205 HYALURONAN AND WATER CONTENT IN THE LUNG OF PRETERM AND TERM INFANTS WHO DIED LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER BIRTH

摘要

Fetal connective tissue is known to have a very high concentration of hyaluronan (HA) and of water. In rabbit pups the concentration of HA in the lung has its lowest value one day before term gestation (Am J Physiol 260, 1449, 1991). After birth an increase in lung HA is accompanied by an increase in lung water (Ped Res 1992;32: 635& 1994;35:280).AIM: To determine the concentration of HA and water in the lung of infants who died less than 24 hours after birth.RESULTS: The HA concentration in the lungs of infants born after 23-27 gestational weeks (g.w.)ranged between 1030-2832 μg/g dry lung weight(n=8) and in those born after 2 28 g.w. between 374-1875 μg/g(n=21). The relation between HA concentration and gestational age seemed exponential. Lung water content was high in all infants. HA staining in lung structures was more widely spread in very preterm than in more mature infants. A subepithelial lining of HA could be seen in moderately preterm infants.CONCLUSION: The concentration of hyaluronan in the lungs of newborn infants decreased with increasing gestational age at births. The water content of thp lungs of all infants in this study was high.