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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171220
Title: COMPARISON OF CIRCULATING CONCENTRATIONS OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) BETWEEN COWS GESTATING SINGLE AND TWIN OVULATIONS

Author
item Echternkamp, Sherrill
item VONNAHME, KIMBERLY - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item FORD, STEPHEN - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

Submitted to: Midwestern Section of the American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2004
Publication Date: 9/1/2005
Citation: Echternkamp, S., Vonnahme, K., Ford, S. 2005. Comparison of circulating concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) between cows gestating single and twin ovulations [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 83 (Supplement 2):86.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Placental function and efficiency have been related to placental vascularity and to VEGF concentrations in maternal blood of several species. Thus, the objective of the present study was to determine whether increased placental development in cows gestating twins was associated with increased VEGF concentrations in the maternal blood. Cows from the MARC Twinner Population were diagnosed by ultrasonography, and confirmed at parturition, to be gestating single (n = 24) or twin (n = 17) fetuses. Jugular vein blood samples were collected at four time periods of gestation that corresponded with management operations within the herd; Period 1 = 55 d, Period 2 = 125 d, Period 3 = 190 d, and Period 4 = 235 d of gestation (range = ± 10 days). Means for VEGF concentrations (ng/mL) in the maternal blood are presented in Table 1. Table 1. Comparison of VEGF concentrations between cows gestating single vs. twin calves Type of Time periods pregnancy N One Two Three Four SEM Single 24 1.27 1.18 1.24 1.21 0.10 Twin 17 1.53 1.52 1.42 1.44 0.12 Concentrations of VEGF tended (P = 0.06) to be greater in maternal blood of cows gestating twin fetuses compared with cows gestating a single fetus. Concentrations of VEGF did not differ (P > 0.10) among the four time periods. Also, VEGF concentrations did not differ (P > 0.10) between cows gestating a single male (n = 11) vs. female (n = 13) fetus. The trend for VEGF concentrations to be greater in the blood of cows gestating twin fetuses may reflect increased placental size and/or function for twin pregnancies. However, the association between VEGF and type of pregnancy was insufficient to enable the use of VEGF concentrations to diagnose twin pregnancies.