Abstract
Chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD) remains to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants.We made a neonatal mouse model of CLD by hyperoxia exposure and examine the effects with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on functional and pathological abnormalities in this model.
Neonatal animals of BALB/C and CD-1 mice were kept on room air or hyperoxia (60 or 90%) since the 1st postnatal day.On 21 days of age, pulmonary function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) utilizing a barometric plethysmographic system, and histological changes in the lung were examined (experiment 1).Neonatal CD-1 mice were exposed to room air or 90% oxygen for 7 days since 3 days of age.HGF was administered to the half of hyperoxic animals.On 17 days of age, BHR and histological changes in the lung were examined (experiment 2).
On experiment 1, mice exposed to hyperoxia exihibited abnormal pulmonary function test results, BHR, and decreased alveolarization.In experiment 2, HGF significantly reduced BHR and tended to improve alveolarization in hyperoxia exposed CD-1 mice.
In conclusion, this model shows functional and pathological abnormalities characteristic to CLD and HGF might attenuate these abnormalities.
