SummaryBlood gas parameters and acid-base balance values were determined in adult pregnant New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in standard laboratory housing conditions and during anaesthesia with an association of ketamine-chlorpromazine, administered before surgical procedures. All the variables were also studied in adult non-pregnant female, used as controls. No differences in pH, S02C, 02Hb, COHb, s02m and a-vD02 were found between pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits in physiologicalconditions and during anaesthesia. Ketamine-chlorpromazine and pregnancy seemed to change the other parameters used to assess the acid-base balance and the oxygenation conditions. Anaesthesia affected only Rb, 02et, 02Cap, CC02 and P50. The additive effect of pregnancy and anaesthesia modified pC02, p02, HC0 3 -, TC02, BEb, SBC, BEecf, A-aD0 2 , RI, MetHb, RHb, Ca02 and CV02' The patterns described are close to those of other species, suggesting the New Zealand rabbit might be a reliable animal model for monitoring selected variables.

Theophylline (TH) is a methylated xanthine widely used in the treatment of asthmatic pregnant women. Because of the scant available information on the transplacental profile, the time course of TH transfer was studied by an in vitro human placental perfusion. 6 placentas were perfused with Earle's enriched bicarbonate buffer for 180 min using recirculating maternal and fetal circuits. The physiological and biochemical properties of the tissue were well maintained. TH data were compared to those of antipyrine (AP), an usual marker in placental perfusions. The disappearance of TH from the maternal circuit was studied after administration of 15 mg/l in maternal perfusate. TH appeared in the fetal circuit within 5 min. Equilibrium was achieved in both circuits. TH fetomaternal mass ratio became constant (FMM = 0.45 +/- 0.01) after 80 min of perfusion and maternal to fetal clearance was 2.59 +/- 0.24 ml/min. About 16% of TH maternal dose was recovered in the tissue, while 18% appeared in fetal circulation. TH recovery was 89 +/- 9%. On the basis of our results, similar concentrations could be predicted in mother and fetus after maternal TH intake. The TH transfer profile is consistent with in vivo values reported in humans and animals at delivery.

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