[Experimental study of the action of corticosteroids on pulmonary surfactant]

The authors carried out studies on pregnant rats of Wistar strain, divided into three groups: a control group of rats treated with saline, a group of rats treated with celeston and a group of rats treated with oradexon. The amniotic fluid, obtained by amniocentesis from the amniotic sac, was examined. Threshold separation, showing the concentrations of phospholipids in the amniotic fluid, was determined by a new original physico-chemical method--the method of foam black film. The results from the 3 groups were compared. The difference in the values of threshold separation between the control and treated groups is obvious as well as between the groups treated with celeston and oradexon in favour of oradexon, which is a proof for the effect of corticosteroids on the surfactant system.