pregnancy loss and parturition

Updated:04/22/23

Pregnancy Loss and

Parturition

John Parrish

Updated:04/22/23

Distribution of Prenatal Losses

• Fertilization 100%»Under optimal conditions

• 2/3 loss during embryonic development» Imprinting

»Compaction

»Blastocyst hatching and formation

»Failure to prevent CL regression • Maternal recognition of pregnancy

Updated:04/22/23

Distribution of Prenatal Losses (cont.)

• 1/3 loss during fetal stage»Crowding

»Placental insufficiencies

»Not the fetus directly

Updated:04/22/23

Embryonic and Fetal Loss in Cattle

0102030405060708090

100

0 1 2 3 5 Calving

Pregnancy Loss

Interval From Breeding (months)

Per

cen

tag

e

Updated:04/22/23

Embryonic and Fetal Loss in Pigs

10

12

14

16

18

20

0 25 400

20

40

60

80

100Number Survival (%)

Stage of Gestation (days)

Nu

mb

er

of

CL

s, E

mb

ryo

s o

r F

etu

se

s P

res

ent

% S

urv

iva

l

Updated:04/22/23

Increased Prenatal Loss

• Nutritional Stress»Energy shortages

»Mineral imbalances

»Vitamin deficiencies

• Disease of the reproductive tract

• Endocrine imbalances

• Aging of gametes prior to fertilization

Updated:04/22/23

Effect of Oocyte Age on Fertilization and Embryo Viability

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 4 8 12 16 204

6

8

10

12

% O

ocy

tes

Fer

tili

zed

No

rmal

ly%

Oo

cyte

s F

erti

lize

d N

orm

ally

Via

ble

Em

bry

os

at 2

5 D

ays

of

Pre

gn

ancy

Via

ble

Em

bry

os

at 2

5 D

ays

of

Pre

gn

ancy

Age of Oocyte at Fertilization

Updated:04/22/23

Parturition

Updated:04/22/23

Mechanism For Parturition

Skunk Cabbage Prolonged gestation in Sheep hypoplasia of Anterior Pituitary

Gene Defect Autosomal recessive in Holstein cattle Large calves, 1-2 months beyond due date hypoplasia of Anterior Pituitary

Updated:04/22/23

Fetal Adrenal Changes with Age

Fetal Age

Ad

ren

al G

lan

d W

eig

ht

ParturitionParturition

Change in Adrenal Size is a Response to Stress!!

• Lack of space

• Lack of gas exchange

• Lack of nutrients

Change in Adrenal Size is a Response to Stress!!

• Lack of space

• Lack of gas exchange

• Lack of nutrients

Updated:04/22/23

Hormonal Changes Associated with Parturition

Updated:04/22/23

ParturitionFetal Nutritional

DemandsFetal Nutritional

Demands

PlacentalInsufficiency


HypothalamusAnteriorPituitary

Adrenal Cortex

CRHCRH ACTHACTH

Fetal Corticosteroids(Cortisol)


Updated:04/22/23



Demands




Adrenal Cortex

CRHCRH ACTHACTH



Lung(surfactant)

Lung(surfactant)

Liver(glycogen)

Liver(glycogen)

Thyroid(metabolism)

Thyroid(metabolism)

ProgesteroneProgesterone EstrogenEstrogen PGF2PGF2

PlacentomePlacentome

Updated:04/22/23



Demands




Adrenal Cortex

CRHCRH ACTHACTH



Lung(surfactant)

Lung(surfactant)

Liver(glycogen)

Liver(glycogen)

Thyroid(metabolism)

Thyroid(metabolism)

ProgesteroneProgesterone EstrogenEstrogen PGF2PGF2

UterineContractions

UterineContractions

PGF2

Relaxin

Oxytocin

Uterine Endometrium» Oxytocin receptors

Uterine Myometrium» Gap junctions

Ovary(CL)

Cow,SowTriggers

CLRegression

PlacentomePlacentome

CervicalRipeningCervicalRipening

Updated:04/22/23

Final Role of OxytocinSensory Neurons in CervixSensory Neurons in Cervix

Oxytocin fromPosterior Pituitary

Oxytocin fromPosterior Pituitary

MyometrialContractionsMyometrial

Contractions

Updated:04/22/23

Orientation of Fetus

• Fetus must reorient prior to parturition» Initially on back

»Reorient so feet and head will exit first

»Breech• Rear of fetus comes first

• Orientation not important in pig

• Abnormal orientation results in dystocia

Updated:04/22/23

Fetal Orientation

Updated:04/22/23

Stages of Labor

• Preparative (2 to 12 hours)»Myometrial contractions

»Uterine pressure

»Abdominal discomfort

»Cervical dilation

Updated:04/22/23

Stages of Labor (cont.)

• Expulsion of fetus (30 to 180 min)»Strong uterine contractions

»Rupture of the allantochorion

»Appearance of the amnion

»Maternal recumbence and straining

»Not only uterine but abdominal contractions as well

»Rupture of the amnion and delivery

Updated:04/22/23

Stages of Labor (cont.)

• Expulsion of the placenta (1 to 12 hours)»Uterine contractions

»Chorionic villi loosen

»Expulsion of the placenta

»Delayed in ruminants due to presence of cotelydons separating independently

»Suckling induces oxytocin release which triggers further uterine contractions

Updated:04/22/23

Dystocia

• Difficult birth

• Excessive fetal size (90% for cattle)

• Abnormal presentations (5% for cattle)

• Multiple births (twins)»Twins presented at the same time

»One is usually blocking the other

»Uterus becomes fatigued

Updated:04/22/23

Updated:04/22/23

Dystocia

Updated:04/22/23

Perinatal Fetal Changes

• Cardiovascular»Ductus arteriosis

»Foramen ovale

»Ductus venosus

Updated:04/22/23

Placenta

Liver

Left Atrium Lungs Right Atrium

ForamenOvale

ForamenOvale

DuctusVenosusDuctus

Venosus

DuctusArteriosus

DuctusArteriosusAorta

Umbilical Arteries

Umbilical Vein

Portal VeinPortal Vein

Vena CavaVena Cava

Headand Heart Tissues

Fetal CirculatorySystem

Fetal CirculatorySystem

Updated:04/22/23

Liver


ForamenOvale

ForamenOvale

DuctusArteriosus



Vena CavaVena Cava


DuctusVenosusDuctus

Venosus

TransitionalCirculatory

System


System

Updated:04/22/23

Liver


ForamenOvale

ForamenOvale

DuctusArteriosus



Vena CavaVena Cava



System


System

DuctusVenosusDuctus

Venosus

Updated:04/22/23

Liver

Left Atrium LungsLungs Right Atrium

ForamenOvale

ForamenOvale

DuctusArteriosus



Vena CavaVena Cava



System


System

DuctusVenosusDuctus

Venosus

Updated:04/22/23

Liver

Left Atrium LungsLungs Right Atrium

ForamenOvale

ForamenOvale

DuctusArteriosus



Vena CavaVena Cava


AdultCirculatory

System

AdultCirculatory

System

DuctusVenosusDuctus

Venosus

Updated:04/22/23

Perinatal Fetal Changes• Cardiovascular

»Ductus arteriosis»Foramen ovale»Ductus venosus

• Thermoregulatory»Must regulate own temperature» Increase metabolism (thyroid activity)»Brown fat - metabolism of produces heat

• Energy metabolism»Until suckling, relies on own stores of

glycogen

Updated:04/22/23

Perinatal Fetal Changes (cont.)

• Immune status»Has no antibodies to protect

»Gets passive immunity from mother• Gut permeable to antibodies in colostrum• Only first 1 - 2 days• In rabbit, rat, man get some antibodies absorbed

through placenta

Updated:04/22/23

ParturitionParturition

ConceptionConception

Postpartum

Postpartum

Involution(2 - 3 weeks)Involution

(2 - 3 weeks)

UterusUterus

MyometriumMyometrium

Shrinkage and

atrophy

Shrinkage and

atrophy

EndometriumEndometrium

RepairRepair

LumenLumen

Elimination of bacteriaElimination of bacteria

HypothalamusHypothalamus

Anterior PituitaryAnterior Pituitary

OvariesOvaries

SteroidsSteroids FolliclesFollicles

Estrous Cycles(4 to 10 weeks)Estrous Cycles(4 to 10 weeks)

Updated:04/22/23

Return to Estrus

• Fertility increases with # of estrous cycles»First = 35% pregnancy rate

»Second = 50%

»Third = 73%

»Fourth = 72%

• Lactational anestrus or Lactational amenorhea

Updated:04/22/23

Return to Estrus (cont.)

