The role of the time allowed for mating on variability of fetal weight in rats

In rats variation of fetal weights among litters is significantly greater than variation of fetal weights within litters. This phenomenon is called the litter effect. Twenty litters of Wistar rats were studied to determine whether or not variation in the duration of the period allowed for copulation (1.5 hours versus 15 hours) was a cause of the litter effect. Analyses of variance showed that the duration of the mating period did not significantly influence mean fetal weight, intralitter variability, or interlitter variability. It is concluded that the use of a restricted mating period as opposed to the commonly used overnight mating period offers no advantage from the standpoint of fetal weight variability. The need to consider the sample size of both litters and fetuses in teratologic and fetal growth studies is stressed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38120/1/1420040102_ftp.pd

Neurodevelopment of children exposed in utero to treatment of maternal malignancy

Cancer is the second most common cause of death during the reproductive years, complicating approximately 1/1000 pregnancies. The occurrence of cancer during gestation is likely to increase as a result of a woman's tendency to delay childbearing. Improved diagnostic techniques for malignancies increases detection of cancer during pregnancy. Malignant conditions during gestation are believed to be associated with an increase in poor perinatal and fetal outcomes that are often due to maternal treatment. Physicians should weigh the benefits of treatment against the risks of fetal exposure. To date, most reports have focused on morphologic observations made very close to the time of delivery with little data collected on children's long-term neurodevelopment following in utero exposure to malignancy and treatment. Because the brain differentiates throughout pregnancy and in early postnatal life, damage may occur even after first trimester exposure. The possible delayed effects of treatment on a child's neurological, intellectual and behavioural functioning have never been systematically evaluated. The goal of this report was to summarize all related issues into one review to facilitate both practitioners' and patients' access to known data on fetal risks and safety. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Redundant Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package uplink system

This study was initiated under Contract No. NAS 9-5829 to determine the optimum means for providing a redundant ALSEP uplink system.Contract NAS 9-5829prepared by Charles W. Jensh