The in vitro effect of triamcinolone acetonide on branching morphogenesis in the fetal rat lung

We have studied the effect of triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) on airway morphogenesis of the Sprague-Dawley fetal rat in whole organ lung cultures from day 15 to day 21 of equivalent gestational age (6 days in culture). TAC produced an increased number of peripheral buds from day 18 onward and the airway and airspaces had larger lumens. Airway branching was increased compared to controls, and there was a higher proportion of airway epithelium and a lower proportion of mesenchyme. Cell height was significantly lower in TAC treated lungs except on day 17. This was due to accumulation of glycogen prior to the increased branching activity. In both controls and TAC-treated lungs, peripheral bud number and volume proportion of epithelium increased with time in culture, whereas volume proportion of mesenchyme, mean chord length of airways and airspaces, and epithelial cell height decreased. These changes were more pronounced in the TAC-treated group and were significant. However, TAC-treated lungs were morphologically irregular. We conclude that TAC has a direct effect on airway morphogenesis and it promotes growth of morphologically abnormal lungs. TAC also appears to enhance airway branching and morphologic changes interpreted as increased epithelial maturation.