Abstract
Pulmonary maturity was measured in fetal rabbits after continuous infusion of metyrapone (M)(7 mg/ml at 2 ml/hr × 24 hrs) to 24 day gestation females and compared to placebo treated controls (C). 27.5 day gestation animals (total N = 56) were compared for body weight in gm (BW), wet lung weight expressed as % of body weight (LW%), mg DNA per lung (DNA), minimal surface tension of minced lung in dynes per cm (MST), distensibility expressed as cc per gm of wet lung at peak distending P of 35 cm H2O (cc/gm), and deflation stability expressed as % of maximal volume upon deflation to a P of 10 cm H20 (%Vmax). All results are mean ± standard deviation; * = p < .001.
Decreased %Vmax and increased MST after M are similar to findings in 26 day gestation fetal rabbits (JAP 30:358, 1971). Two additional M litters delivered at term (31 days) and 15 out of 17 bunnies survived to one month of age. Previously reported (Amer. Rev. Resp. Dis. 107:1109, 1973) accelerated appearance of pulmonary surfactant after intermittent metyrapone (300 mg I.M. Q8HX12) may have been due to incomplete block of adrenal 11-β hydroxylation.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kotas, R., Mims, L., Trainor, E. et al. INHIBITION OF FETAL PULMONARY SURFACTANT APPEARANCE AFTER MATERNAL METYRAPONE INFUSION. Pediatr Res 8, 364 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00145
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00145