Posted on 02/03/2010 2:06:21 PM PST by decimon
Findings could have important implications for human health, ag
COLLEGE STATION – A joke among two Texas AgriLife Research scientists later turned into a fully-funded study found Viagra can aid fetal development in female sheep. Female sheep (ewes) are an agriculturally important species, which can serve as an excellent animal model for studying the physiology of human pregnancy, the researchers said.
Viagra (sildenafil citrate), which is used to treat male erectile dysfunction, enhanced blood flow in pregnant female sheep, helping send vital amino acids and other nutrients needed in fetal development. The study’s results not only will assist with solving fetal development problems in other livestock, but possibly in humans, said Dr. Guoyao Wu, AgriLife Research animal nutritionist and Senior Faculty Fellow in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University.
“Because 5 percent to 10 percent of infants are born as low birth-weight babies worldwide, and because fetal-growth retardation is also a significant problem in livestock species, our findings have important implications for both human health and animal agriculture,” Wu said.
(Excerpt) Read more at agnews.tamu.edu ...
Ewe all ping.
mooselimbs should be happy about that, a twofer.
Study shows male erectile dysfunction drug enhances fetal growth in female sheep
There’s a joke in there somewhere
must.
be.
nice.
Pulling up a chair for an entertaining thread.......
Jokes don’t wirte themslves, in this case.
—they dno’t?
A phenomenon first observed by a Pakistani sheep farmer.
From the headline I assumed the research was done in the Mid East.
Probably.
On the serious side, this could make for healthier babies. Maybe in general or maybe where there are pregnancy problems.
Ewe goat to be kid’ng me!
As the sheepherder sings: "There will never be another ewe..."
And who discovered this?
Viagra is already in use as an important pediatric cardiopulmonary drug in infants with underdeveloped lungs and circulation, as it opens up capillaries, increasing blood flow. It may have value for some adult cardiac conditions as well.
And credit where credit is due, Viagra is already being credited with saving several endangered animal species, both because it is effective in most mammals in improving reproduction rates, and because it has strongly reduced the poaching of rare animals for aphrodisiacs.
Finally, psychologists credit Viagra with reducing a lot of impotence related stress and related problems in many marriages. This means less violence and generally improved happiness among couples.
why did they do this study? were tax dollars involved?
Stimulus Dollars???
Thanks.
This might extend the use to fetal development.
Like pulling the wool over our ewes!
lol. I would not doubt it.
So, if this enzyme inhibitor opens up the ewe's uterine blood supply, bigger baby lambs are the outcome.
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