Body weight and survival.

Values are mean ± S.E.M for body weight at birth and postnatal day 21 (P21), the percentage of pups surviving, the prevalence of peritonitis or diarrhoea in pups following treatment, and the postnatal age at which the eyelids first opened. Groups are control (Ctrl), pups treated with dexamethasone (Dex), pups treated with dexamethasone combined with vitamins C and E (DexCE) and pups treated with vitamins C and E alone (CtrlCE). For data on birth weight, survival, peritonitis and diarrhea n = 32 for all groups; for data on P21 body weight: Ctrl, n = 32; Dex, n = 26; DexCE, n = 31; CtrlCE, n = 29; and for data on eyelids opening: Ctrl, n = 32; Dex, n = 26; DexCE, n = 31; CtrlCE, n = 30. Significant differences (P