Göran Enhörning

A Technique for Perfusion of the Previable Human Fetus

A perfusion technique of the previable human fetus is described in detail. The fetuses survived 5–12 hours. ECG, blood pressure, and blood flow were recorded simultaneously. Examples of the oxygen consumption of hypo‐ and normo‐thermic fetuses are presented.

Glucose infusion in the pregnant rabbit and its effect on glycogen content and activity of foetal heart under anoxia.

The object of the present study was to determine the possibility of increasing the glycogen content of the foetal myocardium, and thus its ability to survive under anoxic conditions, by infusing glucose in the mother animal before delivery.

Ability of cervical mucus to act as a barrier against bacteria

Abstract Is cervical mucus bactericidal? If not, can bacteria migrate through the mucus? To answer these questions a new method was designed: Cervical mucus was aspirated into a gamma ray-sterilized nylon tubing. It formed a column in the tubing with a length varying from 10 to 60 mm. One end of the mucus-filled tubing was inoculated with Proteus mirabilis. After incubation for 23 hours cultures were taken at various distances from the inoculated end. From 51 women 142 samples of mucus were examined with this method. A bactericidal effect was encountered during all phases of the menstrual cycle. It was least pronounced at the time of ovulation when in most instances bacteria not only remained alive but could also migrate 10 to 40 mm. through the mucus.

Intraureteric pressures in women

Abstract A method is described which makes it possible to make simultaneous recordings of pressure in four points of the ureter. The method was used in 5 women. In one the effect of compression by an ovarian tumor could be observed, although an intravenous pyelogram was normal. Retrograde peristaltic contractions were observed and seemed to be related to the amount of pain caused by the examination. The possible role of such retrograde contractions in producing renal colic is discussed.

ECG COMPARED WITH MYOCARDIAL ULTRASTRUCTURE IN ANOXIC FOETUSES OF NORMAL AND HYPERGLYCAEMIC RABBITS

The heart function, as recorded by ECG, was correlated to the ultrastructural state of the myocardial cells.

Cystourethrometry for Evaluating Bladder and Urethra Function

lfoR MANY years, cystometry has been recognized as an important examination in ca es of fun ctional el i turbances of the lower urinary tract. Incontinence may be caused by an inability of the bladder to receive a norma l volu me of u rine without an apprecia bl e rise in in t ravesical pre sure. If the bladder contract strongly at low volu mes or if it ha a capacity which is too small or too la rge, the sphincteric action of the urethra may be j eopardizcd . These disturbances will be recognized with cy::>tometry. H owever, maintenance of continence requi res not only a normal bladder fu nction but a lso an adequate sphincte ri c action : a p res ure in the urethra which is in excess of that in the b ladder. To evalu ate th is sphin cteric action, presurc must be measured simul taneously in the ureth ra and in the bladder. These pressures should be recorded whil e the bl adde r is being expanded at a slow and even rate, as when it receives uri ne from the kidneys. The pressures should a lso be recorded during a sudden incrca c in in tra-abdom in a l pres urc as during coughing, whi ch may provoke in continence. T he c were the prin ciples foll owed when an appa ratus for cystourethromctry was constructed.

Expansion of the lungs in the new-born and its effect on pulmonary circulation.

During foetal life most of the blood, pumped out by the right ventricle, bypasses the lungs through the ductus arteriosus. The pressure in the pulmonary artery is higher than that in the aorta, which reflects the great vascular resistance of the foetal lungs. This is advantageous for the foetus who for gas exchange has no need for its lungs but requires a great blood flow through the placenta. When umbilical bloodflow ceases after birth, survival necessitates a dramatic decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance, leading to an increase in blood flow through the lungs: the new site of gas exchange. To a great extent our knowledge concerning the pulmonary blood flow of the foetus and the newborn is due to the extensive and assiduous investigations of and coworkers. In mature foetal lambs the right cardiac output was found to be 142 ml per kg and minute (D a w e s et al. 1954). Of this volume about a fifth passes the lungs whereas the rest enters the aorta through the ductus arteriosus. The distribution is variable, however, and is readily influenced by pharmacological agents and by changing the gas composition of the perfusing blood. Thus, D a w e s and M o t t (1962) found that in response to injections of no more than 2-10 pg of acetylcholine or histamine into the left pulmonary artery of a mature foetal lamb, more blood is distributed to the lungs. On the other hand, injection of the same amount of adrenaline or noradrenaline causes an intense pulmonary vasoconstriction. Raising the oxygen tension of the blood perfusing the unexpanded foetal lungs causes vasodilatation, whereas lowering the pO2 has the opposite effect ( D a w e s and M o t t, 1962). After birth gaseous expansion of the lungs causes a dramatic deD a w e s