The aim of this work was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes in the utero-placental arterial vessels in rabbits (Orictolagus cuniculus) throughout pregnancy as well as those in the umbilical cord, aorta, and caudal vena cava of fetuses to establish their normal reference ranges for systolic peak velocity (SPV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI). The blood flowwaveforms weremonitored every 4 d in 10 rabbits fromDay 10 of pregnancy onward bymeans of color and pulsedwave Doppler ultrasonography using a 5.5–7.5 MHz microconvex transabdominal probe. The utero-placental blood flow was characterized by steep increases and decrease in the SPVwith a slowdiastolicwave and relatively highEDV, whereas that of theumbilical artery was discontinuous until Day 22 of pregnancy, when a diastolic waveform was also detectable. From Day 10 to 22 of pregnancy, the fetal aorta blood flow was discontinuous, but thereafter a diastolic peak was measurable. The blood flow of the fetal caudal vena cava was characterized by a systolic peak followedby a small diastolic peak.Throughout the gestation, the SPVand theEDVofmaternal and fetal vessels increased (a < 0.05), whereas the PI and the RI decreased (a < 0.05), except for the utero-placental vessels. This work confirms that the rabbit could also be a valid experimental animal model to study, by Doppler ultrasonography, functional hemodynamic changes of the fetuses and placenta vessels in both normal and pathophysiologic conditions.
Doppler evaluation of maternal and fetal vessels during normal gestation in rabbits
POLISCA, Angela;BRECCHIA, Gabriele;BOITI, Cristiano
2010
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes in the utero-placental arterial vessels in rabbits (Orictolagus cuniculus) throughout pregnancy as well as those in the umbilical cord, aorta, and caudal vena cava of fetuses to establish their normal reference ranges for systolic peak velocity (SPV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI). The blood flowwaveforms weremonitored every 4 d in 10 rabbits fromDay 10 of pregnancy onward bymeans of color and pulsedwave Doppler ultrasonography using a 5.5–7.5 MHz microconvex transabdominal probe. The utero-placental blood flow was characterized by steep increases and decrease in the SPVwith a slowdiastolicwave and relatively highEDV, whereas that of theumbilical artery was discontinuous until Day 22 of pregnancy, when a diastolic waveform was also detectable. From Day 10 to 22 of pregnancy, the fetal aorta blood flow was discontinuous, but thereafter a diastolic peak was measurable. The blood flow of the fetal caudal vena cava was characterized by a systolic peak followedby a small diastolic peak.Throughout the gestation, the SPVand theEDVofmaternal and fetal vessels increased (a < 0.05), whereas the PI and the RI decreased (a < 0.05), except for the utero-placental vessels. This work confirms that the rabbit could also be a valid experimental animal model to study, by Doppler ultrasonography, functional hemodynamic changes of the fetuses and placenta vessels in both normal and pathophysiologic conditions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
