The Effects of Prednisolone and Serum Malondialdehyde Levels in Puppies with Experimentally Induced Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

• Published in: Journal of international medical research 2003-03, Vol.31 (2), p.113-122
• Main Authors: Kirimi, E, Tuncer, O, Kösem, M, Ceylan, E, Tas, A, Tasal, I, Balahoroğlu, R, Caksen, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Dogs; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Lung - drug effects; Lung - pathology; Malondialdehyde - blood; Meconium; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome - blood; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome - drug therapy; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome - pathology; Prednisolone - administration & dosage; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0300-0605; 1473-2300
• DOI: 10.1177/147323000303100207

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different doses of prednisolone in puppies experimentally induced with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Meconium was collected from human babies in the first day of life and was released into the trachea of 11 newborn puppies to induce MAS. Puppies were treated with 2 mg/kg prednisolone (standard dose), 30 mg/kg prednisolone (megadose) or 0.9% saline, all administered intravenously. The study ended 20 h after meconium aspiration and the lungs were then scored for histopathology. Animals not treated with prednisolone deteriorated after 8 h while respiration rate, oxygenation, pH and partial pressure of carbon dioxide values were better in the prednisolone-treated groups. Histopathology scores were better in the treatment groups compared with the control group, with megadose giving the best result. At the end of the study, serum malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in the megadose prednisolone group compared with the other two groups. In conclusion, we determined that prednisolone reduced physiological and histological changes in puppies with MAS and that a 30 mg/kg dose was more effective than 2 mg/kg.