Requirements to control the large decrease in serum calcium (Ca) due to parturition and to increase the feed intake soon after parturition have been well accepted in dairy cows. This study was aimed to investigate the feed intake affected by serum Ca concentration with difructose anhydride (DFA) III supplement in dairy cows soon after parturition. Fourteen transition Holstein cows were divided ...

In this study 71 head of conceiving ewe and their progeny (91 head) from the flock of Lori-Bakhtiari sheep (360 head), in Sholi Station were randomly selected to determine the relationship between the immunoglobulin (IgG) concentration in the ewe's serum and colostrum, and lamb's serum. Ewe blood sample, colostrum of ewe and blood of the lamb was taken 2 weeks before parturition, 1 to 8 hours a...

Reproductive success is critical for survival of the species. The timely onset of labor and delivery is an important determinant of perinatal outcome. Preterm birth (defined as delivery before 37 weeks’ gestation) and post-term pregnancy (defined as pregnancy continuing beyond 42 weeks) are both associated with a significant increase in perinatal morbidity and mortality. The factors responsible...

The initial signal for triggering human parturition might be fetal but of trophoblastic origin. Concomitantly, this placental signal would have as its target not only the uterus but also the fetus by activating its hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. The latter would represent a second fetal signal which, at the fetomaternal interface, would amplify and define in time the mechanisms resp...

In the United States, the annual rate of preterm births (before 37 weeks of gestation) reached a peak of 12.8% in 2006 and was 11.7% in 2011.1 The rate in the United States remains nearly twice the rate in European nations.2 Premature birth in the United States accounts for 35% of deaths in the first year of life3,4 and estimated annual costs exceeding $26 billion.5 Rates of death in the first ...

Several hormonal and other factors have been proposed to be involved in the initiation of parturition. However, definitive sequential events leading to initiation of parturition are still lacking. Conceptual evolution on the mechanism of initiation of parturition since 1891 has been briefed.

Increasing evidence suggests that parturition is an inflammatory process. In this brief overview, inflammatory events occurring in association with parturition, and the mechanism by which they may contribute to labour and delivery will be discussed. Mention will be made of how this information may be of use in regulating the timing and the onset of parturition.