| Abstract |
Normal development of the fetal lungs is essential for newborn babies to be able to breathe at delivery. Hormones produced by the fetus are important for a range of maturational changes that occur in the lungs of the fetus to prepare it for the transition from the womb to the outside world. Premature delivery before these maturational changes have taken place leads to respiratory disease in the newborn. Leptin is a hormone that is known to regulate appetite and metabolism in adult life, but its functions in the fetus are poorly understood. Leptin production is increased in the fetus after glucocorticoid treatment which is commonly used to promote lung maturation in fetuses at risk of preterm delivery. Furthermore, there is some evidence from laboratory studies on fetal lung tissue that leptin may influence lung development before birth. In an animal model, this project will investigate (a) the control of leptin activity in fetal lungs and (b) the effect of leptin on lung development. It will measure leptin production and receptor expression in fetal lungs at a range of gestational ages and after glucocorticoid treatment, and will determine several aspects of lung structure and function in animals treated with leptin before birth. The findings of this project will improve our understanding of the control of lung development in the fetus and will provide important information about the consequences of premature birth. Leptin may be a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment and prevention of respiratory disease in the premature infant at birth and in adult life. |
