Abstract
ABSTRACT: Our aim was to determine whether an existing lung growth deficit could be reversed, in utero, by short-term (6 d) obstruction of the fetal trachea. Chronically catheterized fetal sheep (term ∼145 d) were divided into four groups: 1) no treatment (control); 2) continuous lung liquid drainage to induce lung hypoplasia (105–134 d, drain); 3) lung liquid drainage to induce lung hypoplasia (105–128 d), followed by restoration of tracheal flow (128–134 d, drain and reconnect); and 4) lung liquid drainage to induce lung hypoplasia (105–128 d), followed by tracheal occlusion to accelerate lung growth (128–134 d, drain and obstruct). Lung liquid volumes and secretion rates were measured on d 125, 130, and 134 of gestation and postmortem data collected on d 135. Compared with controls, continuous lung liquid drainage (drain) significantly reduced wet lung weights (34.3 ± 2.6 g/kg versus 13.3 ± 1.4 g/kg) and total lung DNA contents (177 ± 11 mg/kg versus 94 ± 7 mg/kg). Reestablishing tracheal flow for 6 d (drain and reconnect) increased fetal lung wet weights (19.2 ± 1.6 g/kg), but not total DNA contents (106 ± 9 mg/kg), compared with lung liquid drained fetuses (drain). After 6 d of tracheal obstruction (drain and obstruct) lung liquid volumes, wet lung weights, and total protein contents (weight, 28.6 ± 2.8 g/kg; protein, 1376 ± 97 mg/kg) were similar to control values (weight, 34.3 ± 2.6 g/kg; protein, 1506 ± 123 mg/kg); lung DNA contents were less than control but greater than values from lung liquid drained fetuses (drain and obstruct, 140 ± 9 mg/kg versus drain, 94 ± 7 mg/kg). We conclude that obstruction of the trachea can reverse an existing fetal lung growth deficit in approximately 6 d, whereas merely restoring tracheal continuity does not increase fetal lung growth.
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Nardo, L., Hooper, S. & Harding, R. Lung Hypoplasia Can Be Reversed by Short-Term Obstruction of the Trachea in Fetal Sheep. Pediatr Res 38, 690–696 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199511000-00010
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199511000-00010
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