Indication of increase of the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio in lung fluid of lambs maternally treated with metabolite VIII of Bisolvon.

Metabolite VIII of Bisolvon (Met. VIII) was administered to six pregnant ewes (i.m. daily 5 or 10 mg/kg for 7-9 days). The treatment was started at the 116th/117th or 117th/118th day of gestation and in one case the drug was given to the fetus (i.v. 2 mg/ml/h). Fetal lung fluid obtained from chronically implanted catheters was used for the estimation of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio. The maternal treatment with Met. VIII resulted in a significantly increased growth of the L/S ratio compared to the control group (n=4). In three lambs a sharp increase of the L/S ratio was noticed during the last days of Met. VIII treatment. The time gap between first treatment and noticeable effect was 6-8 days. It is postulated that the noticed increase of L/S ratio is the consequence of Met. VIII treatment and very unlikely the result of a release of glucocorticoticoids.