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The Perinatal Asphyxiated Lamb Model: A Model for Newborn Resuscitation
Published on: August 15, 2018
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Preterm birth and ventilation decrease surface density of glomerular capillaries in lambs, regardless of postnatal
Eveline Staub1,2, Mar Janna Dahl2, Calan Yost2
1Division of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Basel UKBB, Basel, Switzerland.
Pediatric Research
|January 7, 2017
Summary
Respiratory support for preterm lambs, including invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and noninvasive support (NIS), reduced glomerular capillarization. This finding suggests potential long-term renal risks in premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Renal development
- Respiratory support
Background:
- Preterm birth complicates neonatal respiratory management with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and noninvasive support (NIS).
- While NIS is less injurious to the brain and lungs than IMV, its effects on glomerular development are not fully understood.
- Preterm birth itself may disrupt kidney glomerular architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential effects of IMV and NIS on glomerular architecture in moderately preterm lambs.
- To test the hypothesis that IMV causes greater glomerular architectural disruption than NIS.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of lamb kidneys from moderately preterm lambs (gestation ~131 days).
- Lambs received antenatal steroids and surfactant, resuscitated with IMV, then switched to either IMV or NIS for 3 or 21 days.
- Quantification of structural indices of glomerular architecture.
Main Results:
- Neither IMV nor NIS affected the number of glomerular generations.
- Glomerular capillary surface density was similar between IMV and NIS groups at 3 and 21 days.
- However, glomerular capillary surface density was significantly lower in both ventilated groups compared to unventilated controls.
Conclusions:
- Moderate preterm birth and respiratory support (IMV or NIS) impair glomerular capillarization in the lamb kidney.
- This reduction in glomerular development may increase the risk of adult-onset hypertension and renal dysfunction.
