Preferential streaming of ductus venosus blood to the brain and heart in fetal lambs

In 16 chronically prepared fetal lambs we compared the systemic distribution of ductus venosus blood flow with that of abdominal inferior vena caval blood by simultaneously injecting microspheres labeled with different radionuclides into an umbilical vein and into the abdominal inferior vena cava. A significantly greater proportion of ductus venosus blood flow than of abdominal inferior vena caval blood flow supplied the brain, heart, and upper body; this resulted from streaming of ductus venosus blood flow within the thoracic inferior vena cava with preferential direction of that blood flow through the foramen ovale. Blood flows to upper and lower body structures and placenta calculated from umbilical venous microsphere injections and reference arterial blood samples did not differ from those computed fromabdominal inferior vena caval injections and reference samples. Thus, despite streamline blood flow within the fetal thoracic inferior vena cava, organ blood flows can be accurately measured with either an umbilical venous or an abdominal inferior vena caval injection of microspheres when either is combined with the appropriate reference arterial blood samples.