Supplementing pregnant Merino ewes with caffeine to improve neonatal lamb thermoregulation and viability

Caffeine is widely used to improve neonatal health in animals with low vitality. Due to its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, caffeine stimulates the cardiorespiratory system by antagonism of adenosine receptors and alteration in Ca+2 ion channel activity. Moreover, the availability of intracellular Ca+2 also has positive inotropic effects by increasing heart contractibility and by having a possible positive effect on neonate vitality. Nonetheless, since neonatal enzymatic and tissular systems are immature at birth, there is a controversy about whether caffeine is an effective therapy for newborns. This review aims to analyze the basic concepts of caffeine in neonatal animal models (rat and mouse pups, goat kids, lambs, and piglets), and it will discuss the neuroprotective effect and its physiological actions in reducing apnea in newborns.

Section: Future Directionssupporting

confidence: 76%

Cardiorespiratory and Neuroprotective Effects of Caffeine in Neonate Animal Models

Mota-Rojas

Villanueva-García

Hernández-Ávalos

et al. 2023

“…Moreover, studies in neonate humans have shown that plasma half-life and metabolism of caffeine are longer compared with adults or animals [39]. In this sense, Murdock et al [28] analyzed the optimal concentration and duration of caffeine to improve lamb viability, finding that 20 mg/kg administered at day 120 of gestation increased lambs' RT, as well as the attempts to suck colostrum and suction time. Accordingly, caffeine metabolism in the newborn can be considered less efficient due to a lower expression of the CYP1A2 protein enzymes, responsible for drug biotransformation, resulting in lower production of active metabolites such as theophylline and theobromine, the main caffeinederived effectors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, in veterinary medicine, the relation between the respiratory stimulatory effect and the improvement in vitality when using caffeine has not been completely established, since there is no defined therapeutic dose to improve the vigor of newborn animals with low birthweight [10,27]. Nonetheless, different doses (e.g., 10-27 mg/kg) of caffeine have recently been studied to reduce neonatal cardiorespiratory alterations [28][29][30][31]. In a study carried out in piglets by Jarrat el al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caffeine Administration in Piglets with Low Birthweight and Low Vitality Scores, and Its Effect on Physiological Blood Profile, Acid–Base Balance, Gas Exchange, and Infrared Thermal Response

Villanueva-García,

Ghezzi,

Mora-Medina

et al. 2023

Intrapartum asphyxia, fetal hypoxia, and their consequences (e.g., acidosis, hypercapnia, hypoglycemia, and hypothermia) are the main factors related to physio-metabolic imbalances that increase neonatal mortality in piglets, particularly in piglets with low birthweight and low vitality scores. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three different doses of caffeine (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) administered orally to 480 newborn piglets with low birthweight and low vitality scores. Blood gas parameters (pH, pO2, pCO2, and HCO3−), physio-metabolic profile (Ca++, glucose, and lactate), and the thermal response assessed through infrared thermography in four thermal windows (ocular, auricular, snout, and hindlimb) and rectal temperature were evaluated during the first 24 h of life. Doses of 30 mg/kg resulted in significant differences at 24 h for all evaluated parameters, suggesting that caffeine administration improved the cardiorespiratory function and metabolic activity of piglets by reducing acidosis, restoring glycemia, and increasing surface and rectal temperature. In conclusion, caffeine at 30 mg/kg could be suggested as an appropriate dose to use in piglets with low birthweight and low vitality scores. Future research might need to study the presentation of adverse effects due to higher caffeine concentrations.

“…For example, a study evaluated the optimal concentration and duration of caffeine in Merino ewes at 120 and 140 days of gestation. In animals receiving 10 or 20 mg/kg of caffeine in the feed at 120 days of gestation and 20 mg/kg after 140 days of gestation, it was observed that the high administration of caffeine from day 120 allowed the lambs to present a higher rectal temperature, greater suckling attempts, and a longer sucking time [153]. This suggests that caffeine administration during late pregnancy would be a more viable option to guarantee its effectiveness in the newborn.…”

Section: Caffeinementioning

confidence: 99%

Vitality in Newborn Farm Animals: Adverse Factors, Physiological Responses, Pharmacological Therapies, and Physical Methods to Increase Neonate Vigor

Bienboire-Frosini

Muns

Marcet-Rius

et al. 2023

Vitality is the vigor newborn animals exhibit during the first hours of life. It can be assessed by a numerical score, in which variables, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, mucous membranes’ coloration, time the offspring took to stand up, and meconium staining, are monitored. Vitality can be affected by several factors, and therapies are used to increase it. This manuscript aims to review and analyze pharmacological and physical therapies used to increase vitality in newborn farm animals, as well as to understand the factors affecting this vitality, such as hypoxia, depletion of glycogen, birth weight, dystocia, neurodevelopment, hypothermia, and finally, the physiological mechanism to achieve thermostability. It has been concluded that assessing vitality immediately after birth is essential to determine the newborn’s health and identify those that need medical intervention to minimize the deleterious effect of intrapartum asphyxia. Vitality assessment should be conducted by trained personnel and adequate equipment. Evaluating vitality could reduce long-term neonatal morbidity and mortality in domestic animals, even if it is sometimes difficult with the current organization of some farms. This review highlights the importance of increasing the number of stock people during the expected days of parturitions to reduce long-term neonatal morbidity and mortality, and thus, improve the farm’s performance.