Gene expression analysis after prenatal tracheal ligation in fetal rat as a model of stimulated lung growth

Tracheal occlusion or ligation is a well-documented stimulator of fetal lung growth, and the present study provides novel insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms, with increased expression of genes and proteins with growth factor activity. One of these growth factors, CTGF, has never been previously described in this model. Also, decreased levels of genes involved in surfactant metabolism were observed, providing molecular insights into the decreased surfactant production that is known to occur in TL. Increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control lung growth may be the key to develop novel therapeutic techniques to stimulate prenatal and/or postnatal lung growth.