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Foetal piglets do not obtain immunoglobulins during pregnancy and rely on colostrum immunoglobulins until active immunity develops. The amount of immunoglobulin that piglets obtain depends upon: colostrum immunoglobulin concentration; quantities of colostrum ingested and when closure occurs. Closure describes the change that takes place between 12-36h of life, when the piglet gut can no longer absorb immunoglobulins. A series of studies were undertaken to examine colostrum IgG concentrations and IgG acquisition by piglets. The first two trials demonstrated that IgG concentration between sows and piglet IgG intake was very variable. Piglet plasma IgG concentrations were remarkably consistent however, suggested that piglets were regulating IgG uptake. The third trial reduced piglet IgG intakes by delaying suckling. Results showed that piglets with reduced IgG intakes had reduced plasma IgG concentrations and could not compensate for lowered IgG intake. The results suggested that piglets regulated IgG uptake when IgG was in excess, but had only limited ability to regulate IgG uptake when IgG supply was limited. The fourth trial set out to examine the effects of maternal diet and vaccination on piglet IgG acquisition. A 2x2 factorial design, sows were fed diets either with vitamins A, C and E at recommended amounts or 3-5 times recommended amounts and either vaccinated or not. Results showed that maternal vaccination or diet did not affect maternal plasma IgG concentration or colostrum IgG concentration. Supplementing maternal diet with vitamins significantly increased piglet plasma IgG concentrations, as did maternal vaccination. Of ingested IgG, approximately 0.6-0.7 appeared in piglet plasma. It was possible to influence piglet plasma IgG concentrations by manipulating maternal diet and immune status. With increasing pressure on the use of antibiotics in agriculture and increasing animal welfare/health demands, the effects of other macro and micronutrients on piglet IgG status need to be investigated.

Thèse d'exercice : Médecine. Gynécologie - obstétrique : Université de Nantes : 2005. / Bibliogr. f. 65-77 [93 réf.].

The monitoring of fetal lambs in-vivo, has been previously carried out by using hard-wires. This work presents an alternative method for monitoring, by use of radiofrequency biotelemetry, with which there are no hard wires. With biotelemetry, a more "natural" recording may take place from the fetus. Long term, natural monitoring of fetal development has not been possible in the past.The design and implementation of a system capable of providing continuous, isolated monitoring is presented. The problems associated with the development and subsequent use of this system will be presented, especially the problem of noise.Data acquisition and analysis methods are also introduced and developed to suit the large amounts of information produced by the biotelemetry system.Analysed data from two fetal animals are presented and the significance of the reduced information is discussed.

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Context: The human foetal adrenal (HFA) is an integral component of the foeto-placental unit and important for the maintenance of pregnancy. Low kisspeptin levels during pregnancy are associated with miscarriage, and kisspeptin and its receptor are expressed in the HFA. However, the role of kisspeptin in foetal adrenal function remains unknown. Objective: The objective of this work was to determine the role of kisspeptin signaling in the developing HFA. Methods: Experiments using H295R adrenocortical cells and primary HFA cells as in vitro models of the foetal adrenal were conducted. The spatiotemporal expression of the kisspeptin receptor, Kiss1R in the HFA was examined. The production of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) from HFA cells after kisspeptin treatment, alone or in combination with adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticotropin-releasing hormone was compared. The association of plasma kisspeptin levels with HFA size was analysed in a longitudinal clinical study. Thirty-three healthy pregnant women were recruited at their 12-week routine antenatal ultrasound scan. Serial measurements of foetal adrenal volume (FAV) and maternal kisspeptin levels at four antenatal visits (∼20, 28, 34, and 38 weeks' gestation) were collected. Outcomes of pregnancy were recorded, including neonatal auxology and complications in the postnatal period. Neoantal adrenal remodeling was characterized by Results: Expression of Kiss1R was present in the HFA from 8 weeks after conception to term and was shown in the inner foetal zone. Kisspeptin significantly increased DHEAS production in H295R and second-trimester HFA cells. Serial measurements of kisspeptin confirmed a correlation with FAV growth in the second trimester, independent of sex or estimated foetal weight. Conclusions: Together, these studies demonstrate that kisspeptin plays a key role in the regulation of the HFA, and thus the foeto-placental unit, particularly in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Thesis (M Med(Family Medicine)) -- University of Limpopo, 2010. / Abstract AIM The aim of the study was to measure the maternal and foetal outcomes of the deliveries attended to at Emkhuzweni Health Centre, Swaziland. Objectives The objectives of the study were: .:. To determine maternal outcomes of the deliveries attended to at Emkhuzweni Health Centre. .:. To determine foetal outcomes of the deliveries attended to at Emkhuzweni Health Centre. .:. To identify risk factors that affect maternal and foetal outcomes at Emkhuzweni Health Centre Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for all 520 deliveries at Emkhuzweni Health Centre between January 1,2007 and December 31 2007. Labouring mothers were eligible for the study if they met the inclusion criteria. The study was conducted after ethical approvals from the relevant authorities were obtained. Data were obtained from records for the following variables: age, address, gravidity, parity, health service where ANC was attended, risk factor, mode of delivery, maternal condition after delivery and post-delivery maternal hospital stay. For each foetus, the APGAR score at the first and fifth minute, weight and sex of the neonate and condition after delivery were recorded. Results The results revealed that the maternal outcomes after delivery were normal for 89.85% of the mothers; 3.4% of those who delivered at EHC had PPH, 5.4% developed puerperal sepsis, 1 % PIH and 0.2% cases resulted in maternal death. The majority of mothers (61.7%) were discharged from the maternity ward in less than 24 hrs. As far as foetal outcomes were concerned, normal babies accounted for 68% of births, early onset neonatal sepsis for 1.9%, congenital malformation (0.6%), stillbirth (1.5%), low birth weight (9.2%), preterm babies (17.8 %) and neonatal death (0.4%0. Conclusion This study found that the maternal outcomes at Emkhuzweni Health Centre in 2007 were similar to those in Swaziland as a whole and in other developing countries, except that there was a higher rate of pre-term delivery among pregnant women assisted at Emkhuzweni Health Centre. The foetal outcomes of Emkhuzweni Health Centre in 2007 were similar to the data from developing countries. Additionally, however; significant numbers of pre-term babies were delivered and a high incidence of neonatal sepsis was observed at the Health Centre. Some of the risk factors for the observed maternal and foetal outcomes were poor antenatal care attendance, distance of the Health Centre from the home state of the pregnant woman, preterm labour, under age and teenage pregnancies.

Mémoire de sage-femme : Médecine : Nancy 1 : 2009. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr.