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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound (30/45MHZ) System
Published on: May 5, 2018
The fetal heart rate response to hypoxia: insights from animal models
Laura Bennet1, Alistair Jan Gunn
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. l.bennet@auckland.ac.nz
This article examines recent studies that have systematically dissected features of fetal heart rate responses to labor that may help identify developing fetal compromise, such as the slope of the deceleration, overshoot, and variability. Although repeated deep decelerations are never necessarily benign, fetuses with normal placental reserve can fully compensate even for frequent deep but brief decelerations for surprisingly prolonged intervals before developing profound acidosis and hypotension.
This article examines recent studies that have systematically dissected features of fetal heart rate responses to labor that may help identify developing fetal compromise, such as the slope of the deceleration, overshoot, and variability. Although repeated deep decelerations are never necessarily benign, fetuses with normal placental reserve can fully compensate even for frequent deep but brief decelerations for surprisingly prolonged intervals before developing profound acidosis and hypotension.