• Special postpartum estrus»Mare - foal heat, 6 - 13 days postpartum

• Fertility depends on body condition

»Sow• Anovulatory estrus 3 - 5 days post-farrowing• Weaning induces estrus 3 - 5 days latter

Updated:04/22/23

Retained Placenta

• Definition» If not expelled within 24 hr it may be retained

for 5 - 6 days

• Most common in cattle (5 - 15 %)»Not seen in sows or ewes

»Sometimes seen in mares (retained = > 4 hrs)

Updated:04/22/23

Equine Retained Placenta

Updated:04/22/23

Retained Placenta (cont.)

• Cause»Normally get lack of blood flow to chorionic villi

and this causes them to regress

»High incidence in premature or early delivery

»High milk producers

»Twins

»Dystocia

» Induction of parturition

»Nutritional deficiencies• Vitamin A• Selenium

Updated:04/22/23

Retained Placenta (cont.)

• Treatment»Manual removal not recommended

»Daily antibiotics

»Large single antibiotic bolus

»Oxytocin or PGF

• Major concerns in humans and mares»Can cause death of mother from septicemia

Updated:04/22/23

Induction of Parturition

• Dexamethazone»Potent synthetic cortisol

»Works in all species

»Takes 2 to 3 days

• PGF2

»Swine, cattle and sheep

• Oxytocin»Human, horse

Review Remaining Slides for Species Specific Procedures!

Updated:04/22/23

Cow - Do not induce before last 7-14 Days of gestation

Method: Dexamethasone - parturition in 48 hours, 20-50 mg/IM

-High incidence of retained placentas and lower postpartum fertility (severity increases the earlier induced).

Azium (trade name) combined with 25 mg Lutalyse induces within 35+2 hours. Requires a live fetus to work and does not work on a mummified fetus

- Retained placenta is not problem if treated properly- Giving estrogen before induction of parturition incidence

Prostaglandins used in cases of a mummified fetus and are also effective in inducing abortion the first 4-5 months

Updated:04/22/23

Sheep - Best within a few days of parturition

Dexamethasone (8-20 mg) Parturition in 24-72 hours

Retained placenta not a problem

Can use Lutalyse to abort before Day 50 of gestation

Updated:04/22/23

Sow - Do after day 111 of gestation

PGF2 (Lutalyse 10 mg/IM) parturition in 29-48 hours.

Note that this is less than 3 Days from normal parturition

Close synchrony - Lutalyse at 8 AM followed by oxytocin 40 IU 24 hours later. Sows farrow between 8 AM and 5 PM (32 hours from start)

Piglets should be born within 1 to 8 (average 1-4) hours with15 minute intervals between piglets - May give oxytocin in last few piglets to decrease stillborn numbers in large litters or after extended delivery interval

Its is important to give PGF2 no earlier than Day 111. If given on Day 110 will cause stillborn piglets ( too immature to survive)

Updated:04/22/23

Mare - Do after day 320 of gestation Oxytocin (20-60 I.U.) close to term !!!

Takes less than 1 hour!Placenta expelled in < 1 hour

Make sure of the following before inducing foaling:

1. Udder is enlarged with presence of colostrum2. There is relaxation of the perineal region3. Cervical relaxation (can insert 1 to 2 fingers)

Usually induce for only two reasons: 1. Demonstration 2. Prolonged gestationIn normal pregnancy, mare can control time of day for foalingthrough her release of oxytocin. Inject oxytocin give no choiceof time.

pregnancy loss and parturition

Documents

fetal loss

pregnancy loss

expulsion of fetus

optimal conditions23

adrenal size

fetus directlyembryonic

firstbreechrear of fetus

deliverystages of labor