Mineralocorticoid receptor expression in late-gestation ovine fetal lung.

Publication/Presentation Date

2-1-2005

Abstract

Changes in adrenal corticosteroid secretion result in changes in lung liquid production in the late-gestation fetus. To test for the presence of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in fetal pulmonary epithelium, lungs from fetal sheep of 120 to 130 days' gestation (term about 148 days) were collected and frozen for identification of mRNA for MR in homogenates by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or for determination of 3H-cortisol binding at MR. Other samples of fetal lungs were fixed for localization of MR and Na+, K+ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) alpha by immunohistochemistry. MR mRNA was identified in lung tissue from fetuses and newborn lambs, but not from pregnant ewes; MR-regulated genes, including SGK1 and ENaCalpha were also expressed in fetal and newborn lungs. Immunoreactive MR was found in pulmonary epithelial cells and to be colocalized with Na+, K+ ATPase alpha in many sites. These results indicate that the molecular apparatus for mineralocorticoid-stimulated lung liquid reabsorption is present in epithelium by 120 days' gestation.

Volume

12

Issue

2

First Page

84

Last Page

91

ISSN

1071-5576

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

15695102

Department(s)

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Document Type

Article

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