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Research article1997Peer reviewed

Radiotelemetrically recorded blood pressure and heart rate changes in relation to plasma catecholamine levels during parturition in the conscious, unrestrained goat

Hydbring, E; Macdonald, E; Olsson, K

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of sympathetic nervous system activation during parturition in four unrestrained goats. Chronically implanted radiotelemetry devices registered heart rate and arterial blood pressure around the clock and blood was sampled for determination of plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations before, during and after labour. Two goats delivered two kids after moderately intensive abdominal contractions. A third goat had dystocia, and was treated with prostaglandin F-2 alpha One normal kid and one mummified foetus were delivered manually. After milking, a third kid was born spontaneously. The fourth goal experienced severe abdominal contractions and delivered one kid. Mean blood pressure was 69 +/- 2 mmHg the day before parturition, increased gradually during the labour pains, and reached a maximal value of 120 +/- 7 mmHg when the head of the first kid was visible (P less than or equal to 0.05). Hear? rate was 134 +/- 4 beats min(-1) the day before parturition and peaked when the first kid was born (159 +/- 6 beats min(-1), P less than or equal to 0.05), as did plasma adrenaline concentration (from 0.4 +/- 0.2 nmol L-1 to 2.7 +/- 1.2 nmol L-1, P less than or equal to 0.05). The concentration of noradrenaline increased from 4.8 +/- 2.3 nmol L-1 to 12.2 +/- 8.4 nmol L-1 (P less than or equal to 0.05), when the head of the first kid was visible. Expulsion of the second and third kids caused relatively smaller increases ir blood pressure, heart rats and catecholamines than those seen with the first born kid, it is concluded that changes in pressure, heart rate and catecholamines during parturition are related to the different phases of labour and not to its duration or severity.

Keywords

adrenaline; blood pressure; goat; heart rate; noradrenaline; parturition; radiotelemetry

Published in

Acta Physiologica Scandinavica
1997, Volume: 161, number: 3, pages: 295-302
Publisher: BLACKWELL SCIENCE LTD

      SLU Authors

    • Sandberg, Eva

      • Department of Animal Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Olsson, Kerstin

        • Department of Animal Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Medical Bioscience

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-201X.1997.00223.x

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/95603