Superfetation in uterus pseudo didelphys: an unreported event

Singhal, Savita Rani; Agarwal, Umber; Sharma, Damyanti; Sen, Jyotsna

doi:10.1007/s00404-002-0349-9

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Bicornuate uteri may be at increased risk for twin pregnancies [Tompkins, 1962;Green et al, 1979;Ahram et al, 1984;Narlawar et al, 2003;Singhal et al, 2003;Arora et al, 2007] (possibly via superfetation) particularly with assisted reproductive technologies and IVF [Barmat et al, 1996;Aruh et al, 2005;Suh et al, 2005]. Twin pregnancies appear to have an increased risk for arthrogryposis, particularly of the Amyoplasia type [Hall et al, 1983b].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uterine structural anomalies and arthrogryposis—death of an urban legend

Hall

2012

American J of Med Genetics Pt A

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In a review of 2,300 cases of arthrogryposis collected over the last 35 years, 33 cases of maternal uterine structural anomalies were identified (1.3%). These cases of arthrogryposis represent a very heterogeneous group of types of arthrogryposis. Over half of individuals affected with arthrogryposis demonstrated asymmetry and some responded to removal of constraint, 29 of the 33 cases of arthrogryposis whose mother had a uterine structural anomaly could be identified as having a specific recognizable type of arthrogryposis. Only two cases (0.08%) had primarily proximal contractures that returned to almost normal function within 1 year. Craniofacial asymmetry was the most striking finding in these two cases. A quarter of cases had ruptured membranes between 32 and 36 weeks and either oligohydramnios or prematurity. The pregnancy histories of the mothers with uterine structural anomalies were typical in having infertility, multiple miscarriages, and stillbirths. The finding of only two cases which are likely to have multiple congenital contractures on the basis of uterine constraint suggests that it is a very rare primary cause of arthrogryposis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uterine structural anomalies and arthrogryposis—death of an urban legend

Hall

2012

American J of Med Genetics Pt A

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“…We have divided SF into two main categories: accidental SF due to anatomical disorders (e.g. in humans, Singhal et al , 2003) or severe pathologies (e.g. abdominal pregnancies in the chinchilla; Gitlin & Adler, 1968), and true SF comprising ovulation and fertilization during an intact active pregnancy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Harrison et al (2005) suggest that ultrasound scanning and morphological evidence during the first trimester are required for a definite diagnosis of SF. Other cases of idiopathic SF in humans appear to have been caused by endogenous reproductive complications such as the presence of ectopic pregnancy (Hartel, 1958; Honore & Nickerson, 1977; Van Dam, Vanderheyden & Uyttenbroeck, 1988; Kobayashi et al , 1996) and in a case of bicornuate uterus (Singhal et al , 2003), a rare uterine abnormality.…”

Section: Evidence For Superfetation In Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The concept of superfetation: a critical review on a ‘myth’ in mammalian reproduction

et al. 2010

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Superfetation is understood as another conception during an already ongoing pregnancy. This implies the existence of young of different developmental stages within the female reproductive tract during certain periods of pregnancy. Nevertheless, a clear definition of the term as well as distinct criteria to identify the occurrence of superfetation in a species is missing. The variable anatomy of mammalian reproductive tracts seems to make the occurrence of superfetation more or less likely but impedes the simple evaluation of whether it is present or not. Additionally, adequate determination methods are missing or are difficult to apply at the right time. Superfetation or rather superfetation-like pregnancies are reported for numerous species including humans, livestock and rodents. The usual criteria to assume a case of superfetation include the finding of discordantly developed young within the uterus during post mortem or parturition of young after a birth interval shorter than the assumed pregnancy length. Often the occurrence of superfetation is concluded because other explanations of reproductive artifacts are missing. Even severe reproductive pathologies are often confused with superfetation. True superfetation or superfetation as a reproductive strategy may exist in some mammals. In the American mink (Neovison (Mustela) vison) and the European badger (Meles meles) superfetation occurs in combination with embryonic diapause. In the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus), superfetation has long been assumed to exist but evidence is still controversial. Superfetation definitely occurs in certain species of poeciliid and zenarchopterid fish, some of which also exhibit viviparity and maternal care. In mammals, the evolution of such a reproductive mechanism poses many interesting evolutionary, endocrine, microbial and immunological questions that require further investigation. Here we review the scant and at times ancient literature on this poorly understood topic. The different manifestations of superfetation are defined and reliable criteria to detect superfetation are outlined. Also, the differentiation of superfetation into a reproductive strategy or as a disrupted, abnormal reproductive function is discussed. Due to the different discussed functional aspects of superfetation, it is appropriate to establish a more detailed scheme to classify the true natural superfetation cases into superfertilization, superconception and superfetation proper. To date, there is no mammal species known for which superfetation proper in terms of finding discordantly developed fetuses has been conclusively demonstrated to be not only a rare occurence but an evolved reproductive strategy.

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“…La notion de facteur mécanique utérin est évoqué dans certains cas : Singhal et al rapportent, par exemple, un cas de superfoetation dans un utérus pseudodidelphe [8]. La malformation fut découverte lors de la césarienne à 35 SA, avec un foetus en position transverse.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified