Nebulized PPARγ agonists: a novel approach to augment neonatal lung maturation and injury repair in rats.

Background: By stimulating lipofibroblast maturation, parenterally administered peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists promote lung homeostasis and injury repair in the neonatal lung. In this study, we determined whether PPARγ agonists could be delivered effectively via nebulization to neonates, and whether this approach would also protect against hyperoxia-induced lung injury.

Methods: One-day old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were administered PPARγ agonists rosiglitazone (RGZ, 3 mg/kg), pioglitazone (PGZ, 3 mg/kg), or the diluent, via nebulization every 24 h; animals were exposed to 21% or 95% O2 for up to 72 h.