title: Effects of antenatal dexamethasone on antioxidant enzymes and nitric oxide synthase in the rat lung.
abstract: We investigated the effects of prenatal dexamethasone (DEX) administration on antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in fetal and neonatal rat lungs. DEX (1 mg/kg, s.c., for 2 days) or vehicle alone was administered to pregnant rats, and the lungs of fetuses on days 19 and 21 of gestation and of 1- and 3-day-old neonates were examined. We measured protein levels of the AOEs manganese superoxide dismutase and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD and Cu-Zn SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS and e-NOS). Mn SOD, GSH-Px, and e-NOS expression gradually increased with increasing gestational and postnatal age in the lungs of the control groups. Cu-Zn SOD, CAT, and i-NOS expression did not change with increasing gestational and postnatal age in the lungs of the control groups. DEX administration had significant effects on i-NOS and e-NOS protein and mRNA expression. The increased Mn SOD, GSH-Px, and e-NOS expressions during the perinatal period suggests that antenatal developmental changes in AOEs in the lungs of premature fetuses could be reduced by reactive oxygen species-mediated injury at birth. Furthermore, antenatal glucocorticoid treatment may accelerate the development of lungs via the two types of NOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. arima3@marianna-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumai
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asoh
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeba
authors.forename: Koutaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murano
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuzuki
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koitabashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase