title: An experimental rat model of ex vivo lung perfusion for the assessment of lungs after prostacyclin administration: inhaled versus parenteral routes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a model of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) administration (inhaled vs. parenteral) and to assess the functional performance of the lungs in an ex vivo lung perfusion system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty Wistar rats were anesthetized and placed on mechanical ventilation followed by median sterno-laparotomy and anticoagulation. The main pulmonary artery was cannulated. All animals were maintained on mechanical ventilation and were randomized into four groups (10 rats/group): inhaled saline (IS); parenteral saline (PS); inhaled PGI2 (IPGI2); and parenteral PGI2 (PPGI2). The dose of PGI2 used in the IPGI2 and PPGI2 groups was 20 and 10 µg/kg, respectively. The heart-lung blocks were submitted to antegrade perfusion with a low potassium and dextran solution via the pulmonary artery, followed by en bloc extraction and storage at 4ºC for 6 h. The heart-lung blocks were then ventilated and perfused in an ex vivo lung perfusion system for 50 min. Respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, and gas exchange were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean pulmonary artery pressure following nebulization decreased in all groups (p < 0.001), with no significant differences among the groups. During the ex vivo perfusion, respiratory mechanics did not differ among the groups, although relative oxygenation capacity decreased significantly in the IS and PS groups (p = 0.04), whereas mean pulmonary artery pressure increased significantly in the IS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experimental model of inhaled PGI2 administration during lung extraction is feasible and reliable. During reperfusion, hemodynamics and gas exchange trended toward better performance with the use of PGI2 than that with the use of saline.
authors: Department of Cardiorespiratory Diseases, Thoracic Surgery Section, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. paulo.fernandes@incor.usp.br
authors: Paulo Francisco Guerreiro
authors: PF
authors: Cardoso
authors: Rogério
authors: R
authors: Pazetti
authors: Henrique Takachi
authors: HT
authors: Moriya
authors: Paulo Manuel
authors: PM
authors: Pêgo-Fernandes
authors: Francine Maria de
authors: FM
authors: Almeida
authors: Aristides Tadeu
authors: AT
authors: Correia
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Fechini
authors: Fabio Biscegli
authors: FB
authors: Jatene
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011464:Epoprostenol