Tracheal occlusion early in gestation leads to greater lung growth compared to late occlusion. – A nitrofen rat model for congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Prenatal tracheal occlusion (TO) promotes lung growth and partial reversal of structural anomalies in animal models for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Similar impact on lung growth is seen in early results of clinical trials. A known side effect of TO is a decreased number of type II pneumocytes, hence surfactant. Limited data exists about TO outcome at different phases of lung development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of early (d19, pseudoglandular phase) versus late TO (d20, cannalicular phase) in a nitrofen rat model. Female Wistar rats were mated within a 1-hour interval. Nitrofen…