title: Uterine and fetal asphyxia monitoring in parturient sows treated with oxytocin.
abstract: Oxytocin is used to induce and control parturition, nevertheless, the increase of uterine contractions decreases blood flow and gaseous exchange through the womb predisposing to intra-partum mortality. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of oxytocin on myometrial activity, fetal intrauterine hypoxia and postnatal asphyxia in sows during farrowing. Hybrid (n = 120) sows approaching the time of farrowing were randomly assigned in two groups of 60 animals each. Group I (G(1): control) was treated IM with saline solution and Group II (G(2)) was injected IM with oxytocin (1IU/6kg LW) as a single dose at birth of the first piglet. Both average number of myometrial contractions and intensity in G(2) were greater (P < 0.01) as compared with G(1). The mean of intra-partum stillbirths (IPS's) and those where fetal cardiac frequency (FCF) or heart beats, could not be detected after birth, were greater (P < 0.01) in G(2) as compared with G(1). The average decelerations of FCF known as dips II, which indicate severe hypoxia, was greater in G(2) (P < 0.01) as compared with that of G(1). There was a greater (P < 0.01) number of intra-partum stillbirths, stained with severe meconium in G(2) when compared with G(1). Oxytocin treatment increased (P < 0.01) the number of pigs born alive with ruptured umbilical cords and those with different grades of meconium staining on their skin. It was concluded that administration of oxytocin at the onset of parturition increased the myometrial activity, decreased fetal cardiac frequency, predisposed the rupture of umbilical cords and the degree of meconium staining, and increased intra-partum mortality.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Etología y Producción Porcina, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Calzada del hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, D.F. 04960, México.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mota-Rojas
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Burnes
authors.forename: Ma Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rosales
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orozco
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso-Spilsbury
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000662:veterinary; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008470:Meconium / Q000502:physiology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D036801:Parturition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin