OBJECTIVE: Prenatal Ureaplasma spp exposure is associated with preterm birth and modulates the neonates' susceptibility to respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We hypothesized that intra-amniotic ureaplasmas would cause lung inflammation and alter fetal lung development. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant ewes bearing singleton fetuses were given an intra-amniotic injection of 20 x 10 6 CFUs of U parvum (serovar 3) or vehicle, either 1, 3, 6, or 10 weeks before the delivery of preterm lambs at 124 days of gestation (n = 4-10 per group) for evaluation of inflammation and fetal lung maturation. RESULTS: Ureaplasmas were recovered from amniotic and fetal lung fluids after intra-amniotic injection. Body weight and umbilical arterial pH were reduced by Ureaplasma exposure for 10 weeks ( P < .05). Ureaplasmas caused progressive lung inflammation and improvements in lung function that were associated with increased surfactant lipids (control, 0.13 +/- 0.02 micromol/kg; 10 weeks of Ureaplasma exposure, 7.43 +/- 3.0 micromol/kg; P < .001) and surfactant protein messenger RNA expression. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to ureaplasmas in amniotic fluid alters ovine fetal development.
OBJECTIVE: Prenatal Ureaplasma spp exposure is associated with preterm birth and modulates the neonates' susceptibility to respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We hypothesized that intra-amniotic ureaplasmas would cause lung inflammation and alter fetal lung development. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant ewes bearing singleton fetuses were given an intra-amniotic injection of 20 x 10 6 CFUs of U parvum (serovar 3) or vehicle, either 1, 3, 6, or 10 weeks before the delivery of preterm lambs at 124 days of gestation (n = 4-10 per group) for evaluation of inflammation and fetal lung maturation. RESULTS: Ureaplasmas were recovered from amniotic and fetal lung fluids after intra-amniotic injection. Body weight and umbilical arterial pH were reduced by Ureaplasma exposure for 10 weeks ( P < .05). Ureaplasmas caused progressive lung inflammation and improvements in lung function that were associated with increased surfactant lipids (control, 0.13 +/- 0.02 micromol/kg; 10 weeks of Ureaplasma exposure, 7.43 +/- 3.0 micromol/kg; P < .001) and surfactant protein messenger RNA expression. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to ureaplasmas in amniotic fluid alters ovine fetal development.
Authors: Matthew W Kemp; Masatoshi Saito; Ilias Nitsos; Alan H Jobe; Suhas G Kallapur; John P Newnham Journal: Reprod Sci Date: 2010-10-05 Impact factor: 3.060
Authors: Suhas G Kallapur; Timothy J M Moss; Machiko Ikegami; Richard L Jasman; John P Newnham; Alan H Jobe Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2005-08-18 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Timothy J M Moss; Christine L Knox; Suhas G Kallapur; Ilias Nitsos; Christina Theodoropoulos; John P Newnham; Machiko Ikegami; Alan H Jobe Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2008-01 Impact factor: 8.661