Pathogenesis

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Cardiac adaptation to severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia

7noABSTRACT Objective Prenatal heart adaptations to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) could help define postnatal outcome. Methods We retrospectively analyzed post-mortem tissues from fetuses with severe CDH (n = 7). Histology and immunohistochemical distribution of desmin, muscle actin [HHF35], endothelin-1 [ET-1] and TGF-β were evaluated. Results In the atrium, desmin, HHF35, ET-1, TGF-β were found expressed only in preterm CDH. Dishomogeneous ventricular distribution of cardiac growth factors were detected in term CDH. The cardiomyocyte nucleus/cytoplasmatic ratio in CDH was higher compared with controls (p = 0.01). Small intramyocardial artery density and vascular wall thickness was increased in CDH compared with controls (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01). In comparison with the ventricles, the interventricular septum showed a greater vessel density (p = 0.01) and a greater vascular wall thickness, particularly compared with the CDH right ventricle (p = 0.02). Conclusion Left ventricle immaturity seems to be a cardiac adaptive response of severe CDH in utero.reservedmixedPelizzo, Gloria; Bussani, Rossana; Zandonà, Lorenzo; Custrin, Ana; Bellieni, Carlo Valerio; De Silvestri, Annalisa; Calcaterra, ValeriaPelizzo, Gloria; Bussani, Rossana; Zandonà, Lorenzo; Custrin, Ana; Bellieni, Carlo Valerio; De Silvestri, Annalisa; Calcaterra, Valeri

Fetal Cardiac Impairment in Nitrofen-Induced Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Postmortem Microcomputed Tomography Imaging Study

We assessed the post-mortem micro-CT utility to evaluate fetal cardiac impairment in nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods: At 9.5d postconception (dpc), pregnant rats were exposed to nitrofen. At +18 and +21dpc, fetuses were harvested by cesarean section. Postmortem micro-CT and autopsy were performed. Fetuses were assigned to three experimental groups: Control group (C), Nitrofen group (N, exposition to nitrofen without CDH), CDH group. Cardio-pulmonary indices were evaluated. Results: An accurate morphological evaluation of the lung and heart was obtained. Early cardiac impairment was present in the N and CDH groups. At term pregnancy, an increased maximum diameter and decreased minimum diameter of the ventricles and increased interventricular septal thickness were noted in CDH. Histology showed a myocardial \u201cdisarray\u201d and an high density of mitotic myocytes in CDH at midgestation. Conclusions: The potential utility of post-mortem fetal micro-CT examination in CDH was introduced. The results highlighted the presence of cardiac adaptation in affected fetuses