Is the quickness of resuscitation after hypoxia influenced by the oxygen concentration? Metabolomics in piglets resuscitated with different oxygen concentrations

Perinatal asphyxia is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. There is an on-going debate in the literature concerning the correct oxygen concentration to be used during neonatal resuscitation. Aim of this study was to investigate whether different metabolic profiles occurred according to oxygen concentration administered and quickness of resuscitation. We tested the hypothesis that the metabolic profile may be affected by the response to the different oxygen concentration and influenced the different time of recovery. Forty male Landrace/Large newborn piglets were the subjects of the present study. As a consequence of the different time of resuscitation, a metabolomics analysis between the two classes of reoxygenated piglets with the slowest and fastest recovery was carried out: first group (4 piglets) RT < 15 minutes and second group (6 piglets) RT > 68 minutes. In addition, H-NMR metabolomics study was performed showing different metabolic profiles between the two groups. The most significant metabolites were: N-phenylacetylglycine, acetoacetate, methanol, glucose, sarcosine, succinate, dimethylamine and alanine. Our results seem to indicate that the rapidity of resuscitation is influenced by the oxygen concentration.