Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigated the effect of glucocorticoid on lung impairment in embryonic rats induced by prenatal perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS) exposure.MethodsSprague-Dawley(SD) rats were exposed to PFOS at dosages of 5,10,20 mg/kg for 7 days.The whole lung of the pups was collected at 19 days of pregnancy and glucocorticoid levels and the expressions of regulatory gene mRNA and protein were detected with real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction,western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsCompared to the control,the glucocorticoid concentration of the embryonic rat lung was increased with the increase of PFOS exposure;in high doses exposed group,the expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1(11βHSD1)mRNA (99.07±15.06) was significantly increased(P<0.05),the expression of 11βHSD2 mRNA(1.140±0.303 2)was significantly decreased(P<0.01) and 11βHSD2 protein significantly decreased(P<0.05);the mRNA expression of hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(H6PDH)was significantly increased(P<0.05)in high doses group(21.37±3.013);the expression of human pulmonary surfatcant-associated protein C(SP-C)did not change significantly.ConclusionIn lung impairments of embryonic rats induced by prenatal PFOS exposure,glucocorticoid concentration does not change significantly,suggesting that the lung impairments may not be caused by the damage of lung surface tension.