Influence of time at which oxytocin is administered during labor on uterine activity and perinatal death in pigs.
Oxytocin is extensively used to induce or augment uterine contractions, especially to facilitate the third stage of labor in humans. Administration of oxytocin to parturient sows reduces duration of labor whereas mortality of the offspring may remain unchanged. This study aimed to evaluate whether time of administration of oxytocin during parturition may alter the uterine response and fetal outcomes. Two hundred parturient sows were randomly assigned to intramuscularly receive either saline solution (control group) or oxytocin 0.083 IU/kg immediately after the delivery of the 1st, 4th or 8th piglet (groups O-1, 0-4 and 0-8, respectively). Uterine effects and fetal outcomes were registered in all groups. The duration of labor was 20-40 min shorter (P < 0.0001) and time interval between babies was reduced by 3-5 min (P < 0.0001) in the three groups receiving oxytocin. The duration and intensity of contractions, meconium-stained piglets and intrapartum deaths decreased as time at which oxytocin administered during labor was increased. In group 0-8, we observed approximately 70% less meconium-stained piglets and intrapartum deaths than in the control group. In conclusion, oxytocin administered at early phases of parturition to sows may increase duration and intensity of uterine contractions as well as adverse fetal outcomes.
Research Area: Ecodesarrollo de la Producción Animal, Department of Animal Production & Agriculture, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, México DF, Mexico.
Daniel
D
Mota-Rojas
Dina
D
Villanueva-García
Elvia Y
EY
Velazquez-Armenta
Alejandro A
AA
Nava-Ocampo
Ramiro
R
Ramírez-Necoechea
María
M
Alonso-Spilsbury
María E
ME
Trujillo
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D036801:Parturition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin