Aerosolised surfactant generated by a novel noninvasive apparatus reduced acute lung injury in rats.
BACKGROUND
Exogenous surfactant has been explored as a potential therapy for acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In the present study, a nebuliser driven by oxygen lines found in the hospital was developed to deliver aerosolised porcine pulmonary surfactant (PPS). We hypothesised that aerosolised surfactant inhaled through spontaneous breathing may effectively reduce severe lung injury.


METHODS
Rats were intravenously injected with oleic acid (OA) to induce ALI and 30 minutes later they were divided into five groups: model (injury only), PPS aerosol (PPS-aer), saline aerosol (saline-aer), PPS instillation (PPS-inst), and saline instillation (Saline-Inst). Blood gases, lung histology, and protein and TNF-alpha concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were examined.


RESULTS
The PPS aerosol particles were less than 2.0 mum in size as determined by a laser aerosol particle counter. Treatment of animals with a PPS aerosol significantly increased the phospholipid content in the BALF, improved lung function, reduced pulmonary oedema, decreased total protein and TNF-alpha concentrations in BALF, ameliorated lung injury and improved animal survival. These therapeutic effects are similar to those seen in the PPS-inst group.


CONCLUSIONS
This new method of PPS aerosolisation combines the therapeutic effects of a surfactant with partial oxygen inhalation under spontaneous breathing. It is an effective, simple and safe method of administering an exogenous surfactant.
Sun
Yu
Y
Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Yang
Rui
R
Zhong
Ji-gen
JG
Fang
Feng
F
Jiang
Jin-jin
JJ
Liu
Ming-yao
MY
Lu
Jian
J
D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000335:Aerosol Propellants; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D002681:China; D008297:Male; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013552:Swine
D000335:Aerosol Propellants; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants