Growth, elastin concentration, and collagen concentration of perinatal rat lung: effects of dexamethasone

The ontogenesis of elastin and collagen accumulation and growth of the lung were studied in Wistar rats from day 18 of gestation until day 30 postnatally. Dexamethasone phosphate 0.1 mg or normal saline solution every 8 h for three doses was injected into pregnant rats on day 17. The effects of treatment, age, and sex on lung wet weight, lung dry weight, body weight, DNA, protein and desmosine (estimated by radioimmunoassay), and hydroxyproline were determined in the offspring. Dexamethasone inhibited lung growth and, to a lesser extent, body weight gain. While lung wet weight, lung dry weight, and body weight remained significantly reduced until postnatal day 15, the lung weight/body weight ratio was depressed only until postnatal day 5. The lung dry weight/lung wet weight ratio was decreased on day 20 of gestation and at birth. DNA concentration remained slightly but significantly reduced throughout the study period. Desmosine but not hydroxyproline concentration was lower after dexamethasone treatment during the period of rapid postnatal desmosine accumulation (day 10 p less than 0.05, day 15 p less than 0.01, day 20 p = 0.06).