The effect of magnesium sulfate on the behavioral activities of fetal goats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate fetal heart rate accelerations, fetal breathing movements, and fetal electrocortical activities during administration of magnesium sulfate to fetal goats.


METHODS
The fetal heart rate accelerations, fetal breathing movements, and fetal electrocortical activities during 6 hours of continuous magnesium sulfate infusion into the fetal jugular vein were examined in 8 chronically instrumented fetal goats at 124-131 days of gestation. Fetal breathing movements were defined as repetitive negative fluctuations of the fetal tracheal pressure. Fetal electrocortical activities were assessed by visual analysis of periods of high-voltage and low-voltage electrocortical activities.


RESULTS
Continuous infusion of magnesium sulfate for 6 hours significantly increased the fetal plasma magnesium concentration from 2.8 +/- 1.2 to 8.3 +/- 2.6 mg/dL without significant changes in fetal arterial blood gases. The incidence of fetal heart rate accelerations during magnesium infusion was significantly decreased from that found during the control periods. After 2 hours of infusion, the incidence of fetal breathing movements significantly decreased from 33.9% +/- 20.5% to 1.2% +/- 1.4% and remained at this level during the remaining 4 hours of magnesium infusion. The percentage of time that the fetuses were found to have low-voltage electrocortical activities decreased from 51.6% +/- 9.0% to 40.4% +/- 8.2% after 2 hours of infusion but recovered to 49.9% +/- 12.0% by 6 hours of magnesium infusion.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that fetal magnesium sulfate administration affected fetal heart rate accelerations and fetal breathing movements continuously but electrocortical activities only temporarily during 6 hours of observations.
Fujimori
Keiya
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan. fujimori@fmc.ac.jp
Ishida
Tomohiko
T
Yamada
Junya
J
Sato
Akira
A
D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006041:Goats; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate