Preparation for Birth into an O2-Rich Environment: the Antioxidant Enzymes in the Developing Rabbit Lung (original) (raw)

Pediatric Research volume 18, pages 240–244 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Summary: To determine if some specific “preparation for birth” occurs in the developing lung to help assure its successful adaptation to a comparatively O2-rich world at birth, we measured the activities of the antioxidant enzymes in the developing lungs of rabbit fetuses from 10 d before parturition to several days after birth. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GP) activities showed similar maturational patterns with significant increases in activity, compared with earlier gestational levels, during the last 3-5 d before birth. During the final days in utero, SOD and CAT activities increased by ~110% and lung GP activity by ~200%. There were no parallel changes in lung O2 consumption demonstrable over this same prenatal period.

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  1. Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
    Lee Frank & Edye E Groseclose

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  1. Lee Frank
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  2. Edye E Groseclose
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Frank, L., Groseclose, E. Preparation for Birth into an O2-Rich Environment: the Antioxidant Enzymes in the Developing Rabbit Lung.Pediatr Res 18, 240–244 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198403000-00004

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