Animal Studies of Surfactant Replacement Therapy

Abstract

Before using surfactant preparations in animal experiments or in clinical trials, it is necessary that they fulfil specific in vivo requirements. But conclusive criteria for the effectiveness of a surfactant have not yet been defined. Thus, some standard levels for improvement of lung function, or threshold levels, must be established in standardized animal models with surfactant deficiency. The respiratory distress syndrome model of premature rabbit fetuses is the most sensitive model, followed by the surfactant deficiency model by lung lavage, while the model of viral pneumonia is the least sensitive when testing exogenous surfactant. With a less-effective exogenous surfactat, a small improvement in lung function in the rabbit fetus model and the lung lavage model can be observed, while in the viral pneumonia model almost no improvement occurred. Only a functional effective surfactant fulfilled all our criteria for functional improvement in lung function.

Complications affecting preterm neonates from 1991 to 2006: what have we gained?

“…During the study period, changes in clinical management have taken place, which we will address in more detail. Whereas surfactant has been used since the early 1990s, many novel treatments such as HFOV, use of postnatal corticosteroids and inhaled NO have found their way into routine clinical practice (14–17). Also, the antenatal use of steroids has increased over the last decade (18), as has the antenatal use of antibiotics.…”

Neonatal and infant physiology—impact of cardiopulmonary bypass in the developing patient

“…Recently, it has been recognized that disturbances of function of surfactant can occur with a variety of injuries to the lungs in children and adults. 93 ' 94 Surfactant proteins and lipid processing are altered after exposure to alveolar hyperoxia. 95 " 101 Exposure of the circulation to the membrane oxygenator and synthetic circuit leads to activation of a variety of humoral mediators associated with lung injury leading to pulmonary edema: elastase, thromboxane Aj, 102 ' 103 and complement.…”

Restoration of Lung Compliance with Calf Lung Surfactant Extract and a Surfactant Analog in an in situ Model of Surfactant Deficiency in Rats

“…Exogenous surfactant replacement treatment for pul monary surfactant deficiency in infant respiratory dis tress syndrome (RPS) and in animal models of infant RDS has received growing attention over the past three decades [1][2][3]. A survey of the recent literature shows that investigators vary in their use of surfactant preparations [I].…”