Levels of surfactant-associated protein messenger ribonucleic acids in rabbit lung during perinatal development and after hormonal treatment.

The levels of messenger RNAs for the surfactant-associated proteins, SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C, have been examined in the developing rabbit lung in vivo. Northern blot analysis detected SP-C mRNA by day 22 of gestation (term 31 days) and SP-A mRNA and SP-B mRNA on day 26, while solution hybridization assays detected all three mRNAs on day 22 of gestation. Both techniques revealed that the mRNA levels increased rapidly during the last quarter of gestation. The mRNA levels determined by solution hybridization were highly correlated during development, with average molar ratios of 1.0:1.1:2.1 for SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C, respectively. We also examined the effect of accelerating fetal pulmonary maturation by maternal administration of either 17 beta-estradiol or betamethasone (9 alpha-fluoro-16 beta-methylprednisolone) on day 26 of gestation. These treatments increased SP-A mRNA levels 8- to 12-fold, resulting in levels 3- to 4-fold greater than in the adult. SP-B mRNA levels increased by approximately 2-fold to near adult levels, while SP-C mRNA was lowered somewhat by 17 beta-estradiol and significantly to less than half by betamethasone. No differences in the levels of surfactant apoprotein mRNAs or in choline incorporation into total or disaturated phosphatidylcholine were noted between male and female fetuses. These observations are consistent with the accepted view that the genes for the surfactant-associated proteins are independently regulated. However, the various factors affecting these mRNAs result in a coordination of mRNA levels during normal perinatal development.