Uterine blood flow, fetal heart rate, gestational length, and fetal birth weight variability in response to maternal temperament in the goat

Abstract

This prospective study was designed to investigate the effects of maternal temperament on uterine blood flow, fetal heart rate, gestational length, and fetal birth weight in a goat experimental model. Based on the arena test, behavioral testing related to fear‐eliciting stimulus, goats were divided into nervous (n = 13) and calm (n = 11) groups. After mating, the perfusion of maternal uterine arteries (UTAs) and its related Doppler parameters, blood flow volume (BFV), time‐averaged mean velocity (TAMEANV), acceleration (Acce), and resistance impedance (S/D), were evaluated biweekly from week two until the end of pregnancy. Fetal heart rate (FHR) was investigated during the pregnancy in addition to the gestation length (GL) and fetal birth weight (FBW). The UTA‐BFV and TAMEANV, as well as Acce and S/D, were influenced by maternal temperament (p < .05). The FHR showed no significant changes between experimental animals of different temperaments (p = .81). Both GL and FBW were increased in calm rather than nervous goats (p < .05). These results indicated that the maternal nervous (temperament) have negative impacts on uterine artery Doppler indices, fetal growth, and gestational length in a goat experimental model.

Emotional temperaments in advanced pregnant goats and its relationship with the feto-maternal blood flow and placentome echotexture

“…These results indicate higher blood perfusion within the MUA and UMA in the calm goats than in the nervous goats. Our findings matched those of other investigations (Aberdeen et al 2010 ; Vythilingum et al 2010 ; Elmetwally et al 2021 ). It was reported the impact of maternal anxiety on the blood flow within the MUA and UMA in sheep and goats, especially during the second half of gestation (Elmetwally et al 2016b ).…”

“…Indeed, the nervous goats attained high levels of cortisol either in the sedated or the non-sedated conditions compared to that in the calm one. Similar findings were reported in the pregnant sheep and goats (Elmetwally et al 2016b , 2021 ). Previous studies in cows (Herzog et al 2011 ), small ruminants (Elmetwally et al 2016b , 2021 ), and humans (Fan et al 2018 ) found a close link between increased animal anxiety, cortisol levels, and decreased uterine artery blood flow.…”

“…In our investigation, there were no discernible differences in the fetal aortic blood flow or FHR between the calm and nervous groups. Elmetwally et al ( 2021 ) did not find a significant impact of maternal anxiety on the FHR during pregnancy. Similar findings were observed in humans during late pregnancy (DiPietro et al 2010 ; Lobmaier et al 2020 ).…”

Effects of mating, artificial insemination and intravaginal deposition of raw semen or seminal plasma on vaginal and uterine blood flow in German Holstein cows

“…The application of color Doppler ultrasound was proven to be a feasible, safe, accurate method for evaluation of changes in uterine blood ow in cows (3,15), mares (16, 17), buffaloes (18, 19) and small ruminants (20)(21)(22), but there are no reports of studies of vaginal blood perfusion in veterinary reproduction using color Doppler ultrasound.…”

Maternal supplementation of curcumin‐olive oil nanocomposite improves uteroplacental blood flow, placental growth and antioxidant capacity in goats

“…Ensuring an adequate foetal blood flow is beyond critical for stable and developmental pregnancy (Mandala & Osol, 2012). Uteroplacental hemodynamics is sensitive to many factors, such as nutrition (Eifert et al, 2015), climatic changes (Reynolds et al, 2006) and management (Elmetwally et al, 2021; Hohimer et al, 1984). OS induces uterine blood flow decline, mainly as an effect of low nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability.…”