Effect of ductus ligation on cardiopulmonary function in premature baboons.
BACKGROUND
The role of the patent ductus arteriosus in the development of chronic lung disease in surfactant-treated premature newborns remains unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of ductus ligation on cardiopulmonary function and lung histopathology in premature primates.


METHODS
Baboons were delivered at 125 d, (term = 185 d) treated with surfactant, and ventilated for 14 d. Serial echocardiograms and pulmonary function tests were performed. Animals were randomized to ligation (n = 12) or no ligation (controls, n = 13) on Day 6 of life. Necropsy was performed on Day 14.


RESULTS
Compared with nonligated control animals, ligated animals had lower pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratios, higher systemic blood pressures, and improved indices of right and left ventricular performance. The ligated animals tended to have better compliance and ventilation indices for the last 3 d of the study. There were no differences between the groups in proinflammatory tracheal cytokines (interleukin [IL] 6 and IL-8), static lung compliance, or lung histology.


CONCLUSIONS
Although a persistent patent ductus arteriosus results in diminished cardiac function and increased ventilatory requirements at the end of the second week of life, ligation on Day 6 had no measurable effect on the histologic evolution of chronic lung injury in this 14-d baboon model.
McCurnin
Donald C
DC
Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, TX, USA. mccurnin@uthscsa.edu
Yoder
Bradley A
BA
Coalson
Jacqueline
J
Grubb
Peter
P
Kerecman
Jay
J
Kupferschmid
John
J
Breuer
Chris
C
Siler-Khodr
Theresa
T
Shaul
Philip W
PW
Clyman
Ronald
R
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008026:Ligation; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D048531:Papio papio; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*