Effects of maternal indomethacin administration on fetal breathing movements in sheep.
To determine the role of prostaglandins in the control of fetal breathing movements, we infused indomethacin (5 mg/ml; 25 mg/kg per day) into the maternal femoral vein for 70 h in 5 pregnant ewes. There was a significant increase in the incidence and amplitude of fetal breathing movements beginning within 2 h reaching a peak at 8-10 h. It then diminished and was no longer present by 20-70 h despite continued indomethacin infusion. Maternal glucose concentrations were increased at 8 and 16 h following the initiation of indomethacin infusion. The data suggested that the previously reported effects of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor on fetal breathing movements are transient and do not continue beyond 20 h.
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011312:Pressure; D012119:Respiration; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000196:embryology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007213:Indomethacin