title: Pulmonary microvascular dysfunction and pathological changes induced by blast injury in a rabbit model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular leakage has been proven to play a critical role in the incidence and development of explosive pulmonary barotrauma. Quantitatively investigated in the present study was the severity of vascular leakage in a gradient blast injury series, as well as ultrastructural evidence relating to pulmonary vascular leakage.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred adult male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups according to distance from the detonator (10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, and sham control). Value of pulmonary vascular leakage was monitored by a radioactive 125I-albumin labeling method. Pathological changes caused by the blast wave were examined under light and electron microscopes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transcapillary escape rate of 125I-albumin and residual radioactivity in both lungs increased significantly at the distances of 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm, suggesting increased severity of vascular leakage in these groups. Ultrastructural observation showed swelling of pulmonary capillary endothelial cells and widened gap between endothelial cells in the 10-cm and 15-cm groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary blast wave can result in pulmonary capillary blood leakage. Blast wave can cause swelling of pulmonary capillary endothelial cells and widened gap between endothelial cells, which may be responsible for pulmonary vascular leakage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, PR China.
authors.forename: Si Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, PR China.
authors.forename: Geng Fen
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: The 6th Department of Research Institute of Field Surgery and Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: The 6th Department of Research Institute of Field Surgery and Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, PR China.
authors.forename: Liang Chao
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, PR China. trauma3@163.com.
authors.forename: Ai Min
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The 6th Department of Research Institute of Field Surgery and Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, PR China, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, PR China. jmwangcq@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jian Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012711:Serum Albumin, Radio-Iodinated / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012711:Serum Albumin, Radio-Iodinated