The Effects of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone, Glucocorticoids and Insulin on Experimentally Induced Diaphragmatic Hernia in Newborn Rats

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), glucocorticoids and insulin on experimentally induced diaphragmatic hernia. Method: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia was induced by antenatal nitrofen administration. The offsprings of five pregnant rats were assigned into 5 groups; the control group (CG), the sham group (SG), the TRH group (nitrofen and TRH; TRHG), the glucocorticoid group (nitrofen and dexamethasone; GG) and the insulin group (nitrofen and insulin; IG). On gestational day 21, each mother rats gave birth to 7, 7, 8, 10 and 9 infants in the respective groups. After recording the Apgar scores, diaphragmatic defects were evaluated, lung tissues were weighed and histologically evaluated. Results: The median Apgar scores in the groups were 5, 3, 4, 4 and 5, respectively. The mean Apgar score in the Group TRHG or IG was not statistically significantly different from that of the Group CG . In all groups, the number of defects in the diaphragm was less than those of the Group SG. The lowest defect rate (12.5%) was observed in the Group TRHG. The closest lung weight to CG was observed in IG. The mean numbers of alveoli and bronchi were highest in the Groups CG and IG. Conclusion: Antenatal administration of insulin demonstrated significant improvements on Apgar scores, lung weights and the number of alveoli and bronchi of rats with diaphragmatic hernia. This study may lead to the new studies on antenatal insulin administration in diaphragmatic hernia. © Copyright Turkey Association of Pediatric Surgery.