[Prevention and therapy of the respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants using lecithin. Distribution of 14C--labeled lecithin after intravenous and intraamnial administration in pregnant miniature pigs?].

The aim of our researches was to point out a new therapeutical possibility to prevent a respiratory distress syndrome of prematures by application of 14C-lecithine. The experiments were carried out at Göttinger mini-pigs. Examining the placental passage it could be determined that an intravenous application was not efficient, while after intraamnial application of lecithine a rapid resorption in the fetal organism was proved. Of special interest was a high accumulation of lecithine in the fetal lung-tissue. These results indicate a possible therapeutical way to prevent a respiratory distress syndrome by lecithine substitution.