In adults, plasma osmolality thresholds for hypernatremia-induced arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion are similar or less than thresholds for stimulation of thirst. In the fetus, the thresholds for swallowing stimulation and AVP secretion have not been defined. Fetal swallowing and AVP secretory responses to hypertonic NaCl and urea were determined in six fetuses (130 +/- 1 1 days) chronically prepared with thyrohyoid, nuchal and thoracic esophagus, and diaphragm electromyograms (EMG), an esophageal flow probe, and vascular catheters. Fetuses received intracarotid injections (0.15 ml/kg) of increasing concentrations of NaCl (0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 0.60, 0.75, and 0.90 M), administered at 2-min intervals. A swallow was defined as a coordinated time-sequence of fetal thyrohyoid, nuchal esophagus, and thoracic esophagus EMG activity. The threshold saline concentration for swallowing was defined as the minimum NaCl dose eliciting swallow responses (within 20 s) after four of five injections at each dose. During a 2-h control period swallowing averaged 25.0 +/- 10.1 ml/h and 39.4 +/- 14.6 swallows/h. The mean NaCl threshold concentration for swallowing stimulation was 0.56 +/- 0.06 M. Fetal plasma AVP (2.6 +/- 0.9 pg/ml) increased significantly at the maximum subthreshold (7.6 +/- 4.0 pg/ml) and the threshold NaCl concentration (8.2 +/- 4.0 pg/ml) that stimulated swallowing. On a subsequent day, equiosmolar urea injections increased plasma AVP (from 2.2 +/- 0.7 to 7.6 +/- 2.6 pg/ml) but had no effect on swallowing activity. Fetal mean arterial blood pressure increased after injections of threshold saline and urea concentrations. Fetal arterial blood osmolality and sodium concentration did not change during any study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dehydration induces marked alterations in maternal-fetal fluid homeostasis and accompanying fetal endocrine responses. We sought to determine if the increase in fetal plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels during maternal dehydration is mediated by fetal plasma hypovolemia in addition to hyperosmolality and to examine maternal and fetal plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) responses to maternal dehydration and oral rehydration. Seven pregnant ewes (127 +/- 1 day) were water deprived for 72-96 h, and five of these were orally rehydrated. Dehydration induced significant increases in maternal plasma osmolality (pOSM) (300 +/- 2 to 325 +/- 8 mosmol/kg) and AVP (3.0 +/- 0.4 to 18.9 +/- 4.0 pg/ml), and decreases in plasma ANF levels (28.1 +/- 3.1 to 19.7 +/- 3.1 pg/ml). Fetal pOSM (293 +/- 3 to 314 +/- 4 mosmol/kg), AVP (2.5 +/- 0.6 to 8.1 +/- 4.8 pg/ml), and urinary fractional sodium excretion increased significantly, whereas plasma ANF and fetal blood volume did not change. After maternal water access maternal plasma AVP decreased rapidly in comparison to the gradual decrease in maternal pOSM. Fetal plasma AVP levels did not change significantly and fetal pOSM decreased more slowly than maternal pOSM. Fetal plasma ANF increased in association with increased urine flow and glomerular filtration rate after maternal rehydration. These data indicate marked differences in fetal and maternal plasma ANF and AVP responses with dehydration-induced increases in fetal plasma AVP being secondary to plasma hyperosmolality, rather than hypovolemia. Rapid suppression of maternal plasma AVP may contribute to the slower equilibration of fetal pOSM during oral, as compared with intravenous, maternal rehydration.

Ovine fetal swallowing primarily occurs in bouts of activity associated with low voltage electrocorticogram activity and breathing movements. Despite similar rates of electromyographic swallowing activity, there are significant differences in the net esophageal fluid flow among fetuses. To determine if variations in the volume of fluids accessible to the fetus (amniotic fluid, lung fluid, salivary secretions) affect fetal swallowing, we studied the effects of sublingual distilled water infusions on ovine fetal swallowing rates and esophageal flow. Seven pregnant ewes at 127 ± 2 days gestation were chronically instrumented with maternal and fetal vascular catheters, fetal electrocortical, electro-ocular and electromyograph electrodes, an esophageal flow probe and a sublingual infusion catheter. Following a 2-hour control period, consecutive sublingual infusions of room temperature distilled water (10 and 20 ml/kg/h) were administered for 2 h each. In response to sublingual infusions, fetal plasma sodium (142.5 ± 0.5 to 140.8 ± 0.8 mEq/l), chloride concentrations (109.2 ± 0.4 to 107.7 ± 0.7 mEq/l) and osmolality (302 ± 2 to 298 ± 2 mOsm/kg) decreased significantly. Swallowing activity and esophageal flow did not change significantly from basal values (47 ± 9 swallows/h, 19.2 ± 4.2 ml/h) during the sublingual infusions. However, fetal low-voltage electrocortical activity increased significantly during both infusion periods (42 ± 3 to 56 ± 6%). Sublingual distilled water infusion decreases fetal plasma osmolality and alters fetal behavioral state without affecting swallowing frequency or esophageal flow.