title: Effect of intratracheal dexamethasone on oleic acid-induced lung injury in the rat.
abstract: The therapeutic efficacy of single-dose intratracheal dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg) in oleic acid-induced acute lung injury in the rat was established by showing significant improvement in bronchoalveolar lavage parameters and lung compliance at 24 h after oleic acid as compared with animals not treated with oleic acid. An equivalent dose of intraperitoneal dexamethasone demonstrated no therapeutic benefit at 24 h after oleic acid. The therapeutic effect of this single-dose intratracheal dexamethasone regimen was accompanied by recovery to normal bronchoalveolar parameters and lung compliance at 7 days, in contrast to previous observations made with high-dose sustained intraperitoneal dexamethasone (4 mg/kg for 7 days). This improved benefit:toxicity ratio of intratracheal dexamethasone compared with systemic dexamethasone may be due to enhanced topical anti-inflammatory potency relative to systemic potency and toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine-Pulmonary Division, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06032, USA.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Thrall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008170:Lung Compliance / Q000187:drug effects; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D019301:Oleic Acid; D009829:Oleic Acids; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D014132:Trachea
chemical_list: D009829:Oleic Acids; D011506:Proteins; D019301:Oleic Acid; D003907:Dexamethasone