title: Dexamethasone and betamethasone for prenatal lung maturation: differences in vascular endothelial growth factor expression and alveolarization in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fetal and postnatal lung development is regulated by glucocorticoids. The use of antenatal corticosteroids is reported to produce effects on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays a crucial role in pulmonary development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare pulmonary VEGF expression in newborn rats that were exposed to antenatal betamethasone versus dexamethasone and to evaluate its impact on the alveolarization period of rats (0-14 days of life).
  
  
  METHODS
  Betamethasone, dexamethasone or equivalent saline solution (control group) was administered to pregnant rats on 20th and 21st days of gestation. Pulmonary VEGF mRNA, VEGF protein expression, and alveolarization changes were evaluated at birth and at 14 days of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Betamethasone and dexamethasone were observed to have different actions on VEGF expression with a correlation with alveolarization on both days of study. Antenatal dexamethasone decreased VEGF expression, betamethasone tended to produce the induction of the expression of VEGF, and moreover, betamethasone did not produce a decrease in alveolarization as seen in the animals that received dexamethasone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the notion that betamethasone could be a better choice than dexamethasone for antenatal lung maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital of Salamanca, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain. lausafe@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: San Feliciano
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Remesal
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isidoro-García
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ludeña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003907:Dexamethasone; D001623:Betamethasone