Influence of corticosteroids on glycogen content and steroid 11-reductase activity in lung and liver of the fetal and newborn rat.

Lung and liver glycogen and corticosteroid 11-reductase activity were studied in fetal and neonatal rats. Glycogen content peaked in the lung on day 20 of gestation, while hepatic glycogen content was generally lower and peaked later. Both pre- and postnatally, betamethasone administration resulted in lowered pulmonary and elevated hepatic glycogen. In both lung and liver, corticosteroid 11-reductase activity showed an inverse developmental pattern to glycogen content. Betamethasone elevated pulmonary corticosteroid 11-reductase activity and lowered hepatic activity. In lung and liver, glycogen content and corticosteroid 11-reductase activity are tightly linked during development and following glucocorticoid therapy.