Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Endocrine Control of the Fetus pp 108–120Cite as

Development of Reflex Control of the Fetal Circulation

  • Conference paper

  • 88 Accesses

Abstract

The cardiovascular system is the first organ system to reach a functional state in the embryo, and reflex control on the fetal circulation is evident from at least 0.6 of term. During fetal development, a remarkable functional feature of the cardiovascular system is the high level of pumping of the heart, despite its structural immaturity. Associated with high resting levels of cardiovascular performance, the fetus has no capacity to increase cardiac output in response to stress such as hypoxia. Consequently, autonomic nervous system control of the heart and circulation assumes an important role in the fetal defence against stress in utero, principally through maintenance and redistribution of the available cardiac output.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Assali NS, Brinkman CR, Wood R, Dandavino A, Nuwayid B (1978) Ontogenesis of the autonomic control of cardiovascular functions in the sheep. In: Longo LD, Reneau DD (eds) Fetal and newborn cardiovascular physiology. Garland, New York, pp 47–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell AW, Kennaugh JM, Battaglia FC, Makowski EL, Meschia G (1986) Metabolic and circulatory studies of the fetal lamb at mid-gestation. Am J Physiol 250: E538–E544

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bistoletti P, Nylund L, Lagercrantz H, Hjendahl P, Strom H (1983) Fetal scalp catecholamines during labour. Am J Obstet Gynecol 147 (7): 785–788

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blanco CE, Dawes GS, Hanson MA, McCooke HB (1984) The response to hypoxia of arterial chemoreceptors in fetal sheep and new-born lambs. J Physiol (Lond) 351: 25–37

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blanco CE, Dawes GS, Hanson MA, McCooke HB (1985) Studies of carotid baroreceptor afferents in fetal and newborn lambs. In: Jones CT, Mott JC, Nathanielsz PW (eds) Physiological development of the fetus and newborn. Academic, London, pp 595–598

    Google Scholar 

  • Buhler HU, Da Prada M, Haefely W, Picotti GB (1978) Plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine in man and different animal species. J Physiol (Lond) 276: 311–320

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bustos R, Bejar R, Arrojave H, Jacomo AJD, Burghi M, Ramirez F, Cordano MC, Burbelo V, Guayasamirt O, Minetti MA, Guemberena L, Caldeyro-Barcia R (1975) Heart rate in fetuses and neonates in normal conditions and with mild depression. J Perinat Med 3: 172–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casaer P, Devlieger H (1984) The behavioural state in human perinatal life. J Dev Physiol 6 (3): 187–194

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohn HE, Piasecki GJ, Jackson BT (1980) The effect of fetal heart rate on cardiovascular function during hypoxemia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 138:1190–1199

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Comline RS, Silver M (1966) Development of activity in the adrenal medulla of the foetus and newborn animals. Br Med Bull 22:16–20

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dawes GS, Duncan SL, Lewis BV, Merlet CL, Owen-Thomas JB, Reeves JT (1969) Cyanide stimulation of the systemic arterial chemoreceptors in foetal lambs. J Physiol (Lond) 201: 117–128

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dawes GS, Johnston BM, Walker DW (1980) Relationship of arterial pressure and heart rate in fetal, newborn and adult sheep. J Physiol (Lond) 309: 405–417

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Burgh Daly M (1972) Interaction of cardiovascular reflexes. In: Gilliland I, Francis J (eds) Scientific basis medicine annual review. Athlone, London, pp 307–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Eliot RJ, Klein AH, Glatz TH, Nathanielsz PW, Fisher DA (1981) Plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine concentrations in maternal and fetal sheep during spontaneous parturition and in premature sheep during cortisol-induced parturition. Endocrinology 108: 1678–1682

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fewell JE, Johnson P (1984) Acute increases in blood pressure cause arousal from sleep in lambs. Brain Res 311: 259–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fewell JE, Williams BJ, Hill DE (1984) Behavioural state influences the cardiovascular response to hemorrhage in lambs. J Dev Physiol 6: 339–48

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finley JP, Hamilton R, Mackenzie MG (1984) Heart rate response to tilting in newborns in quiet and active sleep. Biol Neonate 45:1–10

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher DJ, Heymann MA, Rudolph AM (1982) Fetal myocardial oxygen and carbohydrate consumption during acutely induced hypoxemia. Am J Physiol 242: H657–H661

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman WF (1972) The intrinsic physiologic properties of the developing heart. In: Friedman WF, Lesch M, Sonnenblick EH (eds) Neonatal heart disease. Grune and Stratton, New York, pp 21–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Gootman PM, Buckley NM, Gootman N (1979) Postnatal maturation of neural control of the circulation. Rev Perinat Med 3:1–72

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harding R, Poore ER, Cohen GL (1981) The effect of brief episodes of diminished uterine blood flow on breathing movements, sleep states and heart rate in fetal sheep. J Dev Physiol 3:231–243

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harper RM, Hoppenbrouwers T, Sterman MB, McGinty DJ, Hodgman J (1976) Polygraphic studies of normal infants during the first six months of life. I. Heart rate and variability as a function of state. Pediatr Res 10: 945–951

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Itskovitz J, La Gamma EF, Rudolph AM (1983) Baroreflex control of the circulation in chronically instrumented fetal sheep. Circ Res 52: 589–596

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iwamoto HS, Rudolph AM, Mirkin BL, Keil LC (1983) Circulatory and humoral responses of sympathectomized fetal sheep in hypoxemia. Am J Physiol 245: H767–H772

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones CT (1980) Circulating catecholamines in the fetus: their origin, actions and significance. In: Parvez H, Parvez S (eds) Biogenic amines in development. Elsevier/North Holland, Amsterdam, pp 63–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones CT, Robinson RO (1975) Plasma catecholamines in foetal and adult sheep. J Physiol (Lond) 248:15–33

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis AB, Donovan M, Platzker ACG (1980) Cardiovascular responses to autonomic blockade in hypoxemic fetal lambs. Biol Neonate 37: 233–242

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Llanos AJ, Green JR, Creasy RK, Rudolph AM (1980) Increased heart rate response to parasympathetic and β-adrenergic blockade in growth retarded fetal lambs. Am J Obstet Gynecol 136:808–813

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ludbrook J, Mancia G, Zanchetti A (1980) Does the baroreceptor-heart rate reflex indicate the capacity of the arterial baroreceptors to control blood pressure? Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 7: 499–503

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald AA, Rose J, Heymann MA, Rudolph AM (1980) Heart rate response of fetal and adult sheep to hemorrhage stress. Am J Physiol 239: H789–H793

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maloney JE, Cannata J, Dowling MH, Else W, Ritchie BC (1977) Baroreflex activity in conscious fetal and newborn lambs. Biol Neonate 31: 340–350

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oberg B (1976) Overall cardiovascular regulation. Ann Rev Physiol 38: 537–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Padbury JF, Diakomanolis ES, Hobel CJ, Perlman A, Fisher DA (1981) Neonatal adaptation: sympathoadrenal response to umbilical cord cutting. Pediatr Res 15:1483–1487

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Padbury JF, Polk DH, Newnham JP, Lam RW (1985) Neonatal adaptation: greater sympathoadrenal response in preterm than full-term fetal sheep at birth. Am J Physiol 248: E443–E449

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pappano AJ (1977) Ontogenic development of autonomic neuroeffector transmission and transmitter reactivity in embryonic and fetal hearts. Pharmacol Rev 29: 3–33

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parer JT, Krueger TR, Harris JL, Reuss ML (1978) Autonomic influences in umbilical circulation during hypoxia in fetal sheep. Abstracts of Scientific Papers, EJ Quilligan Symposium, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Parer JT, Krueger TR, Harris JL (1980) Fetal oxygen consumption and mechanisms of heart rate response during artificially produced late decelerations of fetal heart rate in sheep. Am J Obstet Gynecol 136: 478–482

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ponte J, Purves MJ (1973) Types of different nerve activity which may be measured in the vagus nerve of the sheep fetus. J Physiol (Lond) 229:1490–1496

    Google Scholar 

  • Purves MJ (1981) The neural control of respiration before and after birth. Rev Perinat Med 4: 299–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruckebusch Y, Gaujoux M, Eghbali B (1977) Sleep cycles and kinesis in the foetal lamb. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 42: 226–237

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph AM, Heymann MA (1974) Cardiac output in the fetal lamb: the effects of spontaneous and induced changes of heart rate on right and left ventricular output. Am J Obstet Gynecol 124:183–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Schifferli PY, Caldeyro-Barcia R (1973) Effects of atropine and β-adrenergic drugs on the heart rate of the human fetus. In: Boreus LO (ed) Fetal pharmacology. Raven, New York, pp 259–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinebourne EA, Vapaavouri EK, Williams RL, Heymann MA, Rudolph AM (1972) Development of baroreflex activity in unanaesthetised foetal and newborn lambs. Circ Res 31: 710–718

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sleight P (1974) Neural control of the cardiovascular system. In: Oliver MF (ed) Modern trends in cardiology, vol 3. Butterworth, London, pp 1–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomomatsu E, Nishi K (1982) Comparison of carotid sinus baroreceptor sensitivity in newborn and adult rabbits. Am J Physiol 243: H546–H550

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vatner SF, Manders WT (1979) Depressed responsiveness of the carotid sinus reflex in conscious newborn animals. Am J Physiol 237: H40–H43

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visser GH (1984) Fetal behaviour and the cardiovascular system. J Dev Physiol 6: 215–224

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vlk J, Vincenzi FF (1977) Functional autonomic innervation of mammalian cardiac pacemaker during the perinatal period. Biol Neonate 31:19–26

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waldman S, Krauss AN, Auld PAM (1979) Baroreceptors in preterm infants. Their relationship to maturity and disease. Dev Med Child Neurol 21: 714–722

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker AM (1984) Physiological control of the fetal cardiovascular system. In: Beard RW, Nathanielsz PW (eds) Fetal physiology and medicine. The basis of perinatology, 2nd Edition, Marcel Dekker, Inc. Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker AM, Cannata J, Dowling MH, Ritchie B, Maloney JE (1978) Sympathetic and parasympathetic control of heart rate in unanesthetised fetal and newborn lambs. Biol Neonate 33:135–143

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker AM, Cannata JP, Dowling MH, Ritchie BC, Maloney JE (1979) Age-dependent pattern of autonomic heart rate control during hypoxia in fetal and newborn lambs. Biol Neonate 35:198–208

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker AM, Cannata JP, Ritchie BC, Maloney JE (1983) Hypotension in fetal and newborn lambs; different patterns of reflex heart rate control revealed by autonomic blockade. Biol Neonate 44: 358–365

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker AM, Berger PJ, Cannata J, Home R, Maloney JE (1984) Autonomic control of heart state during electrocortical activity cycles in chronically hypoxaemic fetal lambs. Proc Society for the Study of Fetal Physiology, C6

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker AM, Cannata JP, Ritchie BC, Maloney JE (1985) Different patterns of reflex heart rate control during stress in fetal and neonatal lambs: implications for ventricular function. In: Physiological development of the fetus and newborn, [Jones CT, Mott JC, Nathanielsz PW (eds)] Academic, London, pp 395–399

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker AM, Horne RSC, de Preu N, Berger P (1986) The baroreflex in sleep in newborn lambs. Proc Austral Perinat Soc, Brisbane

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker D (1975) Functional development of the autonomic innervation of the human fetal heart. Biol Neonate 25: 31–43

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker DW (1984) Peripheral and central chemoreceptors in the fetus and newborn. Annu Rev Physiol 46: 687–703

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yardley RW, Bowes G, Wilkinson M, Cannata JP, Maloney JE, Ritchie BC, Walker AM (1983) Increased arterial pressure variability after arterial baroreceptor denervation in fetal lambs. Circ Res 52: 580–588

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young IM, Holland WW (1958) Some physiological responses of neonatal arterial blood pressure and pulse rate. Br Med J ii: 276–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Monash Medical Centre, Monash University Centre for Early Human Development, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia

    A. M. Walker

Authors
  1. A. M. Walker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Klinikstraße 32, 6300, Gießen, Germany

    Wolfgang Künzel  & Arne Jensen  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Walker, A.M. (1988). Development of Reflex Control of the Fetal Circulation. In: Künzel, W., Jensen, A. (eds) The Endocrine Control of the Fetus. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72975-1_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72975-1_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-72977-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-72975-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation