Babies and bubbles Surfactant Trials #3

The problem that was presented was the inability of newborns being able to breath. The cause of this problem was the lack of surfactant, a protein found in the alveoli (sacs) of the lungs. The surfactant aided in the contraction of the lungs. In newborns, the alveoli would collapse thus making it harder for the infant to breathe in and out. This was later named Hyaline Membrane Disease. Other newborns that were affected soon recovered. These children started to generate the substance, surfactant, while being in special care. Many trials were done to figure the problem and a way to cure it. One trial was done with the use of rabbit as the experimental organism. The scientist would birth them prematurely and find the same things would occur. They thought surface tension was a key player throughout the process. The scientists would use excess water in the rabbits to see if surface tension did play a role in this. When poison gas came into the equation, bubbles would appear in the airways. The foam in the airways would cause the lungs to remain sturdy. The bubbles in the airways must be lined with a substance. That would cause a sturdy bubble. Without a lining substance difficulties would arise. One scientist realized that the surface tension changed as the lung contracted. He came to the conclusion with the use of a homemade surface balance. The change in surface tension is normal and is a good sign. Lambs were also used to find a cure. The cure is steroid therapy. The lambs were one month prematurely and exhibited struggles of breathing. Steroid injections were unintentional, but was needed for the acceleration of lung development.