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 week, 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±1.34
um) coronary intima media thickness (IMT) was found in WN fetuses (2nd
week) and highest in UN neonates (46.14±1.50
um). 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±6.45
um) and highest in UN neonates (120.31± 22.31 um). The lowest mean coronary
vascular diameter was observed in WN fetuses at 2nd week (39.06±
12.84 um), highest in WN neonates (146.27± 14.84 um). The lowest mean coronary
vascular perimeter was found in UN fetuses at 2nd week of development
(122.7± 46.60
um) and highest in UN neonates (458.1± 46.63 um). 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, 2022.
Effects of maternal undernutrition on
coronary vasculature of fetuses and neonates in rabbits (Oryctolagus
cuniculus). Pak Vet J.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2022.090