title: Specificity of a placental factor inhibiting breathing in fetal sheep.
abstract: We have found previously that the infusion of a placental extract inhibits breathing induced by 100% O2 plus umbilical cord occlusion in the fetal sheep, suggesting that a placental factor is responsible for the inhibition of fetal breathing. To test whether this factor is specific to the placenta and whether it also inhibits spontaneous fetal breathing (occurring in the absence of cord occlusion), we administered extracts from the placenta, muscle and liver of the pregnant ewe, extracts of fetal liver, and Krebs solution to 16 chronically instrumented fetal sheep at 135 +/- 5 days of gestation. Infusions were made during low-voltage electrocortical activity, 5 to 15 min after a switch from high voltage, when breathing was well established. Within 90 s of the infusion of the placental extract in the carotid artery of the fetus, breathing decreased in 79% (33/42) of the experiments and was completely abolished in 71% (30/42) of them (P < 0.0001 compared with the other infusates). No apnoeas were observed with the Krebs solution (0/19) and the maternal muscle (0/20). Extracts of maternal and fetal liver abolished breathing in only 17% (4/23) and 21% (6/29) of the experiments respectively (NS compared with Krebs solution). There were no significant changes in blood gas tensions, pH, blood pressure and heart rate associated with the infusion of the extracts. The electrocortical activity (ECoG) switched from low to high voltage in 50% of the experiments using placental extract compared with 0% with Krebs solution and maternal muscle, and with 9% and 17% with maternal and fetal liver respectively (P < 0.005). Breathing output (integral of EMGdi x f) during and after the infusions significantly decreased only with the placental extract. These findings indicate the presence of a factor produced by the placenta which inhibits fetal breathing and may be responsible for the normal inhibition of breathing observed in fetal life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rehan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Cates
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rigatto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008110:Liver Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010924:Placental Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects*; D012756:Sheep; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008110:Liver Extracts; D010924:Placental Extracts; D014020:Tissue Extracts