Development of an artificial womb system to support extremely preterm ovine fetuses

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08292
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Shimpei 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (70509413)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 齋藤 昌利 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (00451584) ; 埴田 卓志 東北大学, 大学病院, 講師 (30400360) ; 佐藤 信一 東北大学, 大学病院, 助手 (30770359) ; 池田 秀之 東北大学, 大学病院, 助手 (40822888)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 人工子宮 / 人工胎盤 / ヒツジ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

If an artificial uterine system that can support while maintaining fetal circulation is developed, it may be possible to grow extremely preterm infants without complications and improve the prognosis. The purpose of this study was to clarify its effectiveness.
The sheep fetuses were divided into control group (n = 9) that grows in the womb of the native mother and artificial womb group (n = 9) that grows in the artificial womb, and were managed for 120 hours. The survival rate in the artificial uterine system was 87.5%, and there was no significant difference in growth between them. Brain white matter injury was observed in only one fetus who suffered from temporary circulatory insufficiency due to catheter trouble. It was shown that if the device is improved, this system can become a therapeutic device that contributes to the improvement of the prognosis of extremely preterm infants.

Free Research Field

新生児学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現行の「保育器と呼吸器で育てる新生児集中治療」では，成育限界期に出生する早産児が後遺症なき生存を達成することは難しい．胎児循環から成人循環への転換と未成熟肺での肺呼吸を出生後から強制されるため容易に呼吸循環不全に陥り，脳室内出血，脳白質損傷，壊死性腸炎，慢性肺性心など重篤な合併症を生じるからである．胎児循環を維持しながら成育できる人工子宮システムが開発されれば，超早産児を合併症なく成育でき，予後を改善する可能性がある．本研究により，人工子宮システムが超早産児の予後の改善に寄与する治療デバイスになりうることが示された．