prolonged gestation

May be inherited, caused by plant toxins or occur sporadically. In all forms of the disease there is absence or developmental abnormality of the fetal adrenal or pituitary glands.

• inherited p. g. — occurs in several forms in cattle. Pregnancy is prolonged for 3 weeks to 3 months; in one form the fetus is normal except that it is of very great size and can only be delivered by cesarean section. In another the fetus does not develop beyond the 6 month stage and is a cyclops monster with only one eye. In a third there are multiple skeletal deformities and cleft palate.
• phytogenous p. g. — poisoning by veratrum californicum or salsola tuberculata causes prolonged gestation. Called also phytogenous prolonged gestation.