Changes in fetal baroreceptor sensitivity during intrauterine inflammation in preterm fetal sheep

Figures & data

Table 1. Changes in fetal arterial blood gas in each phase.

Variable	Control phase (n = 7)	Acute phase (n = 7)	Acidosis phase (n = 7)	p Value
pH	7.347 (0.007)	7.324 (0.024)	7.073 (0.054*^,†)	<.001
pCO2 (mmHg)	34.6 (2.4)	32.7 (3.2)	40.0 (3.9)	.132
pO2 (mmHg)	16.9 (0.9)	17.1 (2.2)	15.8 (0.6)	.295
BE (mmol/L)	–5.7 (1.7)	–7.5 (2.8)	–17.2 (2.0*^†)	<.01

pCO₂: arterial carbon dioxide pressure; pO₂: arterial oxygen pressure; BE: base excess.

Values represent the mean (standard error of the mean) at the control, acute, and acidosis phases.

* p < .05 (vs. control phase).

^† p < .05 (vs. acute phase; generalized linear mix model with post hoc Bonferroni’s test).

Figure 1. Changes in fetal baroreceptor sensitivity among the three phases. One hundred and sixty-three FHR baroreceptor sensitivity were analyzed (control: n = 77; acute: n = 60; and acidosis: n = 26). The average (standard error) fetal baroreceptor sensitivity at control, acute, and acidosis phases was 2.7 (0.2), 2.5 (0.2), and 1.5 (0.2), respectively. The average baroreceptor sensitivity in the acidosis phase was significantly lower than that in the control (p<.001) and acute phases (p = .002). ΔMAP: change in mean arterial pressure; ΔFHR: change in fetal heart rate changes in fetal heart rate (FHR) among the three phases.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, H.K., upon reasonable request.