Macrophages are a subset of mononuclear phagocytes of the innate immune system with high plasticity and heterogeneity. At the maternal-fetal interface, macrophages are present in all stages of pregnancy and involved in a variety of activities, including regulation of immune cell activities, decidualization, placental cell invasion, angiogenesis, parturition, and postpartum uterine involution. T...

Female Sprague-Dawley rats received methadone (25 mg/kg/day) by gavage throughout gestation. Water-gavaged rats served as controls. Fetuses were delivered by cesarean section when parturition was imminent. Our results indicate that methadone may interfere with fetal development and maternal-fetal interactions to some degree. The observed alterations were as follows: fetal growth retardation, an...

Twenty-eight crossbred 2-year-old ewes were used · to determine the effects of pregnancy and lacta­ tion on the body storage of DDT and dieldrin and on their elimination in milk. Pregnancy did not significantly affect total DDT degradation in ewes, but significantly affected dieldrin metaoo­ lism. Body fat from pregnant animals averaged higher in dieldrin concentration at parturition than did t...

Colostrum formation and lactogenesis in the mammary gland and the timing of parturition are regulated by endocrine signals. Changes in progesterone (P4) and prolactin (PRL) are considered key events that inhibit colostrum formation, trigger parturition, and signal the onset of lactation. The goal of our study was to determine if colostrum yield and composition and immunoglobulin transfer are af...