HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stryker, J. L. Articles by Dziuk, P. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stryker, J. L. Articles by Dziuk, P. J.

Effects of Fetal Decapitation on Fetal Development, Parturition and Lactation in Pigs¹

University of Illinois³, Urbana 61801

Abstract

The effects of fetal decapitation at days 40 to 50 of gestation on fetal development, parturition and lactation were studied in 36 gilts. In gilts with all headless fetuses, gestation was prolonged beyond a minimum of 120 days. Gilts with all intact fetuses gave birth at 114.3 days. When the litter contained one intact fetus plus three or four headless fetuses, parturition was delayed to day 124 or 125. When more than one intact fetus was present in a litter containing some headless fetuses, parturition was not delayed. When one ovary was removed and decapitated fetuses were in one uterine horn and intact fetuses in the other horn, gestation terminated at the normal time. This shows that the location of the fetus in the uterus or in relation to the ovary had no effect on initiation of parturition.

Headless fetuses were hairless, edematous, had normal spinal reflexes, but did not have inflated lungs or detectable adrenals.

¹ The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of D. H. Baker for protein analyses.

² Present address: Cornell University, School of Nursing, 1320 York Ave. Box 235, New York 10021.

³ Department of Animal Science.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. S. Khan, M. L. Fiorotto, K. K. Cummings, M. A. Pope, P. A. Brown, and R. Draghia-Akli Maternal GHRH plasmid administration changes pituitary cell lineage and improves progeny growth of pigs Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, July 1, 2003; 285(1): E224 - E231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]