Effects of low-dose prenatal corticosteroid administration on the premature rat

Administration of dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg/day) to the pregnant rat on days 19 and 20 of gestation has been found to have marked effects on the body and organ weight of fetuses delivered 1 day prematurely on day 21 of gestation. Longer-term dexamethasone treatment earlier in gestation (days 14-18) had even more pronounced effects on body and organ weights in rat fetuses delivered three days prematurely. Dexamethasone treatment for 2 days prior to delivery had no effect on the survival of 1-, 2- and 3-day premature rats. The marked inhibitory effect on organ and body weight observed in the premature rats resulted from prenatal steroid therapy approximating that used in human pregnancies (dexamethasone 0.2 mg/kg/day for 48 h prior to premature delivery).