Growth of the fetal calf and its arterial pressure, blood gases, and hematologic data.

REEVES, JOHN T., FUHEID S. DAOIJD, AND MICHAEL GENTRY. Growth of the fetal calf and its arterial pressure, blood gases, and hematologic data. J. Appl. Physiol. 32(2): 240-244. 1972.-Fetal growth, arterial pressure, arterial oxygen tensions, and hematologic data in 35 fetal calves were compared with similar data in fetal lambs. The data of the present report suggested that the fetal calf, its organs, and placenta had rates of growth which were similar to those in the lamb. The increasing arterial pressure during the last third of gestation was similar to that in the lamb and the higher arterial pressure achieved by the mature calf appeared to reflect merely its larger size. The fetal calf had a relatively high arterial oxygen tension which suggested there may be an efficient transport of oxygen across the placenta. The hemoglobin concentration was lower than that in the lamb and did not change during the last third of gestation. Thus the differences in oxygen transport in the fetal calf and lamb may reside primarily in the arterial oxygen tensions and the blood oxygen carrying capacities.