Fetal physiology

However, there is no doubt that NSAIDs can alter fetal physiology in the last trimester of pregnancy and prolong gestation and labor (SEDA-5, 101) (SEDA-6, 93) (SEDA-7, 108) (SEDA-8, 102) (SEDA-9, 88) (SEDA-11, 88) (SEDA-12, 84) (SEDA-15, 99) (SEDA-21, 96) (SEDA-22,112). 

Nathanielsz, P.W (1976). Fetal Physiology and Medicine. W. Saunders Comp., London. 

Antibodies have been generated which produce immunoassays that discriminate between GH-V and GH-N. These assay systems have shown that the secretion of GH-V becomes elevated at about three weeks of pregnancy and increases to approximately 15 ng/mL near term (8). The physiological role of GH-V is uncertain. Genetic deficiency of GH-V does not adversely affect pregnancy or fetal development (9). GH-V is a potent growth-stimulator but possesses considerably less lactogenic activity than GH-N (10). There are no clinical appHcations (ca 1993) for GH-V. 

Figure 6-5. Developmental pattern of the quaternary structure of fetal and newborn hemoglobins. (Reproduced, with permission, from Ganong WF Review of Medical Physiology, 20th ed. McGraw-Flill, 2001.)...

Confluent monolayers of cultured human fetal retinal pigment epithelium exhibit morphology and physiology of native tissue. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47, 3612-3624. 

Thus, presented data demonstrated that hemopoietic cells of human fetal liver of various phenotypes were characterized with different sensitivity to cryopreservation. Along with this all of them were resistant and kept their functions after returning to physiological condition. 

Generally, it appears that effects of xenobiotics on organs or endpoints may be similar in children and adults, e.g., liver necrosis observed in adults will also be observed in children. As regards toxicodynamics, age-dependent differences are primarily related to the specific and unique effects that substances may have on the development of the embryo, fetus, and child in that the physiological development of the nervous, immune, and endocrine/reproductive systems continues until adolescence (12 to 18 years). Furthermore, receptors and other molecular targets for various xenobiotics are continuously developing during the embryonic, fetal, and infant periods. This may cause age-dependent differences in the outcome of receptor-xenobiotic interactions and even result in opposite effects of xenobiotics in infants and adults. The available data are insufficient to evaluate... 

C) Physiological jaundice due to destruction of fetal red blood mass... 

Before delivery, oxytocin is usually administered intravenously via an infusion pump with appropriate fetal and maternal monitoring. For induction of labor, an initial infusion rate of 0.5-2 mU/min is increased every 30-60 minutes until a physiologic contraction pattern is established. The maximum infusion rate is 20 mU/min. For postpartum uterine bleeding, 10-40 units are added to 1 L of 5% dextrose, and the infusion rate is titrated to control uterine atony. Alternatively, 10 units of oxytocin can be administered by intramuscular injection after delivery of the placenta. 

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