Premature Infants
Conditions
Keywords
pesticide exposure, respiratory control, sleep
Brief summary
During pregnancy, the foetus is therefore chronically exposed to a large number of substances. A number of studies have started to emphasize the effects of this antenatal exposure on the newborn infant's morphological parameters (weight, crown-rump length, etc.). However, in addition to these morphological effects, pesticides may also induce various effects on physiological functions, as some pesticides act as inhibitors of neurotransmitters involved in many nervous system regulation pathways in man. This is particularly the case for organophosphates, which act as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. A previous study conducted by the coordinator of the project presented here demonstrated the presence of high levels of this type of pesticide in meconium (1st stool) in neonates born in Picardy. This inhibition of the enzyme metabolizing ACh could have an impact on neurophysiological functions mediated by this neurotransmitter. Sleep or respiratory control, vital functions of the neonate particularly in preterm neonates, could therefore be affected. The PhysioMéco project is therefore designed to study the possible links between antenatal exposure to pesticides and modifications of respiratory control allowed by peripheral chemoreceptor in preterm neonates. Antenatal exposure will be determined by pesticide assays in the meconium of neonates in combination with an exposure questionnaire to determine the sources of these pesticides. Sleep and respiratory control will be studied in these neonates nursed in incubators. Hypoxic test will be used in order to assess respiratory control involving the peripheral chemoreceptors.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
26 Weeks to 7 Months
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* premature neonates born at after 26 week of gestational age studied after 32 weeks, mothers living in Picardy and more than 18 years
Exclusion criteria
* neonates with neurological, respiratory and cardiac disorders or receiving treatments known to affect cardiorespiratory variables or sleep structure
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| response to hypoxia test (i.e peripheral chemoreceptor activity) in exposed and no exposed premature infant | 10 days |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| arousal in response to hypoxic test | 10 weeks |
| sleep structure with EEG | 10 weeks |
| apnea frequency | 10 weeks |
Countries
France
Outcome results
None listed