Distribution of uterine blood flow in the pregnant sheep

Abstract

Uterine flows in 14 pregnant sheep were determined before, during, and after the infusion of radioactive microspheres into the maternal arch of the aorta. The distribution of microspheres in the endometrium, myometrium, and cotyledons was then measured and the regional blood flows to these structures calculated and related to gestational age and fetal weight. As fetal weight increases, the flow to the cotyledons increases markedly, while the flows to the uterine muscle and endometrium show no significant changes.