Role of fetal adrenal glands. A contribution to the etiology and mechanism of fetal pulmonary maturation.

The role of fetal adrenals in the maturation of fetal lungs is not clear as yet. The anencephalic baby, with rudimentary adrenal glands, may be considered an excellent model for the study of this subject. The maturation of fetal lungs was determined in 3 anencephalic monsters and in 2 microencephalic babies. As a measure of fetal pulmonary maturation the foam test and lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) were used, as determined in the amniotic fluid. In the anencephalic babies, fetal pulmonary maturation was lacking, while in the microencephalic infants there were definite signs of lung maturation.