Ultrasonography of Pregnancy in Murciano-Granadina Goat Breed: Fetal Growth Indices and Umbilical Artery Doppler Parameters

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The evolution of some fetal growth indices (crown-rump length, trunk diameter, biparietal diameter and eye orbit diameter) and different blood flow parameters (arterial pulse, peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, mean velocity, systolic velocity/diastolic velocity ratio and pulsatility and resistance indices) of the umbilical artery of the embryos and fetuses of primiparous pregnant goats of the Murciano-Granadina breed were analyzed by ultrasonography. Weekly ultrasonographic sessions took place from 18- to 125-days post-mating. Fetal measures were carried out by ultrasound B-mode. Spectral Doppler was used to study blood flow from umbilical artery. Umbilical cord was first noticed between 32- and 35-days post-mating. However, umbilical arterial blood flow parameters were not conclusive until 65–80 days of pregnancy. This is the first time that a detailed study of fetal growth indices and the umbilical artery blood flow rates in fetuses from Murciano-Granadina goats has been performed throughout virtually the entire duration of gestation, determining the evolution of these fetal growth parameters in this breed and how the velocimetric parameters are increasing significantly and the arterial pulse, systolic/diastolic ratio and pulsatility and resistance indices are decreasing significantly throughout the analyzed pregnancy period. ABSTRACT: The evolution of some fetal growth indices and arterial blood flow parameters in the umbilical cord of the embryos and fetuses of primiparous pregnant goats of Murciano-Granadina breed were analyzed by ultrasonography. Weekly ultrasonographic sessions took place from 18- to 125-days post-breeding. Fetal measures were carried out by ultrasound B-mode. This mode was used to take a series of measurements in the embryo/fetus throughout pregnancy: crown-rump length (CRL, from 24-days post-mating -dpm- to 61 dpm), trunk diameter (TD, 24–34 dpm), biparietal diameter (BPD, 28–125 dpm) and eye orbit diameter (EOD, 75–125 dpm). Spectral Doppler was used to study blood flow from umbilical artery. Different blood flow parameters were obtained as follows: Arterial Pulse, Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Mean Velocity (MV), Systolic velocity/Diastolic velocity Ratio (S/D), Pulsatility Index (PI) and Resistance Index (RI). In this study, the umbilical cord was first noticed between 32- and 35-days post-breeding. However, these umbilical arterial blood flow parameters were not conclusive (positive S/D ratios and RI < 1) until 65–80 days of pregnancy. The explanation to these results could be that vascular development related to umbilical arteries elasticity and diameter is not good enough in early pregnancy. Therefore, these vessels have already acquired their appropriate characteristics in order to allow blood flow parameters and Doppler index measures from only 2.5 months of pregnancy. This is the first time that a detailed study of fetal growth indices and umbilical artery flow rates in fetuses from Murciano-Granadina goats has been performed throughout virtually the entire duration of gestation. In conclusion, the evolution of the fetal growth indices in this breed has determined that the umbilical artery velocimetric parameters (PSV, EDV, MV) increase significantly and the AP, S/D, PI and RI indices decrease significantly throughout the analyzed pregnancy period.