Electrolyte distribution and yolk sac morphology in frozen hydrated equine conceptuses during the second week of pregnancy.
To investigate how equine conceptuses expand rapidly despite the hypo-osmolality of their yolk sac fluid, 18 conceptuses, aged 8-12 days and 0.8-10.0 mm in diameter, were examined by cryoscanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis to determine the distribution of Na, Cl and K in their fluids. No osmotic gradient was found between central and peripheral yolk sac fluid. In conceptuses > or = 6 mm in diameter, the concentrations of both Na and K in the subtrophectodermal compartments were higher than those determined previously in uterine fluid, supporting the concept of osmotic intake of fluid from the uterine environment as far as the compartments. However, electrolyte concentrations in the compartments consistently exceeded those found in the yolk sac, making it likely that 'uphill' water transport, rather than a purely osmotic uptake, is involved in yolk sac fluid accumulation. We also speculate that capsule formation could actively contribute to conceptus expansion and thereby to fluid intake.
Crews
Laura J
LJ
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Waelchli
Rudolf O
RO
Huang
Cheng X
CX
Canny
Martin J
MJ
McCully
Margaret E
ME
Betteridge
Keith J
KJ
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D002712:Chlorides; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium