Neonatal ACE inhibition in rats interferes with lung development

• The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is developmentally up-regulated and it is essential for kidney development in several species. Given the fact that the rat lung undergoes postnatal development, the mammalian lung possesses the highest angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels and ACE activity increases during the first weeks postpartum, we tested the hypothesis that ACE inhibition influences postnatal lung development. Rats were given the ACE inhibitor enalapril (10 mg kg(-1)) from 0 to 9 days of age and their lungs were examined at day 4 and 9. Lung structure was evaluated by means of light microscopy, and surface tension of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was measured by means of a Wilhelmy balance. Neonatal ACE inhibition lowered the surface tension of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and caused widening of respiratory airspaces and thinning of alveolar septa. Our results suggest that early postnatal ACE inhibition in rats interferes with lung development.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/*pharmacology

Animals

Animals

Newborn

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/*chemistry

Enalapril/*pharmacology

Female

Lung/*cytology/drug effects/*physiology

Male

Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/*metabolism

Rats

Rats

Wistar

Surface Tension

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)