Traque-oclusão intra-útero: técnica cirúrgica assistida à corticoterapia promove aumento nos receptores de VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) em pulmões de fetos de ratas / In utero tracheal occlusion: surgical approach associated to steroid treatment increase VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) receptors in lungs of fetal rats

A hérnia diafragmática congênita (HDC) causa hipoplasia e hipertensãopulmonar e em geral leva a alta morbidade e mortalidade neonatal. Traqueo-oclusão fetal (TO) e corticoterapia pré-natal são alternativas para acelerar o crescimento pulmonar fetal e diminuir a hipoplasia na HDC. A produção de VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) está relacionada com a maturidade pulmonar e sofre alterações na HDC ainda não elucidadas.Materiais e métodos: Seis grupos de 12 fetos de ratos Spreague-Dawley foram comparados: TO, Sham, Controle, TO+Dex, Sham+Dex e Controle+Dex. No dia 18,5º foi realizada TO come sem corticoterapia utilizando dexametasona. No 21,5º dia gestacional os pesos corporal e...

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) presents with hypoplastic lungs and usually leads to pulmonary hypertension and high neonatal mortality. Fetal tracheal occlusion (TO) and prenatal corticotherapy are alternatives to accelerate fetal pulmonary growth and decrease hypoplasia in CDH. VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor)production and surfactant production by type II pneumocytes are related with pulmonary maturity and are altered in CDH, but little has been described about VEGF receptors. Our objective wasto quantify the receptors of VEGF (VEGFR) and type II pneumocytes, verifying the effects of TO and corticotherapy on normal lungs of fetal rats...

Adriamycin-induced fetal hydronephrosis

INTRODUCTION: At the end of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid (AF) depends basically on renal function, corresponding to fetal urine. Changes in AF, especially oligohydramnios, are reported in association with fetal hydronephrosis (FH). The experimental model using adriamycin in pregnant female rats has a teratogenic effect and has been classically employed to study esophageal atresia. Nevertheless, adriamycin promotes FH with high frequency as well. In the present study, using this animal model, we tried to identify the incidence and microscopic changes of FH, as well as its correlation with AF weight. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight Spreague-Dawley pregnant female rats received adriamycin 2.2 mg/kg on the 8th and 9th gestational days (considering term gestation = 22 days). Those fetuses that received adriamycin (Adriamycin Group) were compared with fetuses from 2 female rats (Control Group), which received 0.9 percent saline solution. On the 21.5 gestational day, the fetuses were collected by cesarean incision, sacrificed, and examined for macro and microscopic changes in kidneys and ureters. Fetuses with bilateral hydronephrosis formed the Hydronephrosis Group. AF weight was determined as well. RESULTS: Hydronephrosis occurred in 70 (95 percent) of the 74 fetuses in the adriamycin group against none of the 21 fetuses from the control group. The amniotic fluid weight was increased in the adriamycin group in relation to the control group (p < 0.001). The histomorphometric study revealed dilation of the renal pelvis and reduction of renal parenchyma in the hydronephrosis group in relation to the control group. Severe cortical atrophy, cortical tubular atrophy and medullar atrophy were observed in the hydronephrosis group. CONCLUSIONS: Slight renal lesions were in agreement with changes in AF weight, since they suggest that there was production of urine with the maintenance of AF.