Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1972 Jun;223(2):375–393. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1972.sp009853

Foetal placental blood flow in the lamb

J Job Faber, Thomas J Green
PMCID: PMC1331453  PMID: 5039279

Abstract

1. Fifteen sheep foetuses of 1·5-5·2 kg body weight were prepared with indwelling arterial and venous catheters for experimentation one to six days later.

2. Unanaesthetized foetuses were found to have mean arterial and central venous blood pressures of 40 ± 1·5 (S.E. of mean) and 2·0 ± 0·3 (S.E. of mean) mm Hg respectively, compared to intra-uterine pressure. Intra-uterine pressure was 16 ± 0·8 (S.E. of mean) mm Hg with respect to atmospheric pressure at mid-uterine level.

3. Mean placental blood flow of the foetuses was 199 ± 20 (S.E. of mean) ml./(min.kg body wt.). Mean cardiac output in eleven of the foetuses was 658 ± 102 (S.E. of mean) ml./(min.kg).

4. Mean foetal and maternal colloid osmotic pressures were 17·5 ± 0·7 (S.E. of mean) and 20·5 ± 0·6 (S.E. of mean) mm Hg respectively at 38° C.

5. Intravenous infusions into six ewes of 1·8 mole of mannitol and 0·4 mole of NaCl resulted in significant increases in foetal plasma osmolarity, sodium, potassium, and haemoglobin concentrations, without detectable transfer of mannitol to the foetal circulation.

6. In the sheep placenta there is osmotic and hydrostatic equilibration of water. As a consequence, there should be an interaction between foetal placental blood flow and foetal water exchange with the maternal circulation. It was concluded that this interaction tends to stabilize foetal placental blood flow.

