17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) is a synthetic compound widely used in the generation of contraceptive pills. EE2 is present in the urine of women taking contraceptives and its presence has been confirmed at increasing concentrations contaminating rivers all over the world. Because of this cycle, it can entry the human food chain when watering plants. A negative influence of EE2 on fertility and reproductive capacity of wildlife was already suggested. The short-term impact of exposure to contaminating EE2 on pregnancy outcome has not been addressed.Pregnant mice were exposed to either 0.005 μg (concentrations found in water) or 5 μg EE2/kg (contraceptive dose) body weight/day from gestation day 1–7 by oral gavage. Control mice received a 0.1% ethanol solution. High frequency ultrasound imaging was used to follow-up fetal and placental growth in vivo. Doppler measurements were utilized to analyze blood flow parameters in uterine and umbilical arteries. Mice were sacrificed at gd5, 10, and 14. We show that most fetuses of mothers exposed to the high EE2 dose die intrauterine at gd10, with implantation sizes beginning to be smaller already at gd8. Mothers exposed to the low EE2 dose show an impaired remodeling of the spiral arteries, a higher placental weight and pups that are large for gestational age. The insulin-like growth factor system that regulates fetal and placental growth and development is affected by the EE2 treatment.Our results show that a short-term exposure to EE2 during early pregnancy has severe consequences for fetal growth and survival depending on the dose. Exposition to synthetic estrogens affects placenta growth and angiogenesis. These findings urge to the study of mechanisms dysregulated upon environmental exposition to estrogens.

Early pregnancy is crucial for fetal growth. Maternal thyroid hormone is critical for fetal growth and can be disturbed under exogenous exposure. However, it's uncertain whether exposure to PM₂.₅ and inorganic constituents during early pregnancy can affect TH and fetal growth. We focused on the associations of early-pregnancy PM₂.₅ and inorganic constituents with fetal growth and maternal THs. PM₂.₅ concentration was estimated using a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. Fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), femur length (FL), and humerus length (HL) were measured by ultrasonography at median 15.6, 22.2, and 33.1 gestational weeks. Levels of 28 PM₂.₅ constituents were measured in a sub-group of 329 pregnancies. Maternal serum free thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were measured at 14 weeks of gestation. Mixed-effect models and multiple linear regression were applied to evaluate the associations of PM₂.₅ and its constituents with fetal growth measures. Mediation analysis was used to examine the mediating role of the THs. Results showed that each 10 μg/m³ increase in PM₂.₅ was associated with 0.20 mm reductions in BPD (95%CI: 0.33, −0.01), 0.27 mm decreases in FL (95%CI: 0.40, −0.13), and 0.36 decreases in HL (95%CI: 0.49, −0.23). Per 10 μg/m³ increment in PM₂.₅ was correlated with 5.82% decreases in the fT4 level (95% CI: 8.61%, −2.96%). FT4 accounted for 14.3% of PM₂.₅ exposure-induced change in BPD at first follow-up. Al (β = −2.91, 95%CI: 5.17, −0.66), Si (β = −1.20, 95%CI: 2.22, −0.19), K (β = −3.09, 95%CI: 5.41, −0.77), Mn (β = −47.20, 95%CI: 83.68, −10.79) and Zn (β = −3.02, 95%CI: 5.55, −0.49) were associated with decreased fetal BPD, especially in first follow-up. Zn (β = −38.12%, 95% CI: 58.52%, −8.61%) was also associated with decreased fT4 levels. Overall, early pregnancy exposure to PM₂.₅ and its constituents was associated with fetal growth restriction and decreased maternal fT4 levels might mediate the effect of PM₂.₅.

Acute kidney injury is a common problem in dogs and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. So, the present study aimed to evaluate symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and Doppler ultrasonography including resistive index (RI) in the diagnosis of acute kidney injury in dogs. Ten healthy mongrel dogs were injected with gentamicin sulfate 10% at the dose of 30 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days for induction of acute kidney injury. Clinical, biochemical, ultrasonographic, and Doppler ultrasonographic examinations and urinalysis were performed for all dogs on 0 day before induction, on the 5th day, and on the 10th day of induction. The results of the current study showed significant increase in plasma level of SDMA, serum urea, creatinine, phosphorus, and potassium and a significant decrease in serum sodium, calcium, and chloride on the 5th day and 10th day of induction, and there was an increase in renal cortical echogenicity of the right and left kidney compared to adjacent liver and spleen, respectively. RI value showed a significant increase on the 5th day and 10th day of induction. The present study showed that SDMA is a sensitive and promising biomarker for diagnosis of acute kidney injury in dogs compared to routine biomarkers; also, the RI of Doppler ultrasonography is useful for early identifying acute kidney injury when the only observable change is an increase in cortical echogenicity.

In this study, the influence of supra-nutritional organic selenium (Se) supplement on hematology and plasma biochemicals, including antioxidant parameters and plasma reproductive hormones, as well as blood flow characteristics in the supratesticular and common carotid arteries (STA and CCA, respectively) were investigated. For this purpose, 15 male goats were used and classified into three equal groups according to the supplementation of the basal diet (BD): negative control (NC), probiotic (Pro), and Se-probiotic (Se-Pro) groups. Blood perfusion in the STA and CCA was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography at three different time intervals: at the experimental onset (T0), 3 weeks of dietary supplement (T3), and after 6 weeks of observation (T6). Concomitantly, blood samples were withdrawn for hematobiochemical and hormonal changes. Results revealed no evidence of clinical abnormality, with some enhanced hematological parameters and antioxidant (SOD and GPX) levels in goats of the Se-Pro and Pro groups. High concentrations of FSH were found in the Se-Pro at T6 compared to its values in other groups. Similarly, testosterone levels were elevated in the Pro and Se-Pro groups at T3 compared to other time points. There were significant increases in levels of IGF-1 in the Pro and Se-Pro groups compared to the NC group. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in the values of the blood volume within the CCA and the STA were noted in the Se-Pro group, and the highest values were observed at T6 (CCA, 427.4 ± 33 ml/min; STA, 49.9 ± 5.0 ml/min). In conclusion, supra-nutritional organic selenium improves some hematobiochemical parameters, reproductive hormones, and the blood perfusion within the CCA and STA in goats.