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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 17(5)

Effect of hypobaric hypoxia on lamb intrauterine growth: comparison between high- and low-altitude native ewes

Víctor H. Parraguez A C D , Miljenko Atlagich A , Rodrigo Díaz A , María E. Bruzzone B C , Claus Behn B C and Luis A. Raggi A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 2, Correo 15, La Granja, Santiago, Chile.

B Centro Internacional de Estudios Andinos (INCAS), Universidad de Chile, Casilla 2, Correo 15, La Granja, Santiago, Chile.

C Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile.

D Corresponding author. Email: vparragu@uchile.cl

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 17(5) 497-505 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD04060
Submitted: 19 June 2004  Accepted: 9 March 2005   Published: 2 May 2005

Abstract

The present studies assessed the effect of hypobaric hypoxia on fetal lamb growth in high-altitude (HA) and low-altitude (LA) native ewes. Growth patterns of fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal diameter (AD) and thorax height (TH) were described by consecutive ultrasound measurements throughout the entire pregnancy. Three groups of animals were used: (1) pregnant LA ewes kept at LA (control; ‘LL’ group); (2) pregnant LA ewes moved to HA immediately after confirmation of pregnancy (‘LH’ group); and (3) pregnant HA ewes kept at HA throughout the entire pregnancy (‘HH’ group). The slope of the BPD curve was higher in LL fetuses followed by that in LH fetuses. During the last month of pregnancy, TH was higher in LH and HH fetuses, whereas AD was higher in LL than in LH fetuses. The length of gestation was longer in HH ewes (153.2 ± 4.3 days) than in LH and LL ewes (146.0 ± 5.5 and 145.0 ± 3.0 days, respectively). Bodyweight at birth was higher for LL newborns (4.2 ± 0.3 kg) than for LH and HH newborns (3.0 ± 0.5 and 3.2 ± 0.8 kg, respectively), whereas placental weight was higher in the HH group (396 ± 80 g) than in the LH (303 ± 64 g) and LL (280 ± 40 g) groups. In conclusion, an HA environment modifies fetal growth and pregnancy outcome with the magnitude of effects depending on the time of residence at HA.

Extra keywords: fetometry, hypoxic environment, ovine.


Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr Carmen Rabanal for her technical support, Dr Valeria Rojas and Mauricio Canals for statistical support, Dr Bessie Urquieta for her comments on the manuscript and Mr Gabino Llusco for his assistance with animal management and care. This work was totally supported by a grant (FONDECYT No. 1020706) from CONICYT, Chile.


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