Mellor D J, Murray L
Res Vet Sci. 1982 May;32(3):377-82.
A technique is described by which daily changes in the thoracic circumference (girth) of individual fetal sheep were observed during the last 60 to 70 days of pregnancy. The girth technique and a previously published method for measuring daily changes in the curved crown-rump length were both used to examine fetal growth responses when ewes were refed at 116 days of gestation after short periods of severe underfeeding. Refeeding ewes after nine or 16 days of severe underfeeding was associated in most cases with an immediate increase in fetal growth rate, whereas refeeding after 21 days had no effect on the rate in any fetus. Possible mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed. Using girth as an index the growth rates of individual lambs were measured before and after birth. There was a 3.3 fold increase in growth rate immediately after birth.
本文描述了一种技术，通过该技术可在妊娠最后60至70天观察单个胎羊胸围（周长）的每日变化。当母羊在短期严重营养不足后于妊娠116天重新喂食时，胸围测量技术和先前发表的测量曲顶臀长每日变化的方法都被用于检测胎儿生长反应。在大多数情况下，严重营养不足9天或16天后重新喂食母羊与胎儿生长速率立即增加有关，而21天后重新喂食对任何胎儿的生长速率均无影响。文中讨论了这些影响背后可能的机制。以胸围为指标，测量了羔羊出生前后的生长速率。出生后生长速率立即增加了3.3倍。
