Author(s)

Ryuta Saka, Hiroomi Okuyama, Kaoru Uchida, Kumiko Nakahira, Takashi Sasaki, Satoko Nose, Masahiro Nakayama, Masahiro Fukuzawa, Itaru Yanagihara

Department of Developmental Medicine, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Izumi, Japan.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Izumi, Japan.

Purpose: Surfactant proteins exist in the digestive tract and may play an important role in the host defense. However, the expression of surfactant proteins in the premature digestive system remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of surfactant proteins in the intes-tines and pancreas of murine fetuses. Methods: Immunostaining for SP-A and SP-D was assessed in the small intestine and pancreas of ICR murine fetuses on days 15, 16, 17 and 18 of gestation (normal duration of pregnancy: 19 - 21 days). RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of spa and spd mRNA in the small intestine and pancreas on day 16, 17 and 18 of gestation. Results: Immunoreactivity for SP-A and SP-D in the acinar cells of pancreas and intestinal mucosal surface were positive on day 16 of gestation onward. RT-PCR revealed that the expression of spa and spd mRNA was significant in the pancreas but weak in the small intestine. Conclusions: Our data revealed that surfactant proteins are present in the fetal intestines and pancreas and that a significant expression of spa and spd mRNA is detected in the fetal pancreas. Pancreas may be a possible organ involved in the synthesis and secretion of surfactant proteins into the intestinal lumen.

Surfactant Protein; Fetus; Intestine; Pancreas

Saka, R. , Okuyama, H. , Uchida, K. , Nakahira, K. , Sasaki, T. , Nose, S. , Nakayama, M. , Fukuzawa, M. and Yanagihara, I. (2014) The Expression of Surfactant Proteins A and D in the Intestines and Pancreas of Murine Fetuses. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 4, 12-20. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2014.41002.