Female sex steroids modulate alveolar epithelial sodium transport

Alveolar fluid clearance from the distal airspaces is mainly driven by vectorial sodium transport, where sodium enters the alveolar epithelial cells through apically located sodium channels (ENaC) and is extruded by basolaterally operating Na-K-ATPases. Hence sodium transport plays a crucial role in the immediate postnatal alveolar fluid clearance or the reabsorption of pulmonary edema. Women with acute respiratory distress have higher alveolar fluid clearance and higher survival than males and female preterm infants have higher survival rates and less pulmonary disease than males. It has been assumed that femal…