[Quantimetry and lung heterogeneity in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) treated with endotracheal or intrapleural infusion of elastase. Individual and contralateral variations].
Intrapleural administration of elastase was found to induce pulmonary emphysema identical to that seen after an endotracheal instillation of elastase in 33% of cats and 14% of rats given the treatment [15]. This experiment was repeated using hamsters, a species extremely sensitive to elastolytic factors reaching the lung via the airways. Linear intercept measurements (Lm) demonstrated no evidence of emphysema or alveolar dilatation four weeks after an intrapleural infusion of elastase, whereas quantified lung heterogeneity reached 40%, i.e., twice the control value; 17% of treated hamsters exhibited a statistically significant increase in heterogeneity of the right or left lung. These findings suggest that occurrence of alveolar dilatation after administration of a protease is dependent on access of the enzyme to the lung; if the enzyme fails to access the lung, abnormal lung heterogeneity may develop: this anomaly reflects a strong statistical likelihood of a disease state with or without concomitant emphysema, as was found in other species under identical conditions.
Reichart
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E
Unité 14 INSERM Physiopathologie Respiratoire, Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy, France.
Boerkmann
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P
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D006224:Cricetinae; D008297:Male; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010994:Pleura; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D012016:Reference Values
D010196:Pancreatic Elastase
Quantimétrie et hétérogénéité pulmonaires du hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) traité à l'élastase par voie aérienne ou intrapleurale. Variations individuelles et controlatérales.