Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 4, 2026
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
Published on: October 31, 2025
Transcriptome Analysis of the Preterm Rabbit Lung after Seven Days of Hyperoxic Exposure
Thomas Salaets1, Jute Richter2, Paul Brady3
1University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Pediatrics, Leuven, Belgium.
Insights
This study used a preterm rabbit model to investigate hyperoxia-induced lung injury. Key molecular pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and lung development were identified, offering potential therapeutic targets for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal medicine
- Pulmonary research
- Animal models
Background:
- Neonatal management of preterm infants can cause lung damage, leading to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
- Animal models are crucial for understanding BPD's molecular mechanisms and identifying therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify molecular pathways involved in hyperoxia-induced lung injury using a preterm rabbit model.
- To pinpoint central molecules responsible for transcriptional changes in lung injury.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome analysis via mRNA sequencing on lungs of preterm rabbits exposed to hyperoxia (95% O2) for 7 days.
- Analysis of transcriptomic data using Array Studio and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA).
Main Results:
- Identified 2217 significantly dysregulated transcripts following hyperoxia exposure.
- Major dysregulations observed in inflammation, lung development, vascular development, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism pathways.
- 90% of dysregulated transcripts were identifiable.
Conclusions:
- Hyperoxia-induced lung injury in preterm rabbits significantly alters inflammatory, oxidative stress, and lung developmental pathways.
- Findings provide a basis for developing new treatment hypotheses for hyperoxia-induced lung injury and BPD.
- The preterm rabbit model is valuable for studying BPD pathogenesis.
Abstract:
The neonatal management of preterm born infants often results in damage to the developing lung and subsequent morbidity, referred to as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Animal models may help in understanding the molecular processes involved in this condition and define therapeutic targets. Our goal was to identify molecular pathways using the earlier described preterm rabbit model of hyperoxia induced lung-injury. Transcriptome analysis by mRNA-sequencing was performed on lungs from preterm rabbit pups born at day 28 of gestation (term: 31 days) and kept in hyperoxia (95% O2) for 7 days. Controls were preterm pups kept in normoxia. Transcriptomic data were analyzed using Array Studio and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), in order to identify the central molecules responsible for the observed transcriptional changes. We detected 2217 significantly dysregulated transcripts following hyperoxia, of which 90% could be identified. Major pathophysiological dysregulations were found in inflammation, lung development, vascular development and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. To conclude, amongst the many dysregulated transcripts, major changes were found in the inflammatory, oxidative stress and lung developmental pathways. This information may be used for the generation of new treatment hypotheses for hyperoxia-induced lung injury and BPD.
