In utero defecation by the normal fetus: a radionuclide study in the rabbit.
An experimental study was performed to investigate the excretion function of the liver, gastrointestinal motility, and in utero defecation by radionuclide techniques in 24 New Zealand white rabbit fetuses at 25 days' gestation (fullterm, 31 to 32 days). 0.1 mL of technetium 99m (99mTc)-HIDA (a derivative of iminodiacetic acid) containing 1 mCi of radioactivity was injected into the gluteus muscle of each fetus which had been exposed through the uterus. After replacing the fetus and uterus into the abdomen, and beginning 1 hour after injection, a live fetus was killed each hour for 24 hours Tissue samples from the lung heart, stomach, kidney, bladder, liver, meconium in the proximal, mid and distal bowel, and amniotic fluid were taken. The radioactivity of each sample was determined by a gamma counter and the percentage uptake per gram of tissue was calculated. The very low radioactivity levels detected in the stomach, kidneys, and bladder indicated the in vivo stability of 99mTc-HIDA 99mTc-HIDA is predominantly trapped by the liver via systemic circulation and is excreted into the gastrointestinal tract through which it passes into the amniotic fluid. Demonstrated passage of excreted 99mTc-HIDA through the fetal liver and into the gastrointestinal tract and amniotic fluid strongly suggests that fetal defecation is a physiological event.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
A O
AO
Ciftci
F C
FC
Tanyel
M T
MT
Ercan
I
I
Karnak
N
N
Büyükpamukçu
A
A
Hiçsönmez
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000818:Animals; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D007098:Imino Acids; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D008470:Meconium / Q000502:physiology; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019780:Technetium Tc 99m Lidofenin
D007098:Imino Acids; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019780:Technetium Tc 99m Lidofenin