The influence of hormones on the biochemical development of fetal rat lung in organ culture. II. Insulin.

Summary: The influence of insulin on the biochemical and morphologic maturation of 19-day fetal rat lung (term is 22 days) was studied in an organ culture system. Exposure to insulin for 24 hr resulted in a significant increase in the glycogen content and the rate of glucose oxidation to CO2. In association with this, there was morphologic evidence of delayed lung maturation as evidenced by a significant decrease in the number of lamellar bodies and type II cells in the explants.