Vitamin A decreases the incidence and severity of nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia in rats.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a major cause of refractory respiratory failure in the newborn. Pulmonary hypoplasia often limits survival. Vitamin A (Vit A) is an important signal for lung growth. We hypothesized that antenatal treatment with Vit A would stimulate lung growth and decrease mortality in experimental CDH induced in rats by ingestion of the herbicide nitrofen (2, 4-dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenyl ether). Nitrofen was administered to pregnant rats on day 12 of gestation (term 22 days). Rats were assigned to five groups: three groups received one dose of oral antenatal Vit A (15,000 IU) before (day 10), concomitant with (day 12), or after (day 14) nitrofen administration; one group received only nitrofen; and a control group received vehicle (olive oil). The incidence of CDH was markedly lower in all groups receiving Vit A (day 10, 44%; day 12, 20%; and day 14, 40%) compared with the nitrofen-treated group (84%; P < 0.05). The 72-h survival was higher in all 3 Vit A-treated groups (day 10, 40%; day 12, 58%; and day 14, 70%) compared with the nitrofen-treated group (16%; P < 0.05). Lung-to-body weight ratio and radial saccular count were significantly increased by Vit A. Antenatal treatment with Vit A lowers the incidence and severity of experimental CDH and increases lung growth and maturation.
Thébaud
B
B
Réanimation Néonatale, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, 92141 Clamart, France.
Tibboel
D
D
Rambaud
C
C
Mercier
J C
JC
Bourbon
J R
JR
Dinh-Xuan
A T
AT
Archer
S L
SL
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D015994:Incidence; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006540:Herbicides; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011506:Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D004247:DNA; C007350:nitrofen