Sex-Specific Survival, Growth, Immunity and Organ Development in Preterm Pigs as Models for Immature Newborns.

ABSTRACT: Background: After very preterm birth, male infants show higher mortality than females, with higher incidence of lung immaturity, neurological deficits, infections, and growth failure. In modern pig production, piglets dying in the perinatal period (up to 20%) often show signs of immature organs, but sex-specific effects are not clear. Using preterm pigs as model for immature infants and piglets, we hypothesized that neonatal survival and initial growth and immune development depend on sex. Methods: Using data from a series of previous intervention trials with similar delivery and rearing procedures, we established three cohorts of preterm pigs (90% gestation), reared for 5, 9, or 19 days before sample collection (total n = 1,938 piglets from 109 litters). Partly overla

SUBMITTER: Bæk O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7905020 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature