title: The Effects of Dexamethasone and L-NAME on Acute Lung Injury in Rats with Lung Contusion.
abstract: The therapeutic efficiency of an anti-inflammatory agent, dexamethasone (DXM), and a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), in lung tissue injury after lung contusion was investigated. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), YKL-40, an inflammatory peptide, inducible NOS (iNOS), and Clara cell protein 16 (CC-16) were evaluated. Immunohistochemical analyses were also performed, and the lung tissue was examined histopathologically. The study consisted of eight groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10 in each group), weighing 250-300 g: (1) control, (2) contusion, (3) control + DXM, (4) contusion + DXM, (5) control + L-NAME (6) contusion + L-NAME, (7) control + DXM + L-NAME, and (8) contusion + DXM + L-NAME. A previously developed lung contusion model was used, in addition to the control group. The rats were administered DXM and L-NAME intraperitoneally (i.p.) at doses of 15 and 60 mg/kg/day, respectively. DXM and L-NAME administration decreased the iNOS level in the contusion groups. DXM increased the levels of YKL-40 and IL-10 in both the control and contusion groups, with higher levels in the contusion groups. L-NAME increased the serum level of IL-10 in the lung contusion groups. DXM increased the synthesis of CC-16 in the control and contusion groups. The combined use of a high-dose steroid and NOS inhibitor resulted in the death of the rats. Steroids can increase the level of cytokines, such as YKL-40 and IL-10, and the synthesis of CC-16 and prevent pneumonia, ALI/ARDS, and sepsis in lung contusion.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Specialist, Biochemistry Laboratory, Gazi State Hospital, Samsun, Turkey. aazn55@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7442-694X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kozan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nermin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alacam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guvenc
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acikgoz
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003288:Contusions / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014598:Uteroglobin; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
keywords: CC-16; L-NAME; YKL-40; dexamethasone; iNOS; lung contusion