We assessed the effect of two pathogens (myxoma virus and Eimeria stiedae) and five macroparasites (gastrointestinal helminth species) of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) upon total host body mass and abdominal fat level. Additionally, we assessed the effects of these organisms on the number of foetuses in adult females during the peak breeding period. Both mass of abdominal fat and tota...

Tissues of foetus-mother pairs of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stranded along the French coasts (Bay of Biscay and English Channel) were analysed for their Cd, Cu, Hg, Se and Zn contents. In the kidneys, foetal Cd levels were extremely low, and strong relationships between Cu and Zn suggested the involvement of metallothioneins since early foetal life. The results also indicated a limite...

Diabetes mellitus was induced in female Wistar rats by injections of either alloxan or streptozotocin, and their embryos were found to have significantly higher incidences (7.5%) of brain and heart abnormalities (non-closure of neural folds, and deformities of heart chambers) at mid-gestation than controls (2.2%). There were also increased numbers of resorptions (25% in diabetic animals: 7.2% i...

An ultrastructural study was performed on trigeminal ganglia removed from foetuses aged 10 to 23 weeks. The first turns of lemmocyte processes around the axons were observed in the trigeminal ganglion in the 12th week of development. During the period between the 15th and the 18th weeks the myelin sheath increases in thickness and becomes a compact, laminated structure. In foetuses of 23 weeks ...

A CT study was performed on 8 foetuses aged between 20 and 38 weeks. In foetuses at the 20th week the semicircular canals, the spiral canal of the cochlea and the initial (labyrinthine) part of the facial canal are visible. At week 24 the tympanic part of the facial canal is observed. In the 31st week the cochlea is divided into 2 compartments, and in the 38th week the vestibular aqueduct and o...

Asynchronous blastocyst transfer, supposed to equalize the developmental stage of native and alien embryos during the organogenic period, was used as a tool in a teratological investigation. A spurious protection by the transfer as such was shown to depend on a persisting asynchrony between native and alien foetuses. The initial difference of 24 h was not nullified, but decreased to 8 h. This d...

Female mice of the Japanese dd strain were mated at 3 to 5 months of age. On days 7 to 15 of pregnancy they were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 8-azaguanine solution (16 mg. /c.c.) and then were sacrificed shortly before term to determine state of pregnancy and condition of the foetuses. Routine histological examinations were made of malformed organs and also of the placentae of af...

Introduction: Morphometric measurements including the weight of foetal spinal cord is helpful in determining the age and sex of foetuses, which are of great medicolegal significance. The aim of present study is to obtain accurate measurements of weight of human foetal spinal cord in different age groups. Material and Methods: Foetuses without any congenital cranio-vertebral anomalies were selec...

Available information on the mechanisms responsible for some reproductive lesions observed in experimental trypanosomiasis has not been fully elucidated. This work was undertaken to further study the histopathologic effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection on hypothalamus, adenohypophysis, ovary, uterus, placenta of the West African dwarf (WAD) doe and liver of aborted foetuses. Sixteen does (10...

Several general features of nutrient uptake and utilisation by foetuses are similar among mammalian species. Nevertheless, there are also differences linked mainly to differences in placental permeability. Glucose and lactate are the main energetic substrates of the foetus. In normal conditions, the oxidation of carbohydrates accounts for about 75, 60 and 50% of oxygen uptake in the foetal pig,...