Evaluation of reexpansion pulmonary edema following unilateral pneumothorax in rabbits and the effect of superoxide dismutase.
We investigated the lung injury that occurs following reexpansion of a unilateral pneumothorax and determined the effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) infused immediately prior to reexpansion on this injury. After 7 days of at least 80% right pneumothorax, rabbits received intravenous infusions of either SOD (n = 7), heat-inactivated SOD (n = 1), or vehicle (n = 7) immediately before lung reexpansion. Lung injury was assessed by measuring the systemic white cell counts, pulmonary blood volumes, extravascular albumin, extravascular lung water, wet/dry weight ratios, and histology 2 h after reexpansion. The reexpanded lung showed increased extravascular albumin, extravascular lung water and wet/dry weight ratios with decreased blood volumes compared to the uninjured lung. SOD delayed the onset of leukopenia and neutropenia at 3 and 7 min after reexpansion, but the white cell counts had decreased to the same level in both groups by 30 min. SOD had no effect on the degree of injury after 2 h. While a single bolus of SOD given immediately before reexpansion delayed the onset of this injury, it did not affect the injury that subsequently developed in the lung.
Doerschuk
C M
CM
University of British Columbia, Pulmonary Research Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada.
Allard
M F
MF
Oyarzun
M J
MJ
D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011817:Rabbits; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000418:Albumins; D005609:Free Radicals; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase