title: Pharmacologic regulation of alveolar surfactant in fetal and newborn rabbits: ACTH, heroin, isoxsuprine, and glucocorticoid.
abstract: The evidence that pharmacologic doses of glucocorticoids induce lung maturation and diminish risk of respiratory distress syndrome has been reviewed briefly. Studies with heroin corroborate that pharmacologic induction of lung maturation is possible in the human fetus. Endogenous fetal glucocorticoids may serve as a physiologic mechanism that prepares the immature lungs for birth. Catecholamines may induce release of stored surfactant from type 2 cells into alveolar spaces.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003932:Heroin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007556:Isoxsuprine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D003932:Heroin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D007556:Isoxsuprine