Abstract
ABSTRACT: A preterm rat model has been developed for studies of acute and chronic neonatal lung disease. Premature delivery 24 h before the normal time of delivery is associated with immature pulmonary phospholipid and antioxidant enzyme profiles. The premature lung is more fragile and ruptures at a lower lung vol (172 ± 8 µL) than the full-term fetal lung (259 ± 14 µL). Only 7% of premature lungs will float in liquid, after inflation to 85% of the rupture vol, compared with 87% of term fetal lungs. This lung immaturity was reflected in a survival rate of only 6% by 36 h after delivery if the preterm pups were placed in air, which increased to 47% when they were placed in >95% oxygen. Though >95% oxygen enhanced survival of preterm pups during the 1st wk of life, these survivors had a 50% mortality during the 2nd wk of exposure to >95% oxygen. The preterm pup will tolerate intraperitoneal injection of antioxidant enzymes entrapped in liposomes and has a better retention of these liposomes in the lung compared with the term pup. We conclude that the preterm rat is a suitable model for studies of acute and chronic neonatal lung disease.
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Tanswell, A., Wong, L., Possmayer, F. et al. The Preterm Rat: A Model for Studies of Acute and Chronic Neonatal Lung Disease. Pediatr Res 25, 525–529 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198905000-00020
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198905000-00020
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