LUNG HYPOPLASIA AND SURFACTANT SYSTEM IMMATURITY INDUCED IN THE FETA RAT BY PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO NITROFEN

We studied the biochemical maturity of the lungs of fetuses born to ra ts exposed to nitrofen on day 9.5 of gestation. In comparison with con trols, nitrofen-treated fetuses had pulmonary hypoplasia (decreased lu ng/body weight), lung hypocellularity (low DNA content) and cellular a trophy (low protein/ DNA and phospholipid/DNA) on gestational days 19 and 21. Treated animals with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) als o had cell atrophy and surfactant immaturity (decreased disaturated ph osphatidylcholine/DNA) near term. Our data demonstrate that nitrofen c auses lung hypoplasia and some degree of surfactant system immaturity that is particularly prominent in fetuses with CDH.