Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review
  • Published:

Toxic effects of different meconium fractions on lung function: new therapeutic strategies for meconium aspiration syndrome?

Journal of Perinatology volume 28, pages S113–S115 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

To review and summarize experimental data examining the effects of different fractions of meconium, and to test the effect of albumin on meconium aspiration both as prophylactic and rescue treatment. Newborn piglets 2 to 5 days of age were made hypoxic and then instilled meconium or fractions of meconium intratracheally. Meconium-added albumin and albumin instilled after meconium were also tested. Lung function and inflammatory cytokines were measured. Both the lipid- and water-soluble fractions induce inflammation in the lungs with elevation of inflammatory cytokines. When meconium was mixed with albumin, the inflammatory effects of meconium were significantly ameliorated. Rescue therapy with intratracheal albumin 5 min after the meconium aspiration syndrome was induced also improved lung function. These results indicate that at least part of the symptoms seen in the meconium aspiration syndrome could be prevented by blocking the active substances of meconium such as bile acids and free fatty acids.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Terasaka D, Clark DA, Singh BN, Rokahr J . Free fatty acids of human meconium. Biol Neonate 1986; 50: 16–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Harries JT . Meconium in health and disease. Br Med Bull 1978; 34: 75–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Moses D, Holm BA, Spitale P, Liu MY, Enhorning G . Inhibition of pulmonary surfactant function by meconium. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1991; 164: 477–481.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sun B, Curstedt T, Robertson B . Surfactant inhibition in experimental meconium aspiration. Acta Paediatr 1993; 82: 182–189.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Schrama AJ, de Beaufort AJ, Sukul YR, Jansen SM, Poorthuis BJ, Berger HM . Phospholipase A2 is present in meconium and inhibits the activity of pulmonary surfactant: an in vitro study. Acta Paediatr 2001; 90: 412–416.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hall SB, Lu RZ, Venkitaraman AR, Hyde RW, Notter RH . Inhibition of pulmonary surfactant by oleic acid: mechanisms and characteristics. J Appl Physiol 1992; 72: 1708–1716.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wang Z, Notter RH . Additivity of protein and nonprotein inhibitors of lung surfactant activity. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1998; 158: 28–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Henderson RD, Fung K, Cullen JB, Milne EN, Marryatt G . Bile aspiration: an experimental study in rabbits. Can J Surg 1975; 18: 64–69.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Zecca E, Costa S, Lauriola V, Vento G, Papacci P, Romagnoli C . Bile acid pneumonia: a ‘new’ form of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome? Pediatrics 2004; 114: 269–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Trawoger R, Cereda M, Kolobow T . A standardized method of oleic acid infusion in experimental acute respiratory failure. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2001; 61: 75–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tølløfsrud PA, Solås AB, Saugstad OD . Newborn piglets with meconium aspiration resuscitated with room air or 100% oxygen. Pediatr Res 2001; 50: 423–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tølløfsrud PA, Medbø S, Solås AB, Drevon CA, Saugstad OD . Albumin mixed with meconium attenuates pulmonary dysfunction in a newborn piglet model with meconium aspiration. Pediatr Res 2002; 52: 545–553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Tølløfsrud PA, Medbø S, Solås AB, Robertson B, Speer CP, Seidenspinner S et al. Intratracheal albumin reduces interleukin-8 in tracheobronchial aspirates in piglets after meconium aspiration. J Perinat Med 2004; 32: 78–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Tølløfsrud PA, Lindenskov PH, Drevon CA, Speer CP, Seidenspinner S, Saugstad OD . Comparison of pulmonary and inflammatory effects of lipid- and water-soluble components in meconium in newborn piglets. Biol Neonate 2003; 84: 330–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Lindenskov PH, Castellheim A, Aamodt G, Saugstad OD . Meconium induced IL-8 production and intratracheal albumin alleviated lung injury in newborn pigs. Pediatr Res 2005; 57: 371–377.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lu KW, Goerke J, Clements JA, Taeusch HW . Hyaluronan reduces surfactant inhibition and improves rat lung function after meconium injury. Pediatr Res 2005; 58: 206–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Korhonen K, Kiuru A, Svedstrom E, Kaapa P . Pentoxifylline reduces regional inflammatory and ventilatory disturbances in meconium-exposed piglet lungs. Pediatr Res 2004; 56: 901–906.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Zagariya A, Bhat R, Chari G, Uhal B, Navale S, Vidyasagar D . Apoptosis of airway epithelial cells in response to meconium. Life Sci 2005; 76: 1849–1858.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zagariya A, Bhat R, Navale S, Chari G, Vidyasagar D . Inhibition of meconium-induced cytokine expression and cell apoptosis by pretreatment with captopril. Pediatrics 2006; 117: 1722–1727.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Castellheim A, Lindenskov PH, Pharo A, Fung M, Saugstad OD, Mollnes TE . Meconium is a potent activator of complement in human serum and in piglets. Pediatr Res 2004; 55: 310–318.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

These studies have been supported by the Norwegian Council for Research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Research and Pediatrics, Rikshospitalet Medical Center, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    O D Saugstad, P A Tølløfsrud, P Lindenskov & C A Drevon

  2. Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    O D Saugstad, P A Tølløfsrud, P Lindenskov & C A Drevon

Authors
  1. O D Saugstad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P A Tølløfsrud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P Lindenskov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C A Drevon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to O D Saugstad.

Additional information

Disclosure

The authors have declared no financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saugstad, O., Tølløfsrud, P., Lindenskov, P. et al. Toxic effects of different meconium fractions on lung function: new therapeutic strategies for meconium aspiration syndrome?. J Perinatol 28 (Suppl 3), S113–S115 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.151

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.151

Search

Advanced search

Quick links