de Araújo Renatha Almeida, Rocha-Júnior João Domingos, Bonavina Jaqueline Tamara, Bianchini Melissa de Oliveira, Beretta Samara, Jorge Coutinho Armani Daniella, Estevam Marina Vilela, Toniollo Gilson Hélio, Mogollón García Henry David, Oba Eunice, Apparício Maricy
Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Studies, São Paulo State University, FCAV/UNESP, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo D. Castellane s/n., Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil.
Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (FMVZ/UNESP), Rua Professor Doutor Walter Mauricio Correa, s/n., Botucatu 18618-681, SP, Brazil.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Jun 12;15(12):1739. doi: 10.3390/ani15121739.
In this study, thirty female dogs, aged one to five years and varying in weight, in the last week of gestation were evaluated. The animals were divided into two groups: GC, which comprised twenty-two bitches undergoing elective cesarean section, and GD, which consisted of eight dogs requiring therapeutic cesarean section as a treatment to dystocia. We found that cortisol levels in the amniotic fluid were significantly higher in pups delivered via elective cesareans (mean: 9.86 ng/mL) compared to those from therapeutic c-sections (mean: 4.11 ng/mL). This observation contrasted with previous studies that reported lower cortisol levels in elective procedures, suggesting complexities in the physiological responses to different delivery methods that warrant further investigation. Notably, our study observed no significant association between amniotic fluid meconium presence and other distress markers, indicating that meconium may be more closely associated with fetal maturation rather than distress ( > 0.05). Neonatal viability (Apgar score) revealed that 92.86% of the neonates from elective procedures demonstrated no distress shortly after delivery, contrasting with 56.25% in therapeutic c-section. Fetal distress can be a direct consequence of dystocia caused by various stressors, such as pain and hypoxia. These factors can impair the fetus' ability to adapt to extrauterine life, often leading to lower Apgar scores. Notably, neonatal weight was directly related to fetal cortisol levels, while no significant associations were noted between the litter size or birth order and cortisol concentrations, irrespective of the delivery type. These findings underscore the need for ongoing investigation into the relationships between cesarean delivery types, maternal and neonatal stress markers, and resultant health outcomes, aiming to enhance care strategies for expectant canine mothers and their puppies.
在本研究中，对30只年龄在1至5岁、体重各异的妊娠晚期雌性犬进行了评估。这些动物被分为两组：GC组，包括22只接受择期剖宫产的母犬；GD组，由8只因难产需要进行治疗性剖宫产的犬组成。我们发现，与治疗性剖宫产的幼犬（平均：4.11 ng/mL）相比，择期剖宫产分娩的幼犬羊水皮质醇水平显著更高（平均：9.86 ng/mL）。这一观察结果与之前报道择期手术中皮质醇水平较低的研究形成对比，表明不同分娩方式的生理反应存在复杂性，值得进一步研究。值得注意的是，我们的研究观察到羊水胎粪存在与其他窘迫标志物之间无显著关联，这表明胎粪可能与胎儿成熟度而非窘迫更密切相关（>0.05）。新生儿活力（阿氏评分）显示，择期手术出生的新生儿中有92.86%在出生后不久未出现窘迫，而治疗性剖宫产的这一比例为56.25%。胎儿窘迫可能是由各种应激源（如疼痛和缺氧）导致的难产的直接后果。这些因素会损害胎儿适应宫外生活的能力，常常导致阿氏评分较低。值得注意的是，新生儿体重与胎儿皮质醇水平直接相关，而无论分娩类型如何，窝产仔数或出生顺序与皮质醇浓度之间均未发现显著关联。这些发现强调了持续研究剖宫产分娩类型、母体和新生儿应激标志物以及由此产生的健康结果之间关系的必要性，旨在加强对妊娠母犬及其幼犬的护理策略。
