Plasma catecholamines and blood chemistry in newborn calves in relation to different obstetrical procedures and to neonatal outcome

Oxidative stress and acid–base balance during the transition period of neonatal Holstein calves submitted to different calving times and obstetric assistance

“…Interestingly, calves born after 4 h of calving had higher rectal temperatures than calves in the remaining groups, especially those under obstetric assistance. This finding may be linked to the increased release of catecholamines during prolonged deliveries and in forced extraction (Chan et al, 1993). In fact, in our study, we detected negative correlations between rectal temperature and pO 2 and sO 2 in the >4 h group, regardless of obstetric assistance.…”

Effects of hypertonic sodium bicarbonate solution on electrolyte concentrations and enzyme activities in newborn calves with respiratory and metabolic acidosis

“…22 In the study reported here, the leukocyte counts were similar in the 2 groups at 120 minutes after birth. 22 Presumably, the high adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations cause peripheral vasoconstriction, which will be reversed when the concentrations decrease, resulting in improved peripheral and splanchnic perfusion and fluid redistribution into the interstitium. Changes in the plasma volume were calculated for both groups by use of the Hct and hemoglobin concentration, which is a method that has been evaluated in humans 17 and calves.…”

“…19 In calves of the treatment group, the administration of NaHCO 3 solution resulted in a pronounced increase in the base excess (from -8.4 ± 1.2 mmol/L before to 2.7 ± 0.8 mmol/L immediately after treatment; Figure 2). 21,22 Similarly, chloride concentrations of the treated calves were within the reference range, although they decreased from a relatively low concentration of 99.6 ± 1.1 mmol/L before treatment to 97.0 ± 1.3 mmol/L after treatment. Thus, NaHCO 3 treatment led to base excess and pH values within 30 minutes after infusion that required at least 6 hours for untreated acidotic calves to attain in another study.…”

The relation between the birth process and the condition of the newborn piglet and calf

“…There is ample evidence that the acid base balance and plasma catecholamine levels of newborn calves are influenced by type of delivery. Calves delivered by caesarean section clearly showed more favourable values than those delivered by forced extraction (Chan et al 1993).…”

“…The increasing amounts of lactate and pyruvate, which are produced under hypoxic conditions, will enter the circulation when blood flow through these organs is normalized after the onset of breathing. This implies that the level of acidosis might be diagnosed as even more pronounced (and of a mixed respiratory-metabolic type) when samples are taken again several minutes after birth (Chan et al 1993). There is ample evidence that the acid base balance and plasma catecholamine levels of newborn calves are influenced by type of delivery.…”