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Endotoxemia Severely Affects Circulation During Normoxia and Asphyxia in Immature Fetal Sheep

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Abstract

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) affect the fetal cardiovascular system in a way likely to cause brain damage.

Methods

Thirteen fetal sheep were chronically instrumented at a mean gestational age of 107 ± 1 days. After control measurements of organ blood flow (microsphere method), blood gases, and acid base balance were obtained, seven of 13 fetuses received LPS (53 ± 3 μg/kg fetal weight) intravenously. Sixty minutes later, asphyxia was induced by occlusion of the maternal aorta for 2 minutes. Measurements of organ blood flows were made at −60, −1, +2, +4, +30, and +60 minutes.

Results

Unlike in the control group, after LPS infusion there was a significant decrease in arterial oxygen saturation (−46%; P < .001) and pH (P <. 001). In LPS-treated fetuses the portion of combined ventricular output directed to the placenta decreased significantly (−76%; P <. 001), whereas output to the fetal body (+60%; P <. 001), heart (+167%; P <. 05), and adrenals (+229%; P <. 01) increased. Furthermore, during asphyxia circulatory centralization was impaired considerably in LPS-treated fetuses, and there was clear evidence of circulatory decentralization. This decentralization caused a severe decrease in cerebral oxygen delivery by 70%. Wihin 30 minutes after induction of asphyxia five of seven LPS-treated featuses died, whereas all control fetuses recovered completely.

Conclusions

Endotoxemia severely impaired fetal cardiovascular control during normoxia and asphyxia, resulting in a considerable decrease in cerebral oxygen delivery. These effects might have important effects in the development of fetal brain damage associated with intrauterine infection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Y. Garnier MD, A. Coumans MD, R. Berger MD, A. Jensen MD & T. H. M. Hasaart MD, PhD

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Y. Garnier MD, A. Coumans MD, R. Berger MD, A. Jensen MD & T. H. M. Hasaart MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Y. Garnier MD
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  2. A. Coumans MD
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  3. R. Berger MD
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  4. A. Jensen MD
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  5. T. H. M. Hasaart MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Jensen MD.

Additional information

Society for Gynecologic Investigation, President’s Presenter Award. 47th Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, March 23–25, 2000.

The excellent technical assistance of May Bost, Joyce Suyk, Monique de Groot is gratefully acknowledged.

This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Garnier, Y., Coumans, A., Berger, R. et al. Endotoxemia Severely Affects Circulation During Normoxia and Asphyxia in Immature Fetal Sheep. Reprod. Sci. 8, 134–142 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1177/107155760100800303

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