title: Fetoplacental biometry and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry in the overnourished adolescent model of fetal growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate ultrasonographically fetal growth trajectories, placental biometry, and umbilical artery (UA) Doppler indices in growth-restricted pregnancies of overnourished adolescent ewes and normally developing pregnancies of control-fed ewes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Singleton pregnancies were established using embryo transfer in 42 adolescent ewes that were overnourished (n = 27) or control-fed (n = 15) and were scanned at weekly intervals from 83-126 days' gestation and necropsied at 131 days' gestation (term = 145 days).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasonographic placental measurements were reduced and UA Doppler indices were increased from 83 days' gestation; measurements of fetal abdominal circumference and femur length, renal volume and tibia length, and biparietal diameter were reduced from 98, 105, and 112 days' gestation, respectively, in overnourished vs control-intake pregnancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overnourishment of adolescent sheep dams produced late-onset asymmetric fetal growth restriction that was commensurate with brain sparing. Ultrasonographic placental biometry was already reduced and UA Doppler indices increased by mid gestation in overnourished pregnancies, preceding reduced fetal growth velocity and indicating an early nutritionally mediated insult on placental development.
authors: The Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, UK. davidcarr@doctors.org.uk
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Carr
authors: Raymond P
authors: RP
authors: Aitken
authors: John S
authors: JS
authors: Milne
authors: Anna L
authors: AL
authors: David
authors: Jacqueline M
authors: JM
authors: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D047109:Fetal Development; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020567:Fetal Weight; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009929:Organ Size; D044343:Overnutrition; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*