Establishment of lung maturity in lambs born at term and preterm by cytological analysis, Clements test and lamellar bodies count in amniotic fluid

• Grant number: 12/07183-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Leydson Formiga Feitosa
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Cereijido Bersani Fink
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Lambs will be evaluated. Twenty-four lambs will be used during the experiment: eight lambs born at term at 145 days, eight preterm lambs born at approximately 138 days of life, and eight preterm lambs whose mothers received dexamethasone, two days before cesarean section. The lambs will be submitted for physical evaluation over 48 hours after birth, according to vitality, the color of mucosa, rectal temperature, heart rate, and respiratory characteristics (frequency and breathing pattern). The amniotic fluid will be collected from all sheep, by aspiration, and samples will be evaluated by cytology, Clements test, and lamellar body count. Blood samples will be collected from lambs at birth, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, and at six, 12, 24, and 48 hours in order to determine the globular volume, hemoglobin, white blood cells count, and protein profile (total protein and electrophoretic fractions), as well haemogasometric variables and levels of cortisol, glucose and serum lactate. The pulmonary radiological pattern of lambs born at term and preterm lambs will be identified immediately after birth, at 24 and 48 hours of life.(AU)