title: Rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist, restores alveolar and pulmonary vascular development in a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested whether rosiglitazone (RGZ), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist, can restore alveolar development and vascular growth in a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A rat model of BPD was induced through intra-amniotic delivery of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and postnatal hyperoxia (80% for 7 days). RGZ (3 mg/kg/d, i.p.) or vehicle was given daily to rat pups for 14 days. This model included four experimental groups: No BPD+vehicle (V), No BPD+RGZ, BPD+V, and BPD+RGZ. On D14, alveolarization, lung vascular density, and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphometric analysis revealed that the BPD+RGZ group had significantly smaller and more complex airspaces and larger alveolar surface area than the BPD+V group. The BPD+RGZ group had significantly greater pulmonary vascular density than the BPD+V group. Western blot analysis revealed that significantly decreased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-2 by the combined exposure to intra-amniotic LPS and postnatal hyperoxia were restored by the RGZ treatment. RVH was significantly lesser in the BPD+RGZ group than in the BPD+V group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that RGZ can restore alveolar and pulmonary vascular development and lessen pulmonary hypertension in a rat model of BPD.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82 Gumi-ro 173beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 463-707, Korea. choicw@snu.ac.kr.
authors: Hyun Ju
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Youn Jin
authors: YJ
authors: Lee
authors: Chang Won
authors: CW
authors: Choi
authors: Jin-A
authors: JA
authors: Lee
authors: Ee-Kyung
authors: EK
authors: Kim
authors: Han-Suk
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Beyong Il
authors: BI
authors: Kim
authors: Jung-Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000819:agonists*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047495:PPAR gamma; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000077154:Rosiglitazone
keywords: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; alveolarization; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ; rosiglitazone