The expression of insulin-like growth factor-Iin fetal lung in Nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia in rats

Objective To investigate the expression of insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ)in fetal lungs of rats with congenital diaphragmatic hernia which was induced by Nitrofen, and to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of the pulmonary hypoplasia.Methods Immunohistochemistry and image analysis were used to explore the expression and content of IGF-Ⅰin fetal lung, respectively.Results In control lungs, IGF-Ⅰexpression was weak or absent. In Nitrofen group, however, the expression of IGF-Ⅰwas noted at bronchiolar epithelium and nervous plexus. Relative contents of IGF-Ⅰwere significantly increased in Nitrofen group compared with the control group. There was no statistical difference between two subgroups of Nitrofen group. Conclusions CDH pulmonary hypoplasia is probably a primary abnormality; The expression of IGF-Ⅰin lungs from Nitrofen group has a tissue specialty; There is a negative correlation between IGF-Ⅰexpression and alveolar area in this CDH rat model.