A morphometric study of lung maturation in the adrenocorticotrophin-infused fetal lamb.
Adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) effects on lung development were studied in sheep. ACTH was infused into 10 fetal lambs at 129 days of gestation at a rate of 29, 110 or 250 micrograms/day for 72 h, a time course which was independent of the mechanical and hormonal forces associated with labor. Lungs were compared with those of normal fetuses at term (day 147). ACTH accelerates maturation of components of lung structure toward term values. Different components of cytodifferentiation of the type II alveolar cell showed different levels of sensitivity. The degree of acceleration, not the nature of the changes, was influenced by dose.
Kendall
J Z
JZ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
Rivera-Alcina
M E
ME
Plopper
C G
CG
Weir
A J
AJ
Randall
G C
GC
Saldana-Gautier
L
L
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012756:Sheep
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D011374:Progesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D010100:Oxygen; D006854:Hydrocortisone