Objective:To study the effect of antenatal administration with Dexamethasone (Dex) on the vitamin A concentrations of tissues in fetal rats.Methods:Twelve pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 2 groups

one was Dex group

the other was control group.From the gestational day 16 to 18

the rats of the two groups were given Dex and Saline by intramuscular injectionrespectively.On gestational day 19

fetal rats were obtained by cesarean section

then the vitamin A concentrations of tissues (lung

liver) were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Results:(1)Compared with the two groups

the per unit vitamin A concentrations of lung and liver in Dex group were higher than those of the control groop(P<0.05)

exceptionally in lungs(P<0.01).(2)The liver total vitamin A concentrations did not differ significantly between the two study groups

but the lung total vitamin A concentrations were still higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion:At the antenatal administration with Dex the per unit lung and liver concentrations can be elevated

meanwhile the lung total vitamin A concentrations were elevated too

but the liver total concentrations were not influenced.