Full text

PDF
375

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ADOLPH E. F., HOY P. A. Regulation of electrolyte composition of fetal rat plasma. Am J Physiol. 1963 Mar;204:392–400. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1963.204.3.392. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BURNS P. D., LINDER R. O., DROSE V. E., BATTAGLIA F. The placental transfer of water from fetus to mother following the intravenous infusion of hypertonic mannitol to the maternal rabbit. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1963 May 15;86:160–167. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(63)90425-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Buckberg G. D., Luck J. C., Payne D. B., Hoffman J. I., Archie J. P., Fixler D. E. Some sources of error in measuring regional blood flow with radioactive microspheres. J Appl Physiol. 1971 Oct;31(4):598–604. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1971.31.4.598. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Campbell A. G., Dawes G. S., Fishman A. P., Hyman A. I. Regional redistribution of blood flow in the mature fetal lamb. Circ Res. 1967 Aug;21(2):229–235. doi: 10.1161/01.res.21.2.229. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Comline R. S., Silver M. Daily changes in foetal and maternal blood of conscious pregnant ewes, with catheters in umbilical and uterine vessels. J Physiol. 1970 Aug;209(3):567–586. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1970.sp009180. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DANCIS J., SHAFRAN M. The origin of plasma proteins in the guinea pig fetus. J Clin Invest. 1958 Aug;37(8):1093–1099. doi: 10.1172/JCI103698. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DANCIS J., WORTH M., Jr, SCHNEIDAU P. B. Effect of electrolyte disturbances in the pregnant rabbit on the fetus. Am J Physiol. 1957 Mar;188(3):535–537. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1957.188.3.535. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DAWES G. S., MOTT J. C., RENNICK B. R. Some effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline and acetylcholine on the foetal circulation in the lamb. J Physiol. 1956 Oct 29;134(1):139–148. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1956.sp005630. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. DOWNING S. E., TALNER N. S., GARDNER T. H. VENTRICULAR FUNCTION IN THE NEWBORN LAMB. Am J Physiol. 1965 May;208:931–937. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1965.208.5.931. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Dawes G. S., Duncan S. L., Lewis B. V., Merlet C. L., Owen-Thomas J. B., Reeves J. T. Hypoxaemia and aortic chemoreceptor function in foetal lambs. J Physiol. 1969 Mar;201(1):105–116. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008745. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dawes G. S., Lewis B. V., Milligan J. E., Roach M. R., Talner N. S. Vasomotor responses in the hind limbs of foetal and new-born lambs to asphyxia and aortic chemoreceptor stimulation. J Physiol. 1968 Mar;195(1):55–81. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008446. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. ENDERS A. C. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE TROPHOBLAST IN SEVERAL HEMOCHORIAL PLACENTAS. Am J Anat. 1965 Jan;116:29–67. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001160103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. FRIEDMAN E. A., GRAY M. J., HUTCHINSON D. L., PLENTL A. A. The role of the monkey fetus in the exchange of the water and sodium of the amniotic fluid. J Clin Invest. 1959 Jun;38(6):961–970. doi: 10.1172/JCI103879. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Faber J. J., Green T. J., Long L. R. Permeability of rabbit placenta to large molecules. Am J Physiol. 1971 Mar;220(3):688–693. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1971.220.3.688. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Faber J. J., Hart F. M., Poutala A. C. Diffusional resistance of the innermost layer of the placental barrier of the rabbit. J Physiol. 1968 Jul;197(2):381–393. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008565. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Faber J. J., Stearns R. S. Localization of the resistance to diffusion in the three-layered placenta of the rabbit. Pflugers Arch. 1969;310(4):337–353. doi: 10.1007/BF00587243. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Fouron J. C., Hébert F. Cardiovascular adaptation of newborn lambs to hypervolemia with polycythemia. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1970 May;48(5):312–320. doi: 10.1139/y70-051. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lawn A. M., Chiquoine A. D., Amoroso E. C. The development of the placenta in the sheep and goat: an electron microscope study. J Anat. 1969 Nov;105(Pt 3):557–578. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. MESCHIA G., COTTER J. R., BREATHNACH C. S., BARRON D. H. THE HEMOGLOBIN, OXYGEN, CARBON DIOXIDE AND HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATIONS IN THE UMBILICAL BLOODS OF SHEEP AND GOATS AS SAMPLED VIA INDWELLING PLASTIC CATHETERS. Q J Exp Physiol Cogn Med Sci. 1965 Apr;50:185–195. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1965.sp001780. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Makowski E. L., Meschia G., Droegemueller W., Battaglia F. C. Measurement of umbilical arterial blood flow to the sheep placenta and fetus in utero. Distribution to cotyledons and the intercotyledonary chorion. Circ Res. 1968 Nov;23(5):623–631. doi: 10.1161/01.res.23.5.623. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Mellor D. J. Distribution of ions and electrical potential differences between mother and foetus at different gestational ages in goats and sheep. J Physiol. 1970 Mar;207(1):133–150. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1970.sp009053. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mellor D. J. Potential differences between mother and foetus at different gestational ages in the rat, rabbit and guinea-pig. J Physiol. 1969 Oct;204(2):395–405. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008919. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Meschia G., Battaglia F. C., Bruns P. D. Theoretical and experimental study of transplacental diffusion. J Appl Physiol. 1967 Jun;22(6):1171–1178. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1967.22.6.1171. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Meschia G., Wolkoff A. S., Barron D. H. DIFFERENCE IN ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ACROSS THE PLACENTA OF GOATS. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1958 May;44(5):483–485. doi: 10.1073/pnas.44.5.483. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Neutze J. M., Wyler F., Rudolph A. M. Changes in distribution of cardiac output after hemorrhage in rabbits. Am J Physiol. 1968 Oct;215(4):857–864. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1968.215.4.857. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Oratz M., Rothschild M. A., Schreiber S. S. Effect of dextran infusions on protein synthesis by hepatic microsomes. Am J Physiol. 1970 Apr;218(4):1108–1112. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1970.218.4.1108. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. PAPPENHEIMER J. R., SOTO-RIVERA A. Effective osmotic pressure of the plasma proteins and other quantities associated with the capillary circulation in the hindlimbs of cats and dogs. Am J Physiol. 1948 Mar 1;152(3):471–491. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1948.152.3.471. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Parker H. R., Purves M. J. Some effects of maternal hyperoxia and hypoxia on the blood gas tensions and vascular pressures in the foetal sheep. Q J Exp Physiol Cogn Med Sci. 1967 Apr;52(2):205–221. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1967.sp001903. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Phibbs R. H., Wyler F., Neutze J. Rheology of microspheres injected into circulation of rabbits. Nature. 1967 Dec 30;216(5122):1339–1340. doi: 10.1038/2161339a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Prather J. W., Gaar K. A., Jr, Guyton A. C. Direct continuous recording of plasma colloid osmotic pressure of whole blood. J Appl Physiol. 1968 Apr;24(4):602–605. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1968.24.4.602. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Purves M. J., James I. M. Observations on the control of cerebral blood flow in the sheep fetus and newborn lamb. Circ Res. 1969 Dec;25(6):651–667. doi: 10.1161/01.res.25.6.651. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Rankin J., Meschia G., Makowski E. L., Battaglia F. C. Macroscopic distribution of blood flow in the sheep placenta. Am J Physiol. 1970 Jul;219(1):9–16. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1970.219.1.9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Reynolds M. L., Young M. The transfer of free alpha-amino nitrogen across the placental membrane in the guinea-pig. J Physiol. 1971 May;214(3):583–597. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009450. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Rudolph A. M., Heymann M. A. Circulatory changes during growth in the fetal lamb. Circ Res. 1970 Mar;26(3):289–299. doi: 10.1161/01.res.26.3.289. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Rudolph A. M., Heymann M. A. The circulation of the fetus in utero. Methods for studying distribution of blood flow, cardiac output and organ blood flow. Circ Res. 1967 Aug;21(2):163–184. doi: 10.1161/01.res.21.2.163. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Smeaton T. C., Cole G. J., Simpson-Morgan M. W., Morris B. Techniques for the long-term collection of lymph from the unanaesthetized foetal lamb in utero. Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci. 1969 Oct;47(5):565–572. doi: 10.1038/icb.1969.150. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Willes R. F., Boda J. M., Manns J. G. Insulin secretion by the ovine fetus in utero. Endocrinology. 1969 Mar;84(3):520–527. doi: 10.1210/endo-84-3-520. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Wright G. H. The potential difference between amniotic fluid and maternal extracellular fluid in the rabbit. Biol Neonat. 1966;10(3):193–199. doi: 10.1159/000240028. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES