Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
14:40
Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
Published on: October 25, 2015
Maternal and intra-amniotic corticosteroid effects on lung morphometry in preterm lambs
Graeme R Polglase1, Ilias Nitsos, Alan H Jobe
1School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia. graeme.polglase@uwa.edu.au
Pediatric Research
|May 23, 2007
Summary
Intra-amniotic betamethasone and budesonide improve preterm lamb lung structure and function. These corticosteroid treatments enhance alveolar development and lung mechanics, offering potential benefits for premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Neonatology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Preterm birth complications significantly impact neonatal lung development.
- Antenatal corticosteroids are crucial for lung maturation but optimal delivery routes are debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of intra-amniotic (IA) versus maternal intramuscular (IM) betamethasone and IA budesonide on fetal sheep lung development.
- To assess lung structural and functional changes at 2 and 7 days post-treatment.
Main Methods:
- Preterm fetal sheep were treated with IA betamethasone, IA budesonide, IM betamethasone, or saline.
- Lung morphometry and function were analyzed 2 and 7 days before delivery at 124 days gestation.
Main Results:
- IA corticosteroids increased alveolar volume and altered alveolar structure (thinner walls, more ducts) compared to controls.
- All corticosteroid treatments improved lung function, correlating with structural changes and increased surfactant.
- IA and IM corticosteroid administration induced similar structural and functional lung improvements.
Conclusions:
- Intra-amniotic corticosteroid administration is a viable alternative route for promoting fetal lung maturation.
- Both IA and IM corticosteroid treatments enhance lung structure and function in preterm lambs.
- These findings support the potential of IA corticosteroids to improve outcomes for preterm infants.
