title: Fat embolism: evolution of histopathological changes in the rat lung.
abstract: The pathophysiology of Fat Embolism Syndrome (FES) is poorly understood and subject to some controversy. Evaluation of the evolution of histological changes in the lungs of patients with FES is impractical. The current theories of FES were established through acute clinical observations and acute animal experiments, but sequential changes in the histology of lungs over a prolonged period have not been made. The progressive effects of fat embolization of the lungs were examined in a rat model over a period of 11 days. Triolein, a major bone marrow fat, was administered to conscious Sprague-Dawley rats via the caudal vein. Rats were euthanized at 24, 48, 96 h, and 11 days, but some died within a few hours. Histomorphometric evaluations of lung tissue were made, including stains for fat, collagen, and smooth muscle actin. Arterial and arteriolar patency decreased progressively up to 96 h, but returned toward normal after 11 days. A striking finding was the very early presence of inflammation and fibrosis after only several hours, persisting up to 11 days. The results of this study provide evidence of both very early and prolonged changes due to fat embolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA. tmciff@kumc.edu
authors.forename: Terence E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: McIff
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Poisner
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herndon
authors.forename: Kamani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lankachandra
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schutt
authors.forename: Berekeetab
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haileselassie
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molteni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley