Body temperatures of lambs and their mothers measured by radio-telemetry during parturition.
Using temperature-sensitive radio-telemeters chronically implanted in the abdomens of 8 fetal lambs and their mothers, we measured body temperature changes induced by parturition. Maternal body temperature rose at 0.70 +/- 0.06 degrees C/hour (mean +/- SEM) in the final stages of labour. Fetal body temperature also rose, but at a significantly lower rate, 0.45 +/- 0.06 degrees C/hour (p < 0.05). The fetus appears to be protected from excessive hyperthermia during the birth process.
Laburn
H P
HP
Department of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Parktown, South Africa.
Goelst
K
K
Mitchell
D
D
D000005:Abdomen; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001831:Body Temperature; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011845:Radio; D012756:Sheep; D013686:Telemetry / Q000379:methods*