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Updated: Aug 19, 2025
The Perinatal Asphyxiated Lamb Model: A Model for Newborn Resuscitation
Published on: August 15, 2018
Hemodynamic impacts of apelin-13 in a neonatal lamb model of septic peritonitis
Émile Simard1,2, Christophe Morin1,2, David Coquerel3
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Background:
Apelins are potential candidate therapeutic molecules for hemodynamic support. The objective of this study was to assess the hemodynamic impacts of apelin-13 in a neonatal lamb model of septic shock.
Methods:
Lambs were randomized to receive apelin-13 or normal saline. Septic shock was induced by injecting a fecal slurry into the peritoneal cavity. Lambs underwent volume repletion (30 mL/kg over 1 h) followed by intravenous administration of 5 incremental doses (D) of apelin-13 (D1 = 0.039 to D5 = 19.5 µg/kg/h) or normal saline.
Results:
Following fecal injection, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cardiac index (CI) dropped in both groups (p < 0.05). The MAP decreased non-significantly from D1 to D5 (p = 0.12) in the saline group, while increasing significantly (p = 0.02) in the apelin group (-12 (-17; 12) vs. +15 (6; 23) % (p = 0.012)). Systemic vascular resistances were higher in the apelin-13 group at D5 compared to the saline group (4337 (3239, 5144) vs. 2532 (2286, 3966) mmHg/min/mL, respectively, p = 0.046). The CI increased non-significantly in the apelin-13 group.
Conclusion:
Apelin-13 increased MAP in a neonatal lamb septic shock model.
Impact:
Administration of apelin-13 stabilized hemodynamics during the progression of the sepsis induced in this neonatal lamb model. Systemic vascular resistances were higher in the apelin-13 group than in the placebo group. This suggests ontogenic differences in vascular response to apelin-13 and warrants further investigation. This study suggests that apelin-13 could eventually become a candidate for the treatment of neonatal septic shock.
