Role of adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate in maturation of fetal lungs.

Fetal lung cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, cyclic AMP, phosphatidyl choline, and incorporation of precursors into phosphatidyl choline were measured in rabbits after maternal administration of hydrocortisone phosphate and aminophylline. Both agents inhibited lung phosphodiesterase activity and augmented cyclic AMP concentrations (Table 1). Aminophylline administration was associated with a significant increase in lung saturated phosphatidyl choline (Table 2). Incorporation of [14C] choline and [3H] methionine was increased by both aminophylline and hydrocortisone (Table 3).