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Updated: May 27, 2026
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Effect of increased intra-abdominal pressure on urinary system development in fetal rabbits
Ibrahim Karnak1, Pergin Atilla, Sevda Müftüoğlu
1Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Pediatric Surgery, 06100 Sıhhiye, Ankara, Turkey. ikarnak@hacettepe.edu.tr
Aim:
To investigate the effect of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on the fetal urinary system.
Materials And Methods:
Pregnant rabbits (15-day gestation) were used. Control (n = 5) and experimental (EG, n = 4) groups underwent intraperitoneal catheter placement. The IAP was increased by intraperitoneal air insufflations during the third trimester in the EG. At term, organ weight and organ weight/body weight (BW) ratios were noted, histological examination of the urinary system organs was performed, and the apoptotic indexes were calculated.
Results:
BW and total renal weight were significantly increased in the EG (38.65 ± 8.34 g vs 49.36 ± 8.81 g, p = 0.008; and 0.406 ± 0.132 g vs 0.531 ± 0.129 g, p = 0.02). Total renal weight/BW ratio did not differ between groups (0.0103 ± 0.001 vs 0.0107 ± 0.001; p = 0.33). Bladder weight and bladder weight/BW ratio was also significantly increased in the EG (0.067 ± 0.014 g vs 0.114 ± 0.026 g, p = 0.00; and 0.00175 ± 0.00026 vs 0.00229 ± 0.00036, p = 0.001). Immature glomeruli and collecting tubules, and a thin and underdeveloped muscular layer in the ureter and bladder were encountered in the EG, and the apoptotic cell index was significantly increased (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Increased IAP has an adverse effect on fetal urinary system development, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of various congenital abnormalities of the urinary system.
