Circulatory Adjustments to Pregnancy in the Rabbit

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Abstract
The effect of pregnancy on the systemic circulation of the rabbit was investigated by comparing nonpregnant animals with those in the last 3rd of pregnancy. Twenty-two to 25 days post coitum, the systemic vascular resistance had decreased by 31%. Both the heart rate and stroke volume had risen, resulting in a 41% elevation of the heart minute volume and maintaining the mean arterial blood pressure at around the nonpregnant level. The changes in these parameters were less pronounced at 26-29 days postcoitum. There was a rise of 60% in the venous pressure in the distal inferior vena cava during the latter part of gestation. The total blood volume was only moderately elevated during pregnancy, and there was no anemia of pregnancy in the rabbit.

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