• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.287-296
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• 1997

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed on 8 bitches (5 Maltese and 3 Yorkshire terrier) from day 15 until parturition to determine the size of gestational structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. When the size of fetal and extra-fetal structures according to gestational age was measured, there was a difference between Maltese and Yorkshire terrier in extra-fetal structures (P<0.001), and no difference in fetal structrures (P<0.001). The correlations between the gestational age and the growth in fetal and extra-fetal structures were examined by regression analysis. The extra-fetal structure which showed high correlation from day 20 to 35 was inner chorionic cavity diameter in two breeds. The fetal structures which showed high correlation from day 36 until parturition was fetal head diameter in two breeds. In conclusions inner chorionic cavity diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age and prediction of whelping day from day 20 to 35, and fetal head diameter from day 36 to parturitions respectively. Ultrasonography is very useful tool to evaluate the gestational age and to predict the whelping day in pet dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.501-505
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• 2008

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 9 Miniature Schnauzer bitches from day 15 of gestation until parturition to determine the ultrasonographic measurement of gestational structures. Ovulation was designated the day that plasma progesterone concentration exceeded 4.0 ng/ml (day 0). Extra-fetal structures were measured from day 17 or 18 to 60. Outer uterine diameter (OUD) increased from $6.50{\pm}1.06mm$ ($Mean{\pm}SD$) to $50.89{\pm}5.62mm$, inner chorionic cavity diameter (ICCD) increased from $2.10{\pm}0.15mm$ to $37.15{\pm}4.36mm$, and length of placenta (PL) increased from $7.50 {\pm}1.41mm$ to $40.62{\pm}3.27mm$. OUD and ICCD were significantly and linearly relative to gestational age especially through day 37, whereas PL was not significantly relative to gestational age. Of the extra-fetal structures, ICCD was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age before day 38 of gestation. Fetal structures increased at a linear rate to parturition. Fetal crown-rump length (CRL) increased from $2.55{\pm}0.07mm$ on day 22 to $85.25{\pm}9.89mm$ on day 48. Fetal head diameter (HD) increased from $3.43{\pm}0.64mm$ on day 27 to $25.06{\pm}0.41mm$ on day 63. Fetal body diameter (BD) increased from $ 5.96{\pm}0.84mm$ on day 30 to $43.76{\pm}3.36mm$ on day 63. Of the fetal structures, HD was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age after day 38 to parturition.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2004

Serial ultrasonographic examination was daily performed on 12 pregnant Shih-tzu bitches from day 15 until parturition to determine the size of gestational structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. Extra-fetal structures were measurable from days 17 to 46. Outer uterine diameter increased from $9.9{\pm}0.4$ mm (Mean${\pm}$SD) at day 20 to $44.3{\pm}0.8$ mm at day 46 and inner chorionic cavity diameter increased from $7.2{\pm}0.2$ mm at day 17 to $36.9{\pm}1.5$mm at day 41. Length of chorionic cavity or zonary placenta increased from $6.6{\pm}0.4$ mm at day 21 to $46.4{\pm}0.9$ mm at day 44. Of the extra-fetal structures, inner chorionic cavity diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age until day 38. Fetal structures were measurable from days 23 to 60. Crown-rump length increased from $3.9{\pm}0.3$ mm at day 23 to $55.2{\pm}3.3$ mm at day 41, fetal body diameter increased from $7.9{\pm}0.6$ mm at day 32 to $47.8{\pm}2$ mm at day 60, and fetal head diameter increased from $6.3{\pm}1.1$ mm at day 29 to $25.6{\pm}0.2$ mm at day 60. Of the fetal structures, fetal head diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age from day 38 until day 60.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.369-373
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• 2014

