A research team led by experts at Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Cincinnati Children’s reports early-stage success at helping animals survive low-oxygen conditions by providing an enema-like treatment that allowed them to “breathe” through their intestines.
Details were published May 14, 2021, in the journal Med. (Post updated with print cover image June 17, 2021)
The work was inspired by Takebe’s experience with his father suffering with lung disease, the methods some aquatic animals use to absorb oxygen, and by experiments led years ago by Cincinnati Children’s research pioneer Leland Clark, PhD, who devoted much of his career working with partial success to develop a form of artificial blood.
Takebe, the senior author for the study, holds appointments at both Cincinnati Children’s and TMDU. His previous work has included multiple breakthroughs in organoid development, including the world’s first three-organoid system (liver, pancreas and bile ducts).
In the new study, the team developed two methods to deliver oxygen to the bloodstream via rectal access to the intestines. One was a gas ventilation system, the other involved highly oxygenated liquid perfluorochemicals.
Both approaches showed promise in tests involving rodent and porcine models.