Characterization of placentome vascular perfusion in relation to pregnancy associated glycoproteins throughout gestation in pregnant beef heifers

Abstract

During pregnancy, blood flow to the uterus and placenta changes to support fetal demand. The placentomes serve as vascular attachment sites for exchange of gases, nutrients and fetal metabolic products. In human and veterinary medicine, non-invasive methods of ultrasonography and biomarkers have been described to assess placental health and fetal viability. Pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are produced by the ruminant placenta and detected in maternal circulation. Current literature suggests that changes in circulating PAG con­centrations may be a useful biomarker for assessing placental health. The objective of this study is to determine the associa­tion between placentome blood perfusion and circulating PAG concentrations as they relate to the health of the developing fetal calf. The hypothesis states that placentome perfusion and PAG concentration will be positively correlated and associated with neonatal outcome.