This study was performed to establish a new parameter for estimating gestational age and predicting parturition day by ultrasonographic measurement of deep portion of telencephalic vesicle (DPTV) diameter in small dogs. Fetal head diameter (HD) and DPTV diameter were measured in 15 pregnant Pekingese bitches, from Day 15 to the parturition day, and evaluated the correlation between gestational age. HD was measured from day 29 of pregnancy to parturition day and increased from $4.9{\pm}2mm$ to $25.5{\pm}0.7mm$. Especially, from day 38 of pregnancy to parturition day, HD uniformly increased about 0.6 mm per day and was significantly and linearly relative to gestational age during this period ($r^2$ >0.99). DPTV diameter was measured from day 35 to day 60 of pregnancy and increased from $3.2{\pm}0.9mm$ to $11.5{\pm}0.7mm$. Especially from day 38 to day 60 of pregnancy, DPTV diameter uniformly increased about 1 mm per 3 days and was significantly and linearly relative to gestational age during this period ($r^2$ >0.99). In conclusion, DPTV diameter could to be a useful parameter for the estimation of gestational age and the prediction of parturition day when used alone or in combination with HD during the second half of pregnancy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.247-254
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• 1996

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 9 pregnant Korea Jin-do dog from days 15 to 60 to determine the size of gestational structures throughout pregnancy. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (Day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. Extra-fetal structures were measureable from days 17 to 49. Outer uterine diameter increased from $7.0{\pm}0.7$ ($mean{\pm}SD$)mm at day 17 to $54.0{\pm}2.2mm$ at day 49 and inner chorionic cavity diameter increased from $3.0{\pm}0.7mm$ at day 17 to $37.5{\pm}0.6mm$ at day 49. Uterine wall thickness increased from $2.8{\pm}0.4mm$ at day 17 to $8.3{\pm}0.5mm$ at day 49, placental thickness increased from $1.0{\pm}0.1mm$ at day 22 to $5.7{\pm}0.2mm$ at day 49 and length of chorionic cavity or zonary placenta increased from $5.5{\pm}1.3mm$ at day 20 to $52.3{\pm}2.2mm$ at day 49. Inner chorionic cavity diameter, outer uterine diameter and placental length each increased at a linear rate through day 37, after which time, each had a marked plateau in growth. Of the extra-fetal structures, inner chorionic cavity diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age until day 37. Fetal structures were measureable from days l7 to 60. Crown-rump length, increased from $3.0{\pm}0.7mm$ at day 22 to $118.7{\pm}3.1mm$ at day 49, fetal body diameter increased from $4.0{\pm}0.7mm$ at day 25 to $55.8{\pm}1.7mm$ at day 60 and fetal head diameter increased from $4.3{\pm}0.6mm$ at day 26 to $29.8{\pm}0.8mm$ at day 60. Of the fetal structures, fetal head diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age from day 37 until day 60.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2008

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed from 15 days after ovulation until parturition to determine the growth curve of gestational structures in pregnant Maltese, Yorkshire terrier, Shih-tzu, and Miniature Schnauzer bitches, respectively. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. The inner chorionic cavity diameter were significantly and linearly relative to gestational age especially days 20 to 40, and the fetal head diameter were significantly and linearly relative to gestational age especial1y day 40 to parturition. These results indicate that inner chorionic cavity diameter were the most accurate for estimating gestational age before day 38 of gestation and the fetal head diameter were after day 38 of gestation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.279-286
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• 1997

