Estimation of lung liquid production in fetal sheep with blue dye dextran and radioiodinated serum albumin

Selective type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibition alters pulmonary hemodynamics and lung liquid production in near-term fetal lambs

Nitric oxide causes dilation of the pulmonary circulation and reduction in net lung liquid production in the fetal lamb, two critical perinatal events. Phosphodiesterase inhibition alone causes similar changes and also enhances the effects of nitric oxide. To better define the cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) pathway in these events, we studied the effects of a specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, E4021, on pulmonary arteries and veins isolated from near-term fetal lambs, as well as in intact, chronically instrumented late-gestation fetal lambs. In the in vitro experiments, both pulmonary arteries and veins relaxed to E4021 in a dose-dependent manner, although pulmonary veins were significantly more sensitive to E4021. Pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-l-arginine (L-NNA) abolished this response in arteries but not in veins. In both arteries and veins, pretreatment with beta-phenyl-1,N2-etheno-8-bromoguanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothionate blunted relaxations to E4021. In the in vivo experiments, E4021 infusion into either the pulmonary artery or central venous circulation increased pulmonary blood flow and decreased pulmonary vascular resistance, and these responses were blunted by pretreatment with L-NNA. Net lung liquid production, measured by a dye-dilution technique using blue dextran, decreased when E4021 was infused directly into the pulmonary artery and this effect was not altered by L-NNA. There was no effect on lung liquid production when E4021 was infused into the central venous circulation. Taken together, these results suggest that the pulmonary hemodynamic effects of E4021 involve the cyclic GMP pathway and are primarily nitric oxide synthase dependent. In contrast, the effects on E4021 on net lung liquid production appear to be independent of nitric oxide synthase, suggesting that these two critical perinatal events might be modulated independently.

Changes in alveolar epithelial cell proportions during fetal and postnatal development in sheep

Basal lung expansion is an important determinant of alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) phenotype in the fetus. Because basal lung expansion increases toward term and is reduced after birth, we hypothesized that these changes would be associated with altered proportions of AECs. AEC proportions were calculated with electron microscopy in fetal and postnatal sheep. Type I AECs increased from 4.8 +/- 1.3% at 91 days to 63.0 +/- 3.6% at 111 days of gestation, remained at this level until term, and decreased to 44.8 +/- 1.8% after birth. Type II AECs increased from 4.3 +/- 1.5% at 111 days to 29.6 +/- 4.1% at 128 days of gestation, remained at this level until term, and then increased to 52.9 +/- 1.5% after birth. Surfactant protein (SP)-A, -B and -C mRNA levels increased with increasing gestational age before birth, but the changes in SP expression after birth were inconsistent. Thus before birth type I AECs predominate, whereas after birth type II AECs predominate, possibly due to the reduction in basal lung expansion associated with the entry of air into the lungs.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide and lung-liquid reabsorption in vitro by lungs from fetal guinea-pigs

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is present in the lungs, notably in their internal neuroendocrine system; however, its use is not clear. It was investigated for its possible ability to cause lung-liquid reabsorption around birth. Lungs from 31 late-term fetal guinea-pigs (at 60 ± 2 days of gestation) were supported in vitro for 3 h; lung-liquid movements were monitored by a dye-dilution method. Untreated control preparations (n = 9) produced fluid at 1.85 ± 0.40 mL·kg–1 body mass·h–1 (mean ± SD), with no significant change (ANOVA, regression analysis). Those given 10–8 M PACAP in the middle hour turned to reabsorption (n = 3) or reduced production markedly (n = 3) (average fall 84.4 ± 5.4%; significant at P < 0.001–0.0005); effects continued and increased after the PACAP was removed. Preparations given 10–9 M PACAP reacted similarly, but there was partial recovery after treatment (five reabsorbed, four reduced production; average fall 91.4 ± 14.3%; significant at P < 0.01–0.0005). Preparations given 10–10 M PACAP all reduced production, with partial recovery (average fall 43.5 ± 8.2%; significant at P < 0.005–0.0005). Preparations given 10–11 M PACAP showed little or no effect. The linear log dose–response curve became maximal at 10–9 M (r2 = 0.98; theoretical threshold 10–13 M). The results increase the likelihood that the neuroendocrine system is important in lung-liquid reabsorption, and suggest that PACAP could combine its relaxation of airways with lung-liquid removal, and therefore aid the first attempts of the newborn to breathe.