Effects of Maternal Undernutrition on Coronary Vasculature of
Fetuses and Neonates in Rabbits
(Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Sarmad Rehan1*, Anas Sarwar Qureshi1,
Razia Kausar1 and Muhammad Kashif Saleemi2
1Department
of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad
2Department
of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad
*Corresponding author:
drsarmadpk@gmail.com
Abstract
This experiment was designed to determine the
maternal under-nutritional effects on coronary vessels in rabbit fetuses. Forty
healthy pregnant female, adult rabbits (does) were divided into two groups,
well-nourished (WN) and under-nourished (UN). Five pregnant does from each group
were euthanized after specific time intervals (two weeks, three weeks, four
weeks and after parturition). Fetuses were recovered and fetal hearts fixed in
10 percent neutral buffered formalin solution, then subjected to paraffin tissue
preparation technique. The cross-section images of the coronary vessels were
analyzed with image analysis software ImageJ®. The lowest mean (9.96±1.34um) coronary intima media thickness (IMT) was found in
WN fetuses (2nd week) and highest in UN neonates (46.14±1.50um).
The lowest mean coronary vessel luminal diameter was found in UN fetuses at 2nd
week of development (25.52±6.48 um) and highest in WN neonates (120.31±22.31
um). The lowest mean coronary vessel luminal diameter was found in WN fetuses at
2nd week of development (24.88±6.45um) and highest in UN neonates
(120.31±22.31um). The lowest mean coronary vascular diameter was observed in WN
fetuses at 2nd week (39.06±12.84um), highest in WN neonates
(146.27±14.84um). The lowest mean coronary vascular perimeter was found in UN
fetuses at 2nd week of development (122.7±46.60um) and highest in UN
neonates (458.1±46.63um). Thus, maternal undernutrition and developmental age
increased coronary IMT, however, other parameters decreased with maternal
undernutrition and increased with age of fetuses.
To Cite This Article:
Rehan S, Qureshi AS, Kausar R, Saleemi MK, 2023.
Effects of maternal undernutrition on
coronary vasculature of fetuses and neonates in rabbits (Oryctolagus
cuniculus).
Pak Vet J, 43(1): 49-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2022.090