Brief report: Body water estimates in normally grown baboon neonates

Water contents of various body water compartments were estimated within nine hours of birth in 11 preterm and eight term baboon (Papio cynocephalus neonates. Estimated water contents of all body compartments (in ml) increased linearly with birthweight (r = 0.52 to 0.90, P ≦ 0.007) and with gestational age (r = 0.46-0.94, P ≤ 0.05). When body water estimates were expressed in proportion to bodyweight (in ml/kg), preterm neonates had significantly larger mean antipyrine space and intracellular water than their term peers. Mean corrected bromide space, interstitial water, plasma volume, blood volume, and red cell volume were similar in preterm and term neonates. Although there are minor differences in body water contents and distribution between baboon and human neonates, baboon data are sufficiently similar to human data to justify using the baboon fetus and neonate as a model for investigations of human development.