Prenatal effects of betamethasone-L-carnitine combinations on fetal rat lung

Lungs of fetal rats between the 18(th) and 20(th) gestational day (total gestation lasting 22 days) were examined. There was a significant increase (p < 0.01) of the dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine content from day 19 to day 20 of gestation. In a second trial, pregnant rats were treated with different doses of betamethasone, L-carnitine, betamethasone-L-carnitine combinations, and saline (controls) for three days before Cesarean section on the 19(th) gestational day. Maternal injections of 0.10 ml/kg body weight betamethasone and 100 mg/kg body weight L-carnitine significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 respectively) increased the dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine content of fetal lungs. Combinations of either 0.05 or 0.10 mg/kg body weight betamethasone with 100 mg L-carnitine also significantly increased the dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine content of the fetal lungs above control values (p < 0.001) and values achieved with betamethasone alone (p < 0.05). Maternal treatment with a betamethasone-L-carnitine combination on day 19 of gestation resulted in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine levels comparable to those found on the 20(th) gestational day during normal lung maturation. Fetal rats delivered on the 20(th) gestational day survived, while fetuses delivered on the 19(th) gestational day did not survive.