and parturition in the canine species are still unknown. Tissue response to hormonal stimulation is dependent on the expression of its receptor gene, as well as of the local hormonal concentration. Hence, the present study aimed to characterize the expression of the canine estrogen and oxytocin receptor genes in the endometrium, myometrium and placenta and its correlation with blood levels of the referred hormones during pregnancy and parturition. Pregnant bitches were allocated into 4 groups according to the gestational period: up to 20 days of pregnancy (Group 1, n=11), from 20 to 40 days of pregnancy (Group 2, n=12), from 40 to 60 days of pregnancy (Group 3, n=12) and in the early stage of labor (Group 4, n=11). Bitches from groups 1, 2 and 3 were subjected to ovaryhisterectomy and bitches from group 4 were submitted to cesarian section followed by ovaryhistectomy. Endometrium, myometrium and placenta samples were colleted, as well as blood samples. Extraction of the total RNA and cDNA synthesis were accomplished through commercial kits. The real-time PCR reactions were performed for the estrogen-α (REα) and oxytocin (OTR) receptor genes, using the 18S and RPS5 as control. Estrogen and oxytocin hormonal assays were performed by radioimunoassay. The results of the mRNAREα and mRNAOTR gene expression differed among gestational periods and tissues. In the endometrium, RNAmREα expression was homogeneous during pregnancy and labor, whereas group 4 presented a higher expression of RNAmOTR. In relation to the myometrium, RNAmREα expression increased in groups 2 and 4, whilst RNAmOTR expression was higher in groups 3 and 4. In the placenta, groups 1 and 2 presented the highest RNAmREα expression and the RNAmOTR expression did not change during pregnancy and parturition. Blood concentration of oxytocin remained constant, while estrogen levels increased from 40 days of gestation to labor. In conclusion, the expression of canine REα and OTR genes differed temporally during pregnancy and parturition in the experimented tissues. Oxytocin blood levels did not influence the receptor gene expression, whereas estrogen concentrations increased at the end of the gestation, possible modulating REα and OTR expression in the canine endometrium, myometrium and placenta.

SK3 channels contribute to membrane repolarization and hyperpolarization that leads to both relaxation of smooth muscle and vascular branching. These two distinct properties are intensified in the SK3T/T mice possibly influencing pregnancy by dampening uterine contractions and causing dysfunctional placental development. SK3T/T mice have delayed or hindered parturition, suggesting a role for SK3 channels in labor contractions (Chapter 2 & 3). Based on these findings, we hypothesized that SK3 channel expression must be reduced late in normal pregnancy to enable the uterus to produce the forceful contractions required for parturition. The mechanism(s) downregulating this channel in the uterus during pregnancy is unknown. The SK3 gene promoter region contains two Specificity Protein (Sp) binding sites; Sp1, a transcription factor that enhances transcription of genes in response to estrogen, and Sp3, a factor that competes for the same binding motif as Sp1 to reduce gene expression (Chapter 4). SK3 channels may also be involved in the vascular remodeling that occurs during pregnancy. The SK3 channel is present in vascular endothelial cells and overexpression of this channel leads to abnormal vessel branching and an increase in vessel diameter. During pregnancy, the vascular system must adapt to accommodate dramatic increases in blood volume necessary to sustain the developing fetus. Overexpression of SK3 channels could produce abnormalities in the placental vascular network, similar to the abnormal vessel branching and vasodilatation found in the mesenteric circulation, thus leading to poor fetal outcome (Chapter 5). The aim of this research was to determine the function of the SK3 channel in pregnancy by focusing on its role in myometrial contractility in addition to identifying its role in remodeling the maternal vasculature and its impact on placental blood flow and fetal demise.

Abstract not available