Anti-inflammatory therapy in an ovine model of fetal hypoxia induced by single umbilical artery ligation

作者：Bertucci Micka C; Loose Jan M; Wallace Euan M; Jenkin Graham; Miller Suzanne L^*

来源：Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 2011, 23(2): 346-352.

DOI：10.1071/RD10110

• intrauterine growth restriction
• placental insufficiency
• sheep

Perinatal morbidity and mortality are significantly higher in pregnancies complicated by chronic hypoxia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Clinically, placental insufficiency and IUGR are strongly associated with a fetoplacental inflammatory response. To explore this further, hypoxia was induced in one fetus in twin-bearing pregnant sheep (n = 9) by performing single umbilical artery ligation (SUAL) at 110 days gestation. Five ewes were administered the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine (SSZ) daily, beginning 24 h before surgery. Fetal blood gases and inflammatory markers were examined. In both SSZ- and placebo-treated ewes, SUAL fetuses were hypoxic and growth-restricted at 1 week (P<0.05). A fetoplacental inflammatory response was observed in SUAL pregnancies, with elevated proinflammatory cytokines, activin A and prostaglandin E(2). SSZ did not mitigate this inflammatory response. It is concluded that SUAL induces fetal hypoxia and a fetoplacental inflammatory response and that SSZ does not improve oxygenation or reduce inflammation. Further studies to explore whether alternative anti-inflammatory treatments may improve IUGR outcomes are warranted.

• 出版日期2011
• 单位河北医科大学