The widespread human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a xenoestrogen interfering with developmental processes, raises the question of the mechanisms determining fetal exposure to BPA. A physiological model was developed in ewes to determine whether the pregnancy-associated physiological changes and the metabolic specificities of the fetal-placental unit can influence BPA toxicokinetics (TK) and f...

The effect of acute or short-term hypoxia on fetal cardiovascular hemodynamics has been well known; however, little is known about the effect of long-term hypoxemia. To determine the fetal hemodynamic responses to this stress we studied two groups of animals: 1) pregnant ewes (n = 20) at 110-115 days of gestation subjected to hypoxia for up to 28 days and 2) pregnant ewes (n = 4) that served as...

Scrapie is a naturally occurring prion (PrP) disease causing a fatal neurodegenerative disorder in sheep and goats. Previous studies suggest that scrapie is transmitted naturally through exposure to the scrapie agent in wasted placentas of infected ewes. This study determined the distribution and biochemical properties of PrP cellular (PrP-C) and the distribution of PrP scrapie (PrP-Sc) in repr...

To determine similarities and differences between nonsuperovulated and superovulated ewe models, data collected from several experiments (1989 through 2005) were analyzed. Mature non-pregnant non-superovulated (n = 91) or superovulated (n = 299) Western range-type ewes were used for evaluation of luteal function. To induce superovulation, ewes were injected twice daily with FSH on days 13 to 15...

The putative thyroid-disrupting properties of bisphenol A (BPA) highlight the need for an evaluation of fetal exposure and its consequence on the mother/newborn thyroid functions in models relevant to human. The goals of this study were to characterize in sheep a relevant model for human pregnancy and thyroid physiology, the internal exposures of the fetuses and their mothers to BPA and its mai...

the objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of histologic thyroids lesions and the respective thyroid hormones changes of ewes in an endemic goiter region and to find out any impact of this condition on the fetal thyroid structures and serum thyroid hormones. in the present study a total number of 100 pregnant ewes and their fetuses slaughtered at slaughterhouse were ...

Ewes bearing more than 1 fetus are more susceptible to pregnancy toxemia than those with a single fetus. Crossbreeding programs in Israel increased the occurrences of ewes bearing more than 2 fetuses; therefore, the aim was to assess the exacerbation in the metabolic status of ewes pregnant with several fetuses. Fifty ewes, genetically developed to achieve multiple-fetus pregnancies, were monit...

The development of an efficient and practicable method for transcervical collection of embryos in Awassi ewes to the improvement of embryo recovery was investigated. Twentyfour non-pregnant Awassi ewes of 3-4 years of age were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 12). Each ewe was treated with a progesterone impregnated intra-vaginal sponge for 12 days. The following superovulation treatment...

This research investigated the effect of stress mid-pregnancy shorn Zandi ewes on live birth weight and body sizes twin lambs. A total 96 ewes, confirmed pregnant with twins, were randomly allocated day 80 pregnancy into 4 groups, each group containing 6 replicates (each replicate sheep). The experimental groups included: 1. Control, 2. Crutched, 3. Sham-Shorn, 4. Shorn. Blood cortisol concentr...

AIM This study was conducted on Ouled Djellal ewes in arid area of south-east Algeria in order to reveal the influence of altitude and landforms on some hematological and biochemical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 160 ewes having 3-5 years of age, multiparous, non-pregnant, non-lactating and reared in arid areas of South East Algeria were included. Blood samples were divided acc...