Abstract: Objective To induce a congenital diaphragmatic hernia model of fetal rat and to test the effect of vitamin C given in late gestation on the incidence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia(CDH) and lung development of fetal rat. Methods Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group(C), vitamin C group(W), CDH group(N) and treatment group(T). Nitrofen(100 mg) was given intragastrically to the rats of CDH and treatment groups on day 9.5 of gestation to induce a congenital diaphragmatic hernia model of fetal rat. Vitamin C(1.5 mg) was given intraperitoneally to vitamin C and treatment group from day 16.5 to 20.5. The offsprings were recovered on day 21(term=22nd). Fetal rats and their lungs were weighed. The incidence of CDH was examined. Immunohistochemical staining(Ki-67) was performed. The percentage of proliferative cells were counted by software. Results The incidences of CDH in CDH group and treatment group were the same. The mean body weight of treatment group was higher than those of the other three groups. The mean fetal lung weight was the highest in vitamin C group and treatment group and the lowest in CDH group. Percentage of proliferation cells in CDH group was lower than those of the other three groups. Conclusion By the use of nitrofen we induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia model in fetal rat. In the CDH group, the mean lung weight and the percentage of proliferation cells decreased. There may be lung hypoplasia in this group. There was no obvious evidence that vitamin C could change the incidence of CDH in rat model induced by nitrofen. Vitamin C increased mean lung weight and percentage of proliferation cells of CDH fetal rats, so it may improve lung development of fetal rats.

Key words: congenital diaphragmatic hernia, lung hypoplasia, nitrofen, vitamin C, rat