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Abstract

Fetal fluids and placentas, which are important in feto-maternal homeostasis, could be affected by the number of developing fetuses. Therefore, placenta morphological and amniotic fluid biochemical changes associated with single and twin pregnancies in Red Sokoto goats were studied. Using Richardson’s formula, 2.1 × [CRL (cm) + 17], 12 intact gravid uteri (7 single-pregnant and 5 twin-pregnant) from mid-gestation [?70-100 days gestational age (dGA)] pregnant goats were purposively selected. Feto-maternal biometrics [gravid uterine weight (GUW), total placental fluid volume (TPFV), average placentome diameter (APD), mean crown-rump length (MCRL), mean gestational age (MGA), mean fetal weight (MFW), total placentome number (TPN), and average interplacentomal distance (AID)]; amniotic fluid electrolytes [sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P)]; total protein; glucose; liver markers (AST and ALT); kidney markers (urea and creatinine), and cortisol concentrations were measured. The histology of the placentomes and the interplacentomal areas was also studied. The twin-pregnant (TP) goats had significantly higher (P<0.05) GUW, TPFV, APD, amniotic fluid glucose and cortisol; and lower (P<0.05) Ca levels. The rest of the parameters assessed did not differ between the TP and single-pregnant (SP) groups. Placentomes and the interplacentomal areas from the TP group had more diffuse villous inter-digitations and thicker luminal endothelium, respectively. It was concluded that TP Red Sokoto goats regulated placentome morphology, calcium, glucose and cortisol levels in order to achieve optimal conditions for the dams and the fetuses.