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Intrauterine Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Chorioamnionitis in a Sheep: Does It Affect the Auditory System?

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Abstract

Background

Fetal exposure to in utero inflammation such as chorioamnionitis is related to central nervous system injury. We hypothesized that chorioamnionitis can provoke inflammatory changes in the perilymph and alter hearing outcome.

Methods

Pregnant ewes were randomized into 2 groups: intrauterine injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; n = 19) or saline (n = 21). In the first experiment, fetal perilymph samples were taken for cytokine analysis. In the second experiment, consecutive bone-conducted auditory brain stem responses were obtained from 1 to 7 months after birth.

Results

Perilymph samples showed a significant elevation in interleukin 8 in the LPS group. Auditory brain stem response analysis demonstrated higher response thresholds and a prolongation of absolute peak V and interpeak intervals I to V and III to V in the LPS group compared to sham treatment.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the hypothesis that an intrauterine inflammation by LPS can result in a fetal perilymphatic inflammatory response and functional impaired hearing outcomes after birth in a sheep model.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P Debyelaan 25, P.O. Box 5800, 6202, Maastricht, AZ, the Netherlands

    Adriana L. Smit MD, Robert J. Stokroos MD, PhD, Lucien J. C. Anteunis PhD, Michelene N. Chenault MSc, Simone M. Schaefer MD, Luke W. G. Schoenmakers MD & Bernd Kremer MD, PhD

  2. School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Adriana L. Smit MD, Robert J. Stokroos MD, PhD, Lucien J. C. Anteunis PhD, Michelene N. Chenault MSc & Boris W. Kramer MD, PhD

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Verena A. Lambermont MD & Boris W. Kramer MD, PhD

  4. Department of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Michelene N. Chenault MSc

  5. School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Bernd Kremer MD, PhD & Boris W. Kramer MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Adriana L. Smit MD
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  2. Verena A. Lambermont MD
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  9. Boris W. Kramer MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Adriana L. Smit MD.

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Smit, A.L., Lambermont, V.A., Stokroos, R.J. et al. Intrauterine Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Chorioamnionitis in a Sheep: Does It Affect the Auditory System?. Reprod. Sci. 23, 257–263 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719115602759

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