title: Thromboxane mediates the increase in alveolar surfactant pool induced by free fatty acid infusion in the rabbit.
abstract: Intravenous infusion of free fatty acid (FFA) produces pulmonary edema and an increase in the alveolar surfactant content of the rabbit. In order to identify a likely mediator of this lung response to FFA, we used inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase (indomethacin, 15 mg X kg-1 i.v., or meclofenamate, 5 mg X kg-1 i.v.) and thromboxane synthetase inhibitors (imidazole, 50 mg X kg-1 i.v. or dazoxiben, 2 mg X kg-1 i.v.) which were administered before FFA, 20 mg X kg-1 X min-1 i.v., in four different experimental series (n = 54). Lung surfactant was measured in bronchial-alveolar lavage fluid by determining disaturated phosphatidylcholine (DSPC). Both kinds of inhibitors blocked the increase in FFA-induced DSPC. They increased the survival rate but they only slightly changed the post-FFA morphofunctional pulmonary alterations. We conclude that the increase in alveolar surfactant induced by FFA is likely mediated by thromboxane. This mediator would seem to play a minor role in the FFA-induced pulmonary edema observed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008170:Lung Compliance / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011817:Rabbits; D013930:Thromboxane-A Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013931:Thromboxanes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007093:Imidazoles; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D013931:Thromboxanes; C029166:dazoxiben; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid; C029899:imidazole; D013930:Thromboxane-A Synthase; D010100:Oxygen; D007213:Indomethacin