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Studies on fetal forelimb movements by using a wrist actigraph in sheep
Author(s) -
ZHANG SHIQING,
KOZUMA SHIRO,
TANAKA MIO,
LING DONGHUI,
KITANO YOSHIHIRO,
FUJII TOMOYUKI,
BABA KAZUNORI,
TAKETANI YUJI
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2002.00991.x
Subject(s) - forelimb , ultradian rhythm , fetus , fetal movement , medicine , anatomy , wrist , biology , pregnancy , physiology , rhythm , genetics
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an actigraph can be a tool for measuring fetal movements in sheep. Actiwatches™ were placed on a fetal forelimb and the maternal uterine wall in near‐term pregnant sheep. No significant correlation was found between fetal and maternal activity counts for periods of 1 min. The patterns of fetal activity counts were characterized by ultradian rhythms, with bursts of activity every 20–30 min; however, there was no evidence of diurnal changes in fetal activity counts. The results suggest that fetal movements can be measured by using an actigraph in chronically prepared fetal sheep.