-transparent.png){kind=logo}
The effect of fetal gender on postnatal lung function and response to prenatal steroid exposure were examined retrospectively in a group of 115 preterm lambs. Fetuses received a single intramuscular injection of 0.5 mg/kg betamethasone alone or in conjunction with L-thyroxine 48 h before delivery at 128-d gestational age. Control animals received an equivalent volume of saline. After delivery, respiratory mechanics and blood gas parameters were recorded for 40 min. Deflation pressure volume curves were constructed in excised lungs. Right upper lobes from a randomly selected subgroup of control animals were examined morphometrically. Control (saline-treated) females were able to be ventilated at lower ventilatory pressures with equivalent tidal volumes and more efficient gas exchange. There were no gender differences in compliance, conductance, or excised lung volumes for saline-treated animals. More efficient gas exchange in females could not be explained by thinner alveolar septa or greater alveolar surface area. After hormone treatment, both males and females exhibited significant improvements in respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and an increase in alveolar surfactant concentration. However, female exhibited a significantly greater improvement than males for compliance, conductance, excised lung volume, and arterial oxygen partial pressure. These data provide a comprehensive description of gender differences in postnatal lung function and response to steroid treatment in preterm animals, and support clinical findings of sexual dimorphism.
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
April 1963,
Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.),
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
March 2013,
The Journal of endocrinology,
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
November 2014,
The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology,
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
January 2002,
Early human development,
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
January 1983,
Progress in clinical and biological research,
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
February 2017,
Journal of developmental origins of health and disease,
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
October 1995,
American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine,
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
September 2004,
Clinics in perinatology,
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
March 1977,
British journal of pharmacology,
K E Willet, and
A H Jobe, and
M Ikegami, and
D Polk, and
J Newnham, and
R Kohan, and
L Gurrin, and
P D Sly
March 2003,
Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985),
