Effect of antenatal glucocorticoid administration on insulin-like growth factor I and II levels in hypoplastic lung in nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia in rats

There is increasing evidence to suggest that insulin-like growth factors (IGF)I and II play a crucial role in fetal lung development. Expression of IGF-I and II has been demonstrated to be predominant during fetal life and decreases prior to birth. Antenatal glucocorticoids are reported to improve lung immaturity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of antenatal glucocorticoid administration on IGF-I and II expression in nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in rats. A CDH model was induced in pregnant rats following administration of 100 mg nitrofen on day 9.5 of gestation (term = 22 days). Dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally on days 18.5 and 19.5 of gestation. Cesarean section was performed on day 21. The fetuses were divided into three groups: I, normal controls; II, nitrofen-induced CDH; and III, nitrogen-induced CDH with antenatal dexamethasone treatment. mRNA was extracted from whole lung and a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the relative amounts of IGF I and II mRNA. Levels of mRNA were expressed as a ratio of the band density divided by that of beta-actin, a housekeeping gene known to be expressed at a constant level. Immunohistochemistry using anti-rat IGF I and II antibody was also performed in each group. Levels of IGF I mRNA were significantly increased in group II (0.50 +/- 0.08) compared to group I (0.34 +/- 0.10) or group III (0.32 +/- 0.06) (P < 0.05). Levels of IGF II mRNA were also significantly increased in group II (0.95 +/- 0.20) compared to group I (0.42 +/- 0.07) or group III (0.31 +/- 0.09) (P < 0.05). Strong IGF I and II expression was observed in the hypoplastic CDH lung (group II), mainly in the bronchiolar epithelium. IGF I and II expression in group I and III lungs was either absent or weak. The finding of significant reductions in IGF I and II mRNA and protein levels in dexamethasone-treated CDH lung suggest that dexamethasone may accelerate the fetal stage of lung development.