title: Effects of antenatal application of ambroxol and glucocorticoid on lung             morphometry and signal transduction of bone morphogenetic protein in the fetal             rat.
abstract: Antenatal ambroxol, dexamethasone (Dex) and betamethasone (Beta) are used to prevent neonate respiratory distress syndrome. The present study aimed to investigate the role of ambroxol, Dex and Beta administered antenatally on lung morphogenesis and signal transduction of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in rat embryo. Fetal lungs treated with ambroxol, 1-day Beta, 3-day Dex and 3-day Beta were more mature compared to the controls as determined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Expression of BMP4 and bone morphogenetic protein receptor II (BMPR‑II) mRNA was upregulated in the 1-day-Beta-, 3-day-Dex- and 3-day-Beta-treated animals. BMP4 and BMPR-II protein were significantly increased in the 1-day-Beta-, 3-day-Dex- and 3-day-Beta-treated animals. Ambroxol, Dex and Beta promoted the morphological development of rat fetal lung; Beta was more effective than Dex. A multi-dose of glucocorticoids exhited a more beneficial effect than a single dose. The effects of Beta and Dex may be mediated by regulation of BMP signal transduction in rat fetal lung.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sheng-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xi-Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xiao-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000551:Ambroxol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051898:Smad1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D051898:Smad1 Protein; D000551:Ambroxol; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II