Of 226 donor cattle treated with PMSG to induce superovulation, 76.5% responded with 3 or more ovulations. Flushing at surgery or slaughter 10-16 days after oestrus recovered eggs and embryos that represented 49.3% of the number of ovulations. Of those recovered, 73.3% were embryos, an average yield of 4.0 embryos/treated cow or 4.8 embryo/flushed cow. The location of eggs and embryos was determined in 65 of the donors. Embryos and unfertilized eggs (6.1% of those recovered) were occasionally found in the oviducts. Empty zonae pellucidae were also found in the uterus on all days. The lengths, or diameters, of embryos were extremely variable within days and within donors, but mean values indicated logarithmic growth between Days 10 and 16. Eighty-four synchronous (+/- 1 day) recipients received single embryos, and 51 recipients twin embryos, by surgical transfer. Pregnancies were obtained in recipients up to Day 16 but not on Day 17, indicating the stage by which an embryo must be present to prevent luteolysis. The overall pregnancy rate at Day 42 was 50.4% and further 18.1% of the recipients exhibited extended oestrous cycles. Of 35 recipients that were allowed to go to term, 12 lost their pregnancies, most often between Days 42 and 63.

One hundred and fifty-nine embryos were analysed in conjunction with embryo transfer studies. Chromosome preparations were made from small biopsy fragments of trophoblast, from large portions of trophoblast and the inner cell mass, or from the entire embryo. Results obtained from fragments were similar to those obtained from large portions of trophoblast and inner cell mass. No structural chromosomal abnormalities were observed. Single triploid, diploid-triploid and diploid-hexaploid and 66 diploid-tetraploid embryos were found. The 41.5% incidence of diploid-tetraploid embryos was relatively high, and appeared to be associated with a donor factor. The transfer of 49 biopsied and analysed embryos to recipients resulted in 15 pregnancies, seven with diploid-tetraploid embryos having up to 25% of polyploid cells. The diploid-triploid and diploid-hexaploid embryos were among the transfers that did not result in pregnancy. The low incidence of embryos with chromosomal abnormalities, excluding the diploid-tetraploid embryos, may have been due to the embryos being analysed at 12 to 18 days of age rather than at an earlier age before death or degeneration could have occurred.

SUMMARY1. Catheters were inserted into the foetal carotid artery and maternal middle uterine artery and vein in twenty foetuses from fifteen sows, 91-105 days pregnant. Blood samples were collected from foetal and maternal circulations for periods of 7-21 days after surgery.2. Blood gas tensions, pH, packed cell volume (PCV) and the levels of glucose, fructose and lactic acid in conscious pigs were followed in foetal and maternal bloods during late pregnancy.3. Foetal blood gas tensions, pH, PCV, lactic acid and glucose levels did not change markedly during the last 20-25 days ofgestation. Bloodfructose concentration fell during this period with the greatest change occurring after 100 days gestation. Foetal and maternal blood pH values were higher than those reported in the sheep, cow, mare and rhesus monkey.4. Small changes in Pco, and pH in foetal carotid blood were associated with similar changes in maternal uterine venous blood, so that gradients between sow and foetus remained relatively constant.5. Daily changes in maternal blood glucose levels were associated with smaller changes in foetal blood glucose and fructose levels. Blood glucose concentrations in foetal blood were generally 40-70 % of maternal concentrations. Over-all relationships between maternal blood glucose and foetal blood fructose concentrations were masked by the independent fall in foetal fructose levels with age.6. The present findings have been compared with previous observations on acute, anaesthetized preparations in pigs, and chronic preparations in other domestic animals.

Corticosteroid concentrations were determined in plasma samples obtained from chronically catheterized pig fetuses and their dams during late gestation and parturition. Mean concentrations of 14-20 ng/ml were found in fetal plasma on Days -16 to -10 before delivery and these rose to 40-60 ng/ml between Day -6 and the day of delivery. During the last 8 h of fetal life levels rose rapidly and at birth averaged 168.8 +/- 35.4 ng/ml. Maternal concentrations rose slightly during the last 3 days before delivery but increased significantly during delivery itself. Considerable variation in both the time at which the rise in fetal corticosteroids occurred and the magnitude of the rise was seen both within and between litters. Chromatographic separation indicated that the rise in fetal corticosteroids was associated with increasing cortisol concentrations rather than corticosterone. The data suggest that, while mean fetal corticosteroid concentrations increase in late pregnancy, the role of adrenal maturation of individual fetuses in the initiation of the parturition process in the pig needs further investigation.

8 term fetal pigs (110–112 days gestation) and one 97-day fetus were asphyxiated in utero by occlusion of the umbilical cord. Mean times to last gasp and last heart beat were 5.1 and 22.4 for term and 5.4 and 30.4 min for the 97-day fetus. Cord occlusion was followed by profound bradycardia and an increase in blood pressure which was maintained until gasping ceased. Profound acidemia, hypercapnia and hyperlactacidemia developed in all animals and values following asphyxiation were comparable with those seen in stillborn piglets. Liver and cardiac glycogen levels were lower in asphyxiated fetuses than in littermates but muscle glycogen levels were similar in both groups.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract