Abstract
The pulmonary epithelium of the fetal sheep normally secretes liquid (LL) which is reabsorbed during labour in response to an increase in fetal plasma adrenaline(1). The sensitivity to adrenaline increases about 10 times in the last 2 weeks of gestation. We have now shown that fetal thyroidectomy performed in 9 fetal sheep at 113-119 days' gestation, prevents the development of this reabsorptive response. After 130 days' gestation reabsorption of LL was the usual response to adrenaline in the euthyroid fetuses, whereas most of the thyroidectomised animals continued to secrete during adrenaline infusion. (Only 3 of 16 infusions caused a minimal reabsorption). In euthyroid fetuses addition of cAMP (5mg) to LL induced a reabsorptive response similar to that seen with adrenaline infusion(2) but in thyroidectomised fetuses, cAMP never produced LL absorption. We conclude that development of the reabsorptive effect depends on maturation of a post β receptor mechanism.
1. Brown MS, Olver RE, Ramsden CA, Strang LB, Walters DV. J.Physiol. (1983) 344, 137-152.
2. Olver RE, Ramsden CA, Strang LB, Walters DV. J.Physiol. (1987) In press.
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Barker, P., Ramsden, C., Strang, L. et al. THYROID HORMONE IS REQUIRED FOR MATURATION OF LUNG LIQUID REABSORPTIVERESPONSE IN THE FETAL SHEEP. Pediatr Res 22, 229 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00096
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00096