Abstract
To test the hypothesis that injury in the developing lung may lead to chronic obstructive lung disease, we studied the effects of NO2-induced bronchiolitis in newborn hamsters. Three day (d) Syrian hamsters were exposed continuously to 30-35 ppm NO2 23 hrs daily for 7 d. Pressure-volume and flow-volume curves during forced expiration at -50 cm H2O and minimal volumes (MV) were determined on excised lungs at 3 and 9 weeks (wk) of age. In NO2 animals studied at 3 wk (n=5), maximal expiratory flow at 40% total lung capacity (TLC) and elastic recoil pressure at 40% TLC were significantly lower than in control group (c) (n=4) (p<.02 and p<.04, respectively), while MV was significantly increased (p<.02). The upstream resistance (mean ± SEM) in the 3 wk NO2 group (.275 ± .058 cm H2O/ml/sec) was greater than in (c) (.209 ± .010) (p=NS). All measurements in 9 wk NO2 animals (n=4) were not significantly different from (c) (n=6). The decreased flow rates and increased MV in the NO2 group suggest small airways obstruction which may be related to decreased elastic recoil, increased airways resistance or both factors. The reversibility after 8 wk may result from 1) lung growth producing an increase in airways diameter, 2) alteration of the elastic properties of the lung associated