PEDIATRICS Vol. 35 No. 3 March 1965, pp. 382-392
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THE EFFECT OF IMMATURITY AND PRENATAL ASPHYXIA ON THE LUNGS AND PULMONARY FUNCTION OF NEWBORN LAMBS: THE EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION OF RESPIRATORY DISTRESS

E. O. R. Reynolds M.B.1, H. N. Jacobson M.D.1, E. K. Motoyama M.D.1, Y. Kikkawa, M.D.1, J. M. Craig M.D.1, M. M. Orzalesi M.D.1, and C. D. Cook M.D.1

1 Children's Hospital Medical Center, the Boston Lying-In Hospital, the Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, the Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, and the Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven

1. The effect of immaturity on the lungs and pulmonary function of newborn lambs was assessed by delivering and observing 13 animals of varying gestational ages. In lambs of approximately 125-129 days gestation changes closely resembling those of human respiratory distress syndrome developed without asphyxia. These changes consisted of retraction of the chest wall, poor gas exchange, grossly liver-like lungs, reduced pulmonary surface activity, and, on histological examination, severe atelectasis, alveolar necrosis, and hyaline membranes.

2. Similar changes were found in 4 of 6 lambs subjected to severe prenatal asphyxia lasting for up to 4 hours which were between approximately 130-136 days gestation but not in three of four comparable control animals.

3. Prolonged prenatal asphyxia was followed by changes suggesting respiratory distress in only 1 of 6 lambs above 136 days gestation. One further lamb at 140 days gestation, acutely asphyxiated to the point of cardiac arrest, developed severe changes.

4. It is postulated that the experimental disease and the syndrome seen in the human infant are produced by similar mechanisms, and that the influence of prematurity is more important than that of asphyxia.

Submitted on August 6, 1964
Accepted on October 16, 1964




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