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A Novel Telometric Metric for In-Situ Measurement of Intrauterine Pressure (IUP) in Pregnant and Parturient RatsDuring labor and birth, considerable forces exerted on fetuses help instigate certain adaptive postpartum responses (viz., breathing and suckling). To make precise, reliable measures of the forces experienced by rat fetuses during parturition, we developed a novel method for measuring intrauterine pressure (IUP) in late pregnant rats. A small (1.25 x 4cm) telemetric blood pressure sensor is fitted within a fluid-filled balloon, similar in size to a full term rat fetus. The balloon is surgically implanted in the uterus on Gestational Day 19 of the rats' 22-day pregnancy. During birth, dams are able to deliver their pups and the balloon. IUP arsenals are recorded during labor (G22 or 23) and birth. Data derived from a group of implanted rats indicated that pressures on the balloon increased across the period of birth, reaching 18 mmHg during labor, 25 mmHg during pup births and 39 mmHg just prior to delivery of the balloon. These data are within the range reported for conventional IUP measurement techniques. Dams are simultaneously videotaped, enabling us to analyze behavioral expressions of labor contractions and to integrate in-situ and behavioral findings.
Document ID
20020046933
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Baer, Lisa A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
LaFramboise, M. N.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Hills, E. M.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Daly, M. E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Mills, N. A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Wade, C. E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Ronca, A. E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Dalton, Bonnie
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Society of Developmental Psychobiology Meeting
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: November 7, 2001
End Date: November 10, 2001
Sponsors: International Society of Developmental Psychobiology
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 121-10-50
PROJECT: RTOP 121-10-40
CONTRACT_GRANT: NIMH-MH-46485
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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