Effects of cAMP, its analogues, and forskolin on lung fluid production by in vitro lung preparations from fetal guinea pigs
Lungs from fetal guinea pigs (62 ± 1 days of gestation) were supported in vitro for 3 h and fluid production was determined by a dye dilution method, based on Blue Dextran 2000. Twenty untreated lungs produced fluid at 1.41 ± 0.22 mL∙kg−1 body weight∙h−1, with no significant changes during later hours. Treatments with analogues of cAMP, cAMP, or forskolin during the middle hour reduced production significantly. Dibutyryl cAMP at 10−3 M produced reabsorption (117.8 ± 13.6% reduction, p < 0.001, n = 10); at 10−4 M it reduced production (77.3 ± 11.0% fall, p < 0.001, n = 10). 8-Bromo-cAMP appeared more effective; at 10−4 M it caused slight reabsorption (109.0 ± 8.9% reduction, p < 0.001, n = 6) and at lower concentrations it decreased production (at 10−6 M, 67.6 ± 9.6% fall, p < 0.001, n = 6; at 10−7 M, 40.0 ± 14.3% fall, p < 0.001, n = 6). At high doses, cAMP itself produced similar effects (at 5 × 10−3 M, 141.6 ± 22.8% reduction, p < 0.001, n = 6); at 10−4 it was ineffective (n = 3). Forskolin at 10−6 M induced the strongest reabsorptions seen (159.1 ± 10.9% reduction, p < 0.001, n = 6); at lower concentrations it reduced production (at 10−8 M, 73.8 ± 5.5% fall, p < 0.001, n = 6; at 10−9 M, 29.2 ± 9.2% fall, p < 0.05, n = 6). These results suggest a possible role for the adenylate cyclase system in the arrest of lung liquid production in the guinea pig around birth.Key words: cAMP, forskolin, fetal lung, lung fluid.