EFFECTS OF PROSTAGLANDINS AND INDOMETHACIN ON THE CELLULAR INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE FOLLOWING SURGICAL TRAUMA IN FETAL RABBITS

This study has examined the effects of prostaglandins E(2) and F-2a (P GE(2) and PGF(2a)) and indomethacin on cellular inflammation in fetal rabbits. Fetuses heal differently from adults. incisions heal with no scar or inflammation; excisional wounds exposed to amniotic fluid (AF) do not heal or become inflamed, and have high tissue levels of PGE(2) and PGF(2a); excisional wounds protected from AF do heal and become i nflamed, and have low tissue PG levels. The authors inserted slow-rele ase pellets [control, PGE(2) (10 mu g), PGF(2a) (10 mu g), indomethaci n (10 mu g)] into subcutaneous pockets in fetal rabbits on day 25 of g estation (one per fetus). Pellets were also placed in subcutaneous poc kets in the does. Fetuses and doe tissues were recovered 72h after sur gery. Control pellets in fetuses had a slight inflammatory response, w ith some cells present. Fetal PGE(2) pellets had a layer 5-10 cells th ick surrounding the pellet, and fetal PGF(2a) pellets had a 10-15-cell layer. Fetal indomethacin pellets had no response, with no inflammato ry cells present. All pellets placed in does elicited a slight cellula r inflammatory response, equal to that seen with control pellet in fet uses. These results show that PGE(2) and PGF(2a) are potent in-vivo pr omoters of cellular inflammation in fetal rabbits, but not in adult ra bbits. Indomethacin suppresses the foreign-body response in fetal rabb its, but not in adult rabbits.