Induction of antenatal periventricular leukomalacia by hemorrhagic hypotension in the chronically instrumented fetal sheep

Tadashi Matsuda, Kazuhiko Okuyama, Kazutoshi Cho, Nobuhiko Hoshi, Yoshinori Matsumoto, Yoshiyasu Kobayashi, Seiichiro Fujimoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to determine whether systemic hypotension induced by rapid withdrawal of fetal blood would induce periventricular leukomalacia in the brain of premature fetal sheep. STUDY DESIGN: At 113 days' gestation, systemic hypotension (mean blood pressure <30 mm Hg) was induced by withdrawing approximately 35% of the fetoplacental blood volume in the hemorrhage group (n = 6), whereas in the control group (n = 4) isovolemic exchange transfusion was carried out. Six days after the insult, fetal brains were removed and processed for histologic analysis. RESULTS: Five of the 6 fetuses in the hemorrhage group exhibited periventricular white-matter lesions, consisting of nodular coagulation necrosis or diffuse axonal swellings or both. No abnormal findings other than these lesions were detected in the fetal brains in either experimental group. CONCLUSION: Hemorrhagic hypotension antenatally induced brain lesions similar to those of periventricular leukomalacia, suggesting that it is an essential element in the pathogenesis of periventricular leukomalacia in premature fetuses.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)725-730
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume181
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Brain damage
  • Fetal sheep
  • Hemorrhagic hypotension
  • Prematurity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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