A study of the pregnant uterus of the ewe and the goat using real-time ultrasound scanning and electromyography

In this study of the pregnant uterus of the ewe and the pygmy goat, the simultaneous use of real-time ultrasound scanning and electromyography is introduced. In unanaesthetized animals it was possible to visualize the uterine wall, the placentomes, parts of the fetal skeleton, the fetal kidneys, different parts of the fetal stomach and several structures of the fetal heart and vascular system. From these features the intra-abdominal position of the fetus could be determined. It was observed that Episodes of Myometrial Electrical Activity (EMEA's), as registered by chronically implanted uterine surface electrodes, coincided with passive displacements of the fetus in the direction of the maternal pelvis. These passive displacements could clearly be discerned from active fetal body movements. In both species the number of active fetal movements was significantly reduced during and/or shortly after an EMEA. In one of the pygmy goats, in which three different types of movement were discerned, this reduction of fetal movements could be studied in more detail.It is concluded that real-time ultrasound scanning of the fetus in small ruminants might contribute to studies of the complex maternal-fetal interactions that exist during late gestation.     

Quantitative ultrasound elastography and biometry of the bitch uterus in the early puerperium after vaginal delivery and caesarean section

Elastography is an actual imaging method used to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the elastic properties of tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare uterine tissue biometry and stiffness during post-partum period in brachycephalic bitches (n = 12) after c-section (GCS; n = 8) or normal delivery (GNB; n = 4). These animals were evaluated daily by abdominal ultrasound from the day of delivery until the 10th day post-partum; measuring uterine diameter, myometrial and endometrial thickness (mm) and shear wave velocity (SWV; m/s), by B-mode and ARFI (acoustic radiation force impulse) elastography, respectively. Uterine diameter was higher (p = .012) in animals submitted to c-section (15.26 ± 4.73 mm) than in normal birth (12.53 ± 2.64 mm) during the first 7 days post-partum. Uterine thickness gradually involuted in both groups (p < .0001), the myometrium during the first 9 days (p = .005) and the endometrium during the first 6 days (p = .003). The myometrial and endometrial SWVs were similar between types of delivery (p = .7846 and .8273) and presented a gradual increase (p = .411; .0043, respectively), during the first 10 days post-partum. It was concluded that bitches with normal delivery had smaller uterine thickness and faster puerperal involution than submitted to c-section, while uterine tissue stiffness was similar between delivery types and increased gradually during post-partum.     

Pregnancy in a cow with uterus didelphys

Uterus didelphys is a congenital defect of monotocous species. This short contribution describes the condition in a cow that had a pregnancy in the right horn and a corpus luteum on the ipsilateral ovary. This finding demonstrates that pregnancy can occur in a cow with uterus didelphys, although the fate of the pregnancy was obviously not known. The case was identified during routine collection of reproductive tracts in a New Zealand abattoir. It is believed to be the first report of uterus didelphys in a bovine abattoir specimen.     

Histogenesis of the ovine uterus

Reproductive tracts from fetal (d 55 to 150) and neonatal (d 9 to 3 mo) lambs were examined by light microscopy in order to describe ovine uterine histogenesis. Morphologically, d-55 and -60 fetal uteri were bipartite, though characteristic external cornual morphology was not apparent until d 100 to 110. Histologically, lumina of d-55 and -60 fetal uteri were tubular and smooth with no indication of caruncular or glandular areas. In d-90 to -100 fetal uteri, luminal clefts were visible along the mucosal surface and a band of eosinophilic, elongated, smooth muscle-like cells was distinguishable. By d 100 to 110, nodular and internodular areas were clearly defined as luminal clefts deepened. Expansion of deep internodular areas, parallel to the luminal nodular surface, progressed in fetal uteri from d 118 to 150. Slight invaginations along deep internodular areas were visible in d-135 fetal uteri and were regular features of d-150 fetal uteri. In contrast, shallow, slightly coiled simple tubular glands were visible in the endometrium of internodular (intercaruncular) areas in a d-9 neonatal uterus. Older neonatal uteri (d 26 to 3 mo) contained coiled tubular glands which extended to the myometrium. Data indicate a systematic pattern of ovine uterine histogenesis involving dynamic morphogenetic alterations, especially between d 80 to 130 of fetal life. The observation that uterine glands were absent in fetal uteri but present in neonatal uteri suggests that glandular induction must occur during the periparturiet/neonatal period.     

Prolapsed uterus in the cow

Abstract

Extract

Sir,—In his clinical communication on reposition of the prolapsed uterus in the cow, Irvine (1964) Irvine, C. H. G. 1964. N.Z. vet. J., 12: 63–63. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] stated that he “believes that the intestine is contained in all but the smallest prolapses“.     

支配子宫的植物性神经对子宫免疫的影响Ⅰ.切断支配子宫的植物性神经对SD大鼠子宫肥大细胞的影响

为探讨植物性神经与子宫局部细胞免疫的关系 ,选用性成熟 SD大鼠 ,手术切断支配子宫的植物性神经 ,用组织学方法做子宫的石蜡切片 ,甲苯胺蓝染色 ,镜下计数 ,观察了肥大细胞 ( MC)数的变化。结果表明 ,在性周期和妊娠期中 ,手术后子宫肥大细胞数都呈增加趋势 ,在妊娠早期变化更显著 ,而且子宫肥大细胞数随性周期和妊娠期呈规律性的波动。结果提示 ,植物性神经对子宫免疫有一定影响