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Some aspects of perinatal maturation and adaptation
1Department of Physiology and Anatomy, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Equine Veterinary Journal. Supplement
|April 1, 1993
Summary
Neonatal survival depends on thermogenesis, which requires adequate carbohydrate fuel. Colostrum alone is insufficient, necessitating reliance on body reserves and gastrointestinal development for metabolic fuel post-birth.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Physiology
- Neonatal Metabolism
- Comparative Physiology
Background:
- Perinatal individuals face significant physiological challenges adapting from intrauterine to extrauterine environments.
- Neonatal survival hinges on physiological systems that mature around birth, impacting adaptation.
- This review focuses on constraints on fetal and neonatal thermogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate limitations on fetal and neonatal thermogenesis.
- To examine the role of post-natal metabolic fuel availability, including body reserves and colostrum/milk.
- To assess the importance of carbohydrate supply for heat production.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on perinatal physiology and metabolism.
- Analysis of carbohydrate availability from body reserves and colostrum in various species.
- Examination of gastrointestinal maturation and growth, including the role of growth factors.
Main Results:
- Carbohydrate is a critical rate-limiting substrate for heat production.
- Colostral lactose supply is often inadequate for neonatal carbohydrate needs, requiring use of body glycogen reserves.
- Gastrointestinal development, stimulated by milk-borne growth factors, is crucial for metabolism and growth.
Conclusions:
- Neonates rely on both body reserves and colostrum for essential carbohydrate fuel for thermogenesis.
- Rapid gastrointestinal growth post-birth, potentially driven by colostral growth factors, is vital for sustained metabolism and development.