Preterm ovine catecholamine response to umbilical cord cutting

ABSTRACT Catecholamine (CAT) release has been observed in the near term ovine fetus in response to a number of provocative stimuli. Previously we reported the effects of intrauterine

manipulation, fetal exteriorization, and umbilical cord cutting (UCC) on CAT and free fatty acid (FFA) levels in the blood of near term lambs. In the present study we repeat these

measurements in premature (m G.A.=132 d, n=5) lambs. Following fetal arterial catheterization lambs were exteriorized and maintained with an intact umbilical circulation. Following UCC the

animals were treated with intratracheal surfactant and placed on ventilators for support. This allowed us to maintain the animals with normal blood gases throughout the experiment. Results

show that instrumentation and delivery evoked a brief elevation of fetal CAT levels which returned to baseline within 30 min. UCC was followed by a marked increase in epinephrine (E) and

norepinephrine (NE) (mean peak plasma levels of 10,000 pg/ml and 3,700 pg/ml). These results were compared with data in near term lambs by two-way ANOVA; the preterm CAT peaks are higher and

reached later in preterm animals (p<0.001). The FFA response of the preterm animals was blunted when compared with the response of the near term animals (p< 0.001). Conclusions: 1)

UCC is an important stimulus for fetal CAT release in preterm as well as term animals. 2) The peak CAT levels in preterm animals are much higher and reached later after UCC than in term

animals. Speculation: Augmented CAT release in the preterm animal is an important adaptive phenomenon. ARTICLE PDF AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * UCLA School of Medicine,

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Dept. of Pediatrics, Torrance, CA D H Polk, J F Padbury, R W Lam, J P Newnham & D A Fisher Authors * D H Polk View author publications You can also search for

this author inPubMed Google Scholar * J F Padbury View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * R W Lam View author publications You can also search

for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * J P Newnham View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * D A Fisher View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Polk, D., Padbury, J., Lam, R. _et al._ PRETERM OVINE

CATECHOLAMINE RESPONSE TO UMBILICAL CORD CUTTING. _Pediatr Res_ 18 (Suppl 4), 367 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01647 Download citation * Issue Date: 01 April 1984 *

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