Journal article
Ex Vivo MRI Analytical Methods and Brain Pathology in Preterm Lambs Treated with Postnatal Dexamethasone
Nathanael J Yates, Kirk W Feindel, Andrew Mehnert, Richard Beare, Sophia Quick, Dominique Blache, J Jane Pillow, Rod W Hunt
Brain Sciences | MDPI | Published : 2020
Abstract
Postnatal glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone are effective in promoting lung development in preterm infants, but are prescribed cautiously due to concerns of neurological harm. We developed an analysis pipeline for post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess brain development and hence the neurological safety profile of postnatal dexamethasone in preterm lambs. Lambs were delivered via caesarean section at 129 days' (d) gestation (full term ≈ 150 d) with saline-vehicle control (Saline, n = 9), low-dose tapered dexamethasone (cumulative dose = 0.75 mg/kg, n = 8), or high-dose tapered dexamethasone (cumulative dose = 2.67 mg/kg, n = 8), for seven days. Naïve fetal lambs (136 d ge..
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Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Awarded by NHMRC
Funding Acknowledgements
Studies were funded by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) GNT1057514 and GNT1057759; and the Telethon Perth Children's Hospital Research Fund. JJP was supported by an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (RF1077691). Unrestricted donations were received for surfactant (poractant alfa, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Italy), ventilation circuits (Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, NZ) and monitoring lines (ICU Medical, Aust). RWH was supported by a Research Fellowship provided by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.