Morphometric parameters of the umbilical cord and placentomes and Doppler indices of the umbilical artery through ultrasonographic analysis in pregnant sheep

Publication date: Available online 31 December 2019Source: Small Ruminant ResearchAuthor(s): Stankiewicz Tomasz, Błaszczyk Barbara, Udała Jan, Chundekkad PavitraAbstractThe aim of this study was to perform ultrasound analysis and obtain measurements of the placentomes, umbilical cord and umbilical vessels during the period of pregnancy, in sheep. Doppler indices in the umbilical artery were also examined and the relationship between these indices, along with biometric measurements of the placentomes and the umbilical cord were determined. The study was carried out on 15 Suffolk sheep, and no sedatives were administered on these sheep before or during the ultrasound examination. The umbilical cord and placentomes were measured from the 50th to the 130th day of gestation (via B-Mode ultrasonography). However, the umbilical artery blood flow rates were assessed on the 70th, 100th and 130th days of gestation (via Color Doppler ultrasonography).The obtained results showed a significant increase in the diameter of the placentomes between the 50th and 90th day of pregnancy (27.70 ± 3.16 versus 40.11 ± 3.49 mm; P < 0.01). From the 90th to the 130th day of pregnancy, the diameter of the placenta remained at a similar value. Also, the greatest thickness of caruncles was recorded on the 100th day of gestation (13.53 ± 1.46 mm). In the following days of pregnancy, an increase in the diameter of the umbilical cord was also noted. On the 130th day, it was obser...
Source: Small Ruminant Research - Category: Zoology Source Type: research