Effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on cardiomyocyte number in neonatal rats.

<p>Newborn rats were treated with tapered dose of DEX in the absence or presence of Ru486 during the first three days of postnatal life. Ru486 was administered 30 minutes prior to the DEX treatment. Cardiomyocytes isolated from day 4 (P4), day 7 (P7) and day 14 (P14) neonatal hearts were counted and normalized to per gram of heart weight. Data are mean ± SEM, n = 6–20. * p<0.05, DEX <i>vs</i>. Saline; † p<0.05, P7 <i>vs</i>. P4.