Effects of corticosteroids on fetal lung maturation

Several investigations and controlled trials have shown that antenatal administration of corticosteroids leads to a significant reduction in the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and to an overall decrease in neonatal mortality among prematurely delivered infants [1,2]. The effects of corticosteroids on the fetal lung are multilayered and affect a number of aspects of lung maturation. In order to elucidate the mechanisms by which corticosteroids enhance fetal lung maturation, we examined the effects of antenatal administration of betamethasone on different properties of lungs from prematurely delivered rabbit neonates.