EFFECT OF BETAMETHASONE ON MATERNAL, FETAL AND NEONATAL RAT CELLULAR-IMMUNITY

Authors
Citation
Kk. Murthy et Fr. Moya, EFFECT OF BETAMETHASONE ON MATERNAL, FETAL AND NEONATAL RAT CELLULAR-IMMUNITY, Early human development, 36(1), 1994, pp. 1-11
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Obsetric & Gynecology",Pediatrics
Journal title
ISSN journal
03783782
Volume
36
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
1 - 11
Database
ISI
SICI code
0378-3782(1994)36:1<1:EOBOMF>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
Objective: We evaluated the effect of maternal administration of betam ethasone (0.2 mg/kg per day) on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferati on and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by maternal, fetal, and neonata l rat splenic lymphocytes. Study Design: Betamethasone was injected in tramuscularly on days 19 and 20 of gestation to timed-pregnant rats (S prague-Dawley). Fetuses were delivered on day 21 of gestation, or allo wed to deliver spontaneously at term (22 days), followed by sacrifice at various intervals after birth. Lymphocyte proliferation was determi ned by H-3-thymidine incorporation with and without phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and IL-2 by proliferation of IL-2 dependent CTLL-2 cells. Resu lts: Maternal lymphocytes had higher spontaneous proliferation than ly mphocytes from nonpregnant female rats. Betamethasone use resulted in a decrease in PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production by maternal lymphocytes. These effects were observed until 4 days aft er delivery. Significant decreases in these parameters were also seen in 21-day fetuses of betamethasone-treated mothers. These effects were still present 6 days after birth but not at 12 days of age. Conclusio n: These findings suggest that, in the rat, exposure to betamethasone during late pregnancy results in marked, but transient decreases in PH A-induced lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production in both the mot hers and their offspring.