1230 PROLACTIN AND HUMAN LUNG MATURATION

Abstract

We have recently shown that administration of prolactin ( 1 mg per fetus) to rabbit fetuses leads to an increase in the concentration of lung dipalmitoyllecithin (Hamosh, J. Clin. Invest. 59: 1002,1977) In the present study we have tested the relationship between serum prolactin and cortisol levels and lung maturity in premature infants. Prolactin and cortisol levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 40 premature infants between 26 and 37 weeks of gestation. Mixed cord blood was collected at delivery, centrifuged and the sera kept at -20°C until analysis. Prolactin levels ranged from 20 to 600 ng/ml; cortisol levels measured 25 to 350 ng/ml. Cord prolactin levels less than 140 ng/ml were associated with a high incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS); of 18 infants with prolactin levels less than 140 ng/ml 16 (89%) had RDS. Only 27% of the infants with RDS had prolactin levels above 140 ng/ml. Two of the highest levels in this group were from infants with diabetic mothers. There was no correlation between cord serum prolactin and cortisol levels or between cortisol levels and the incidence of RSD. The data suggest that prolactin might be a trigger of lung maturation in the human fetus. (Supported by grant HD 11353 from the NIH)