Development of the coronary vasculature in hypoxic fetal rats treated with a purified perfluorocarbon emulsion.
OBJECTIVE
To quantitatively define the coronary vascular bed in the 21-day-old rat fetus with gestational normoxia and hypoxia; to determine if maternal supplemental oxygen and/or oxygen-carrying perfluorocarbons (PFCs) influence development of coronary vessels; and to compare the results using purified and unpurified PFC treatment.


METHODS
Unilateral uterine artery ligation was introduced on gestational day 17 in pregnant animals. Control fetuses were from unligated uterine horns. Experimental intervention occurred during gestational days 17 to 21, with fetuses recovered on day 21. Developing coronary vessels were analyzed quantitatively via light microscopy.


METHODS
Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats.


METHODS
Following ligation, pregnant rats received no further treatment, supplemental oxygen inhalation alone, or daily intravenous purified PFC treatment, with or without supplemental oxygen.


RESULTS
Hypoxia caused an increase in resorptions (P less than 0.001), and decreased fetal body weight (P less than 0.001) and heart weight (P less than 0.05). Although the area occupied by developing coronary vessels (sinusoids) was substantially increased, maturation was unchanged. Oxygen supplementation alone did not appreciably influence fetal resorptions or body weight in ligated horns, but did increase fetal heart weight. Sinusoidal area decreased (P less than 0.01), with no effect on sinusoidal maturity. Purified PFC treatment did not alter maternal weight gain or fetal body weight, and moderately decreased resorptions in ligated horns. Fetal heart weight was augmented with purified perflurochemical, while unpurified perfluorochemical treatment diminished heart weight. Both PFC emulsions substantially decreased sinusoidal area.


CONCLUSIONS
Perflurocarbon treatment associated with supplemental oxygen is capable of improving the hypoxic effects on fetal heart and coronary vessel development if the emulsion used is appropriately purified.
Campbell
S E
SE
Department of Physiology, University of Ottawa Health Sciences Centre, Ontario.
Kuo
C J
CJ
Hebert
B
B
Rakusan
K
K
Marshall
H W
HW
Faithfull
N S
NS
D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000196:embryology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000254:growth & development*; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000628:therapy*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011060:Poloxalene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D011060:Poloxalene