Corticosteroids and Fetal Intervention Interact to Alter Lung Maturation in Preterm Lambs

The relationship between cortisol infusion and time of fetal catheterization on postnatal lung function of prematurely delivered lambs was investigated with the hypothesis that the intervention of catheterization would alter fetal responsiveness to the maturational effects of corticosteroids. Fetal catheterization was performed on d 117 or on d 122 of gestation. Cortisol or saline control infusions were begun on d 126, with delivery 60 h later on d 128. The animals were ventilated for 1.25 h after delivery, and compliance, the ventilation efficiency index, libeled albumin leak into and out of the lungs, alveolar and lung saturated phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein A were measured to evaluate lung performance and biochemical indicators of maturation