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed on 11 bitches (5 Maltese and 3 Yorkshire terrier) from day 15 until parturition to determine the time of Sift detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when p18sma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. The gestational length in 8 bitches was 61.5 (range: 60-64) days. The initial detection time of fetal and extra-fetal structures were: gestational sac at days 20.5 (18-23); zonary placenta in the uterine wall at days 25.4 (24-30); yolk sac membrane at days 25,5 (23-37); amniotic mombrane at days 28.7 (25-32); embryo initial detection at days 23.3 (20-26); fetal heartbeat at days 23.9 (21-27); fetal movement at days 31.3 (26-34); limb buds at days 32.1 (29-35); rotomarh at days 35.3 (32-40); urinary bladder at days 35.6 (33-39); skeleton at days 37.8 (37- 40) and kidney at days 45.3 (41-49), respectively.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the potential embryo-fetal toxicity and toxicokinetics of the antimalarial agent artesunate (ARTS) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pregnant rats were administered ARTS daily from gestational day 6~15 via oral gavage, at test doses of 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg (22 females per group). The fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities on gestational day 20. With regard to the dams, there were no deaths, treatment-related clinical signs, changes in body weight, or food intake in any of the treatment groups. There were no treatment-related gross findings at necropsy in any treatment group. In the 8 mg/kg group, there was a decrease in gravid uterine weight and in the weight of female fetuses. There was also an increase in fetal deaths (primarily late resorptions) and an increase in post-implantation losses (37%) at 8 mg/kg. An increase in the incidence of visceral and skeletal variations at 4 and 8 mg/kg was observed. These defects included minor changes in the appearance of the kidney and thymus, as well as absent ribs or thoracic vertebrae. Toxicokinetics were assessed in a parallel study, using 4 mated females per group. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, the concentration of ARTS and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA) were quantified in plasma from rats on gestational days 5, 6, 10, and 15. Amniotic fluid was assayed for ARTS and DHA on gestational day 15. There was evidence of rapid conversion of ARTS to the metabolite DHA in maternal plasma, since ARTS could not be consistently detected in plasma at the three doses tested. ARTS and DHA were not detected in amniotic fluid at gestational day 15, indicating limited placental transfer of the two agents. The embryo-fetal no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of the test item was considered to be 8 mg/kg/day for dams, and 2 mg/kg/day for embryo-fetal development.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2004

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed on 12 Shih-tzu bitches from 15 days after ovulation until parturition to determine the time of first detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures and to determine the size of gestational structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. The gestational length in 12 Shih-tzu bitches was 62.1 (range:60-64) days. The initial detection of the fetal and extra-fetal structures were: gestational sac at days 19.2 (16-21); zonary placenta in the uterine wall at days 25.9 (24-28); yolk sac membrane at days 24.1 (22-26); amniotic membrane at days 26.6 (24-28); embryo initial detection at days 22.3 (21-24); heartbeat at days 23.8 (23-25); limb buds at days 29.3 (27-31); fetal movement at days 32.3 (31-34); stomach at days 32.6 (29-34); urinary bladder at days 33.1 (29-35); skeleton at days 35.9 (34-38) and kidney at days 45.8 (45-48).

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.56-76
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• 1993

To investigate the histogenesis of tracheal epithelium in Sprague-Dawley strain rat, the author has used the fetal rats at the 16th, 18th, 20th and 22nd prenatal day and neonatal rats at the 1st and 7th day as well as rats at age of 5, 10 and 15 weeks after birth as experimental animals. Specimens were double stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate for electron microscopic study. The results obtained were as follows; 1. At the 16th day of gestational age, ciliated cells were found in tracheal epithelium and light and dark ciliated cells possessing numerous mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm at the 22nd day of gestational age of the rat are observed. 2. At the 16th day of gestataional age, basal cells lying upon the basement membrane and having large numbers of glycogen particles in the cytoplasm, were found and at the 22nd day of gestational age, basal cells possessing numerous polysomes in the cytoplasm were observed. 3. At the 20th gestational age of the rat, microvillous cells possessing many rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria as well as microvilli protruding into the lumen were found in tracheal epithelium. 4. At the 5th week after birth brush cell having profound filamentous strands and many pinocytic vesicles in the cytoplasm, was visible in the tracheal epithelium. 5. At the 15th week after birth large proportions of tracheal epithelium were lined with ciliated cells. Cosequently it is suggested that pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium was differentiated at the 16th day of gestational age, in addition cytoplasmic organelles of the microvillous and basal cells were matured at the 20th and 22nd gestational age, respectively and most of the part of the tracheal epithelium was lined with ciliated cells at the 15th week after birth.