The effect of vagotomy and hydrocortisone administration on pulmonary surfactant activity in adult albino rats

The role of vagus and hydrocortisone in the regulation of lung surfactant was studied in adult albino rats. Dynamic surface tension and phospholipid content were measured in the lung wash for estimating surfactant activity. The results indicate that vagotomy significantly decreases the surfactant activity whereas hydrocortisone does not alter it. But when hydrocortisone was administered prior to vagotomy it could prevent the decrease in surfactant activity. Thus it is concluded the regulation of lung surfactant in the adult lung is mainly by vagus nerve and hydrocortisone as such has no role but in the absence of vagal regulation hydrocortisone could maintain normal lung surfactant activity.