Abstract
Maternally administered cortisone (C) has not been reported to produce premature maturation of fetal rabbit lungs although this effect has been shown when C is injected directly into the fetus. We injected hydrocortisone (0.65 mg/kg) or saline subcutaneously (s.c.) t.i.d. into pregnant rabbits on days 24-26 of gestation. On day 26, under barbiturate anesthesia, we performed a laparotomy (sterile) and through the intact uterus injected 14C CDP choline and 3H methionine s.c. into the fetuses. On day 27 we killed the does and removed the fetuses. The 2 fetal groups were similar in body weight and length. We measured cyclic AMP (cAMP), total lipids, phospholipids (PL) and labeled phosphatidyl choline (PC) in the lungs. Components of PL were identical in the 2 groups.
Preliminary evidence indicates that cAMP phosphodiesterase activity is inhibited in the C treated fetuses. We conclude that increased cAMP concentration is correlated with increased production of pulmonary surfactant and its early maturation following C administration.
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Barrett, C., Sevanian, A., Lavin, N. et al. EFFECTS OF MATERNALLY ADMINISTERED CORTISONE ON CYCLIC AMP AND PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN FETAL RABBIT LUNGS. Pediatr Res 8, 362 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00132
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00132