The expression of fibroblast growth factor-7 in the fetal lungs of nitrofen-induced diaphragmatic hernia in rats

Objective To investigate the expression of fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7) in fe- tal lungs of rats with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) induced by nitrofen,and to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of the pulmonary hypoplasia.Methods The CDH in rats was induced by gas- tric injection of nitrofen.The histological changes of the lungs in CDH and control group were visual- ized by routine HE staining.And the expression and contents of FGF-7 in the lungs in these groups were analyzed by immunohistochemistrical staining and image analysis.Results The lungs of CDH fe tuses showed marked hypoplasia and pseudoglandular change.In control lungs,the expression of FGF-7 was strongly noted at bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium.However,in nitrofen experimental group,its expression was weak.Relative contents of FGF-7 significantly decreased in nitrofen experi mental group compared with those in the control group.There was no statistical difference between two subgroups of the nitrofen experimental group.The expression of FGF 7 has positive correlation with the alveolar area and negative correlation with the alveolar interval area.Conclusions The de- creased expression of FGF-7 in CDH fetal lungs has a tissue specialty.FGF-7 can be seen as a impor tant index of maturity in CDH fetal lungs.The decreased expression of FGF-7 probably is an impor- tant effective factor in the pathogenesis of the pulmonary hypoplasia of CDH.