Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Preterm Infants: Up to 5 pregnant baboons will be moved indoors to single caging. They will have a healthcheck with blood collection as well as an ultrasound to confirm gestational age of pregnancy. The blood will be processed for a CBC and routine chemistry by the SNPRC Clinical Pathology Laboratory. Upon approval by both the SNPRC veterinarian and PI, three animals will be selected to receive two injections of antenatal steroids followed by a C-section for preterm delivery. Unselected dams will be released back to the SNPRC colony. Infants will be euthanized by SNPRC staff followed by tissue harvest by an SNPRC pathologist and tissue processing by PI staff. Dams will be returned to the SNPRC colony after appropriate recovery time (about 14 days). Term Infants: Up to 5 pregnant baboons with estimated due dates within the date range requested by the PI will be earmarked for infant sale. Two weeks before their due date, they will be brought inside. After the dams give birth, the infants will be examined by an SNPRC veterinarian and the PI will be notified. Infants will be euthanized by SNPRC staff 1-2 days after delivery followed by tissue harvest by anSNPRC pathologist and tissue processing by PI staff