Abstract
Aminophylline (A) administration to pregnant rabbits prior to premature delivery was previously shown to enhance fetal survival. We have now studied effects of maternally administered A on incorporation of labeled glucose (G) and palmitate (P) into phospholipids in rabbit fetal lung slices. Mean incorporation ± SD for 10 paired litters, A treated and controls (C) was as follows:
Significant differences were found for saturated phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). Precursor incorporation into phosphatidylglycerol (PG) was not significantly higher in the A group but PG and PI content in μmoles/g. lung was greater after 3 days of treatment (2.27 ± 0.40 vs 1.67 ± 0.36) and (0.26 ± 0.035 vs 0.23 ± 0.011) respectively. Glycogen content in mg./g. lung and specific activity in nmoles G incorporated/mg. glycogen was reduced in the A group, (2.63 ± 0.94 vs 3.97 ± 0.14) and (38.7 ± 8.7 vs 48.8 ± 5.0). Analysis of triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FA) pool sizes showed a lower TG and higher FA content in A treated tissue suggesting increased lipolysis. The results further support the role of A in enhancing synthesis of fetal lung surfactant.
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Sevanian, A., Gilden, C., Kaplan, S. et al. 1224 ENHANCEMENT OF FETAL LUNG SURFACTANT PRODUCTION BY AMINOPHYLLINE. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 568 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01230
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01230