A new method of measure of bubble gas volume shows that interleukin-6 injected into rats has no effect on gas embolism.
The pleiotropic cytokine interleukin-6 increases in the plasma of rats after an air dive. Interleukin-6 shares both of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties and may condition the vascular system and gas embolism after an air dive. Up to now it is not known whether interleukin-6 has an effect on gas embolism. Aim of this work is to study the effect of interleukin-6 on gas embolism after a standard decompression protocol in a rat model. The volume of gas bubbles was measured in the heart cavities with a new method based on the buoyancy of the heart at different pressures which is physically sound, accurate and precise down to 10(-4) cm3. No effect was found after injecting physiological doses of interleukin-6 at different times before the air dive. The mortality of the rats in the first half hour after the decompression was associated with a substantial gas volume measured in the heart. Multi-variate logistic regression analysis showed that the female rats had a higher risk compared to male rats of developing a substantial bubble volume and of not surviving; the spring-summer season was a risk factor for the survival. Further studies are needed to see whether interleukin-6 in association with other cytokines has an effect on gas embolism.
Bondi
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M
Dipartimento di Anatomia e Fisiologia Umana, Università di Padova, 35100 Padova, Italia.
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D000818:Animals; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins