Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Intratracheal Instillation of Stem Cells in Term Neonatal Rats
Published on: May 4, 2020
Beneficial Effect of Etanercept on Hyperoxic Lung Injury Model in Neonatal Rats
Mehmet Yekta Oncel1, Sadik Yurttutan2, Evrim Alyamac Dizdar1
1a Division of Neonatology , Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Purpose:
To determine whether prophylaxis with etanercept, an anti-inflammatory drug, would decrease the severity of lung injury in a neonatal rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD);
Materials And Methods:
Rat pups were divided into three groups: pups exposed to room air (group 1; n = 10), to hyperoxia + placebo (group 2; n = 9), and to hyperoxia + etanercept (group 3; n = 8). Lung morphology was assessed by alveolar surface area percentage, which is a measure of alveolar size. The severities of lung inflammation and antioxidant capacity were assessed by quantifying tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) from lung homogenate;
Results:
The percentage of alveolar surface areas were significantly higher in group 3 compared to group 2 (p = .004) and similar in both group 1 and group 3 (p = .21). The mean level of lung MDA was significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 and group 3 (p < .05 for both). Lung homogenate SOD activities in group 3 was significantly higher than group 2 (p < .001). Furthermore, group 3 pups had lower levels of TNF-α and TGF-β in lung homogenate than that in group 2 (p < .05 for both) but similar in both group 1 and group 3;
Conclusion:
Etanercept has favorable effects on alveolarization as well as inflammation and oxidative stress markers in a neonatal rat model of BPD.
