Uterus, artificial

The Perfusion Apparatus. The perfusion apparatus was designed to simulate as closely as possible in vivo physical and physiological conditions pressures, flow patterns, pH, temperature, oxygen pressure, etc. (Appendix I A, IB). The whole apparatus consists of three main parts the artificial uterus which holds the placenta the maternal circulatory loop, simulating the maternal circulation and the fetal circulatory loop, simulating the fetal circulation (Figure 4). 

The artificial uterus is made of two spherical sections of transparent Plexiglas representing the top and the bottom of the uterus (an emplacement ring is also sometimes used to hold smaller placentas in position). 

This artificial uterus has a spherical shape approximating that of the uterus and conforming with the maternal side of the placenta. The distribution of the venous outlets as well as arterial inlets is on the base of the plate. 

The placenta is connected with the fetal loop through openings in the top of the artificial uterus for the fetal arterial and venous cannulae made out of urethral catheter 8 Fr. 15 cm long. The top also contains an... 

The Plexiglas Box. A Plexiglas box surrounds the artificial uterus and the manifold. Hot air is introduced through an opening in the side to maintain the placenta and the amniotic fluid at 37 °C. Other equipment used included a Beckman pH meter, Beckman 02 electrode, and C02 and C02-02 tanks. 

If the above requirements are met, then the placenta is placed in the artificial uterus and perfusion by heparinized buffered solution (Appendix IA) is started as soon as possible to prevent clotting of the blood already present in the small capillaries. After the placenta is cleaned by perfusing with saline and the intactness of the placental membrane has been established, the blood perfusion is started. When the system has reached steady state (with regard to pressures, temperature, etc.) at physiological conditions, data are collected. 

Sampling. For steady-state experiments, glucose was added continuously to the maternal reservoir. The placenta was weighed before being placed in the artificial uterus, the rate of utilization of glucose by the placenta was then estimated, and the rate of glucose added was set approximately to the estimated rate of utilization. 

Assisted reproductive techniques involve procedures that deliver a concentrated sperm sample directly to the uterus (artificial insemination), or procedures that acquire fertile ova using laparoscopic or ultrasonographic techniques and assisting fertilization in the laboratory (in vitro fertilization) or in the fallopian tubes using either gamete intrafaUopian transfer or zygote intrafaUopian transfer. In vitro fertiliza-... 

The so-called "pheroboa/ "(referring to an aerosol spray) - a pheromone preparation consisting of a mixture of 5a-androst-16-en-3-one and 5a-androst-16-en-3-ol - Is used In veterinary medicine and by pig farmers to stimulate sows prior to artificial Insemination.The pheromone Induces the release of oxytocin, which leads to contraction ofthe Fallopian tube and the uterus, and thereby Increases the conception rate. [12]... 

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