Clinical and endocrinological effect of the antenatal corticotherapy in canine females and neonates

• Grant number: 10/11790-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2010
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Camila Infantosi Vannucchi
• Grantee: Marília Murad Martins Barbosa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The protocol for corticosteroid administration to females in premature labor, as a therapy to stimulate pulmonary maturation and prevent morbid conditions, is successfully employed in many species, despite the lack of knowledge of its exact actuation. In canine species, no studies were performed with the fetal administration of this class of drugs, showing the need for the research in this area. The aims of this study are to evaluate the effect of the antenatal corticotherapy in term canine neonates, correlating this data to the blood concentration of cortisol, showing the possible influence in neonatal vitality; to determine neonatal cortisol serum concentration in different moments, connecting to the maternal concentrations and to infer the efficiency of the maternal-fetal corticosteroids transfer. Six females and its respectives neonates (n=12) will be used, randomly allocated in two groups: Corticotherapy Group (n=3) and Control Group (n=3). The females of the Corticotherapy Group will be treated with a single dose of 0.5 mg/kg betamethasone (Celestone ®), intramuscularly, at 55 days of pregnancy, while the Control Group will be treated with saline solution at the same volume and moment as the previous group. Female blood samples will be drawed in the following moments: immediately before treatment with betamethasone or saline solution (55 days of pregnancy), 1 hour after the treatment with betamethasone or saline solution; daily until due date (63 days of pregnancy), always at the same time. Neonatal blood samples will be drawed immediately at birth and after one hour. The neonatal vitality will be evaluated using the APGAR score immediately at birth, five and sixty minutes post natal. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

VANNUCCHI, C. I.; REGAZZI, F. M.; BARBOSA, M. M. M.; SILVA, L. G. C.; VEIGA, G. A. L.; LUCIO, C. F.; ANGRIMANI, D. S.; NICHI, M.; FURTADO, P. V.; OLIVEIRA, C. A.. Cortisol Profile and Clinical Evaluation of Canine Neonates Exposed Antenatally to Maternal Corticosteroid Treatment. REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, v. 47, n. 6, SI, p. 173-176, DEC 2012. (10/11790-4)