The Effect of Oligohydramnios on Tissue and Cellular Morphometry in the Developing Fetal Murine Lung

Mechanical forces play important roles in fetal lung development, therefore, pulmonary hypoplasia is an expected response to Oligohydramnios (OH) due to the decrease of fluid pressure. Amniotic sacs were punctured in pregnant mice with untouched fetuses serving as controls. Fetuses were delivered, and lung tissues collected. Histological sections were imaged and analyzed at the tissue level and the cellular level. Various morphometric descriptors of size, shape and differentiation were used to compare tissues from OH and untouched controls. Our results show that OH leads to smaller, less developed air spaces when compared to controls. Furthermore, cells from OH fetuses are smaller and less regular in shape compared to controls. There is also a defect in the differentiation of Type I alveolar epithelial cells. Here, we show a significant change in the morphometry of the fetal lung as a result of OH. These changes are consistent with the observed pulmonary hypoplasia and are important objective parameters that help in elucidating mechanisms of lung development and potential management of OH induced pulmonary hypoplasia.