Fetal rat lung phosphatidylcholine synthesis in diabetic and normal pregnancies. A comparison of prenatal dexamethasone treatments

Michael Y Tsai, Mark W. Josephson, David M. Brown

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of maternal diabetes upon fetal lung surfactant phospholipid metabolism were studied using 19-day gestational age fetal rats from mothers with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. In this experimental animal model, maternal glucose intolerance significantly impaired fetal body and lung development. However, incorporation of [14C]palmitate and [3H]choline into lung total and disaturated phosphatidylcholine was unimpaired in offspring of diabetic mothers. Dexamethasone, which is known to promote fetal lung maturation in normal pregnancies, was administered to diabetic and control mothers during late gestation. Prenatal dexamethasone inhibited lung growth in both diabetic and control pregnancies. While this agent slightly stimulated [14C]palmitate incorporation into total phosphatidylcholine and markedly enhanced [3H]choline incorporation into both disaturated and total phosphatidylcholine in control pregnancies, it failed to stimulate incorporation of either precursor into fetal lung from diabetic pregnancies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)174-181
Number of pages8
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/Lipids and Lipid Metabolism
Volume664
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 23 1981

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank Barbara Jensen, Melissa West, Lisa Wincentsen and Laura Classen for their expert technical assistance. This study was supported in part by grants to M.Y.T. from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (79R139), the Minnesota Medical Foundation (DRF-3-78), the American Diabetes Association, Minnesota Affiliate, and the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota.

Keywords

  • (Fetal lung)
  • Development
  • Dexamethasone treatment
  • Diabetes
  • Maternal diabetes
  • Phosphatidylcholine synthesis
  • Streptozotocin

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