1995 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Development of Artificial Uterus
| Project/Area Number |
05558106
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Developmental Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Biomedical engineering/Biological material science
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
BABA Kazunori Univ.of Tokyo, Faculty of Med, Ass.prof., 医学部(医), 助教授 (30181035)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MARUMO Genzo Univ.of Tokyo, Faculty of Med, Asst, 医学部(病), 助手
MACHIDA Yoshiya Univ.of Tokyo, Faculty of Med, Asst, 医学部(病), 助手
UNNO Nobuya Univ.of Tokyo, Faculty of Med, Asst, 医学部(病), 助手
OKAI Takashi Univ.of Tokyo, Faculty of Med, Ass.prof., 医学部(医), 助教授 (40126016)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1993 – 1995
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| Keywords | Artificial Uterus |
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| Research Abstract |
Preterm babies, especially born before 24 weeks of gestation, can not be expected intact survival on a conventional incubator and a respirator, as they have frail skin and immature lungs. An artificial uterus, wherein goat preterm babies are brought up in physiological circumstances just like in the uterus, has been developed and improved. Further, related researches mentioned later were done. Preterm goat fetuses were born by cesarean sections, their umbilical vessels were connected to an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) circuit and they were immersed in the hot artificial amniotic fluid. Good results for bringing up them were obtained with improvements of the ECMO circuit. Mock experiments revealed that the amount of blood contained in the ECMO circuit varies by 10 to 20 percent of the total amount of the goat baby with the blood flow rate through the circuit. However, judging from the result of the incubation experiment, it seems that the goat babies can adapt themselves to the change. Change of blood flow in the brain with the obstruction of extracorporeal circulation were examined with the microsphere technique, and it revealed that the blood flow in the brain increased temporarily with the intermittent obstructions of the umbilical cord and then decreased. Fatty acid peroxide in each part of the body were also analyzed in the same experiment, and its high level were found in the brain. Finally, a goat fetus with diaphragmatic hernia, which is one of candidate diseases for the artificial uterus, were made by means of a fetal surgery. By using this experimental animal model, a new therapy combined with the artificial uterus is expected to be developed in the future.
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Research Products
(6 results)
