Developing bronchopulmonary epithelium of the human fetus secretes fluid

We studied human fetal lung tissue in submersion organ culture to determine whether the bronchopulmonary epithelium secretes fluid during development. In this system the acinar tubules continued to grow, secrete fluid, and become progressively dilated. Baseline transepithelial potential differences (psi t) of -0.5 to -11 mV (mean, -3.8 mV, lumen negative, n = 27) were measured with microelectrodes after 3-8 days in culture, suggesting active electrolyte transport. Bumetanide (500 microM), an inhibitor of chloride secretion in other systems, decreased the basal psi t from -5 +/- 1.5 to -3.2 +/- 1.6 (SE) mV (P less than 0.05, n = 6), suggesting that chloride transport contributed to the voltage. Isoproterenol (5 microM) increased the baseline psi t from -5.6 +/- 2.1 to -9.2 +/- 2.5 (SE) mV (P less than 0.05, n = 4). Subsequent addition of bumetanide inhibited the isoproterenol-induced stimulation of the psi t by 20% (P less than 0.05). 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. (CPT-cAMP, 50 microM) and 3-isobutyl 1-methylxanthine (IBMX, 100 microM) had similar effects, causing an increase in the psi t from -2.2 +/- 0.5 to -8 +/- 1.6 (SE) mV, an effect that was inhibited by the addition of bumetanide (P less than 0.005, n = 6). Both isoproterenol and CPT-cAMP/IBMX produced significant increases in the percentage luminal area of the explants at 12 and 24 h after exposure compared with control. We conclude that 1) the developing bronchopulmonary epithelium (acinar tubules) contributes to lung fluid production in the human fetus, 2) fetal lung fluid secretion is chloride dependent, and 3) chloride secretion and fluid secretion may be stimulated by a beta-agonist and cAMP.