title: Caffeine Prevents Hyperoxia-Induced Functional and Structural Lung Damage in Preterm Rabbits.
abstract: Caffeine is a commonly used drug for apnea of prematurity. It may, however, also have a beneficial effect on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is the most common complication of extreme preterm birth.
  
  
  
  To study the inflammatory, structural and functional effects of caffeine in an animal model of BPD.
  
  
  
  Preterm New Zealand-Dendermonde rabbits (gestational day 28; term 31) were randomized to three groups: normoxia-placebo (N-P), hyperoxia-placebo (H-P) and hyperoxia-caffeine (H-C). Lung function was assessed on postnatal day 5, along with airway morphometry, vascular morphometry and a score observing airway inflammation.
  
  
  
  Caffeine improved lung function by increasing lung volume [mean displaced volume N-P: 40.1 ± 6 ml/kg, H-P: 27.8 ± 8 ml/kg and H-C: 34.4 ± 7 ml/kg (p < 0.05); total lung capacity: N-P: 1.17 ± 0.1 ml, H-P: 0.67 ± 0.1 ml and H-C: 1.1 ± 0.1 ml (p < 0.05)], decreasing tissue damping [N-P: 2.7 ± 0.3 cm H2O/ml, H-P: 4.6 ± 0.6 cm H2O/ml and H-C: 3.2 ± 0.4 cm H2O/ml (p < 0.05)], elastance [N-P: 9.3 ± 2.4 cm H2O/ml, H-P: 19.2 ± 7.4 cm H2O/ml and H-C: 10.7 ± 2 cm H2O/ml (p < 0.05)] and compliance [N-P: 0.06 ± 0.01 cm H2O/ml, H-P: 0.054 ± 0.01 cm H2O/ml and H-C: 0.07 ± 0.013 cm H2O/ml (p < 0.05)]. Caffeine also improved histology by decreasing alveolar size [linear intercepts; N-P: 83.6 ± 1.7, H-P: 82.9 ± 1.6 and H-C: 67.3 ± 1.4 (p < 0.05)], increasing radial alveolar count (N-P: 6.6 ± 0.5, H-P: 5.7 ± 0.6 and H-C: 7.05 ± 0.5) and decreasing the acute inflammation score [N-P: 0.3 ± 0.1, H-P: 0.5 ± 0.1 and H-C: 0.4 ± 0.1 (p < 0.05)].
  
  
  
  In preterm rabbits, caffeine reduces the functional, architectural and inflammatory pulmonary changes induced by hyperoxia in the lung.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors: Taro
authors: T
authors: Nagatomo
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Jiménez
authors: Jute
authors: J
authors: Richter
authors: Siegrid
authors: S
authors: De Baere
authors: Jeroen
authors: J
authors: Vanoirbeek
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Naulaers
authors: Karel
authors: K
authors: Allegaert
authors: Siska
authors: S
authors: Croubels
authors: Jan A
authors: JA
authors: Deprest
authors: Jaan
authors: J
authors: Toelen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000150:complications*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013990:Tidal Volume
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine