The comparative physiology of fetal nutrition

Blood lactate, pH, base excess and pCO2 as prognostic indicators in caesarean-born kids from goats with pregnancy toxaemia

“…Although maternal ketonaemia of multiple-foetus pregnancies is accompanied by increased uterine uptake of BHB, little or no BHB is transferred to the foetus, indicated that ketone bodies become an important energy source for the placenta but not for the foetus. The type of placentation in the goats (syndesmochorial placentation) prevents the transfer of maternally-derived BHB to the foetal circulation and therefore its impact on foetal acid-base balance is minimal [16, 20].…”

Nutrition of the conceptus: aspects of its regulation

“…Knowledge of the quantitative nutritional requirements of the developing conceptus has been greatly advanced by the work of Battaglia and associates (Battaglia & Meschia, 1978;Sparks et al 1983;Battaglia, 1984). However, their interest has been focused primarily on the nutritional physiology of the fetal body separate from that of the placenta, rather than to that of the conceptus as a whole, because of the ready morphological identification of the developing fetus and its relatively easy physical isolation from the extra-corporeal tissue and fluid compartments of the conceptus for experimental observations (Battaglia & Meschia, 1978;Sparks et al 1983;Battaglia, 1984).…”

“…However, their interest has been focused primarily on the nutritional physiology of the fetal body separate from that of the placenta, rather than to that of the conceptus as a whole, because of the ready morphological identification of the developing fetus and its relatively easy physical isolation from the extra-corporeal tissue and fluid compartments of the conceptus for experimental observations (Battaglia & Meschia, 1978;Sparks et al 1983;Battaglia, 1984). This is despite the fact that 45-soyo of the combined ventricular output from the fetal heart is supplied to these extra-corporeal structures (Mott & Walker, 1983), the very high rate of oxidative metabolism in placental tissue (Meschia et al 1980) and the total dependence of fetal somatic tissues on the placenta for nutrient and gaseous exchange.…”

The Effect of Maternal Hyperglycemia on Acid Base Balance and Lung Liquid Production in the Fetal Sheep

“…There are two reasons why hyperglycemia may cause lactacidemia. First, about two-thirds of the glucose reaching the placenta is utilized and lactate produced (9). This lactate then enters the fetal circulation despite higher levels in fetal relative to maternal blood (10).…”