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Basic Aspects of Fetal Thermal Homeostasis

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Thermal Balance in Health and Disease

Part of the book series: APS Advances in Pharmacological Sciences ((APS))

Abstract

The fetus in utero generates heat that has to be dissipated via the mother. Immediately after birth, the fetus must be capable above all of responding quickly and efficiently to heat loss to cooler surroundings. Fetal, perinatal and neonatal heat production and temperature regulation have been the focus of experimental research during the last three decades (1–3). Our work has concentrated on the sheep fetus, and thus the following brief overview will outline the principles of fetal thermal homeostasis. Most animal studies in this field have been performed on chronically instrumented, unanesthetized fetal sheep at gestational ages from 120 to 139 days (term 145 days). Fetal weight during this period is in the range of 2.5 to 4 kg.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für experimentelle Medizin Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    H. J. Schröder

  2. Division of Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University Medical School, Loma, Linda, Ca., 92350, USA

    G. G. Power

Authors
  1. H. J. Schröder
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  2. G. G. Power
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Physiologisches Institut, Klinikum der Justus Liebig Universität, Aulweg 129, D-35392, Giessen, Germany

    Eugen Zeisberger

  2. Department of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden Amsterdam Centre for Drug Research, State University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Eduard Schönbaum

  3. Peelkensweg 4, 5428 NM, Venhorst, N.BR., The Netherlands

    Eduard Schönbaum

  4. Department of Pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90024-1735, USA

    Peter Lomax

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© 1994 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel

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Schröder, H.J., Power, G.G. (1994). Basic Aspects of Fetal Thermal Homeostasis. In: Zeisberger, E., Schönbaum, E., Lomax, P. (eds) Thermal Balance in Health and Disease. APS Advances in Pharmacological Sciences. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7429-8_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7429-8_33

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-7431-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-7429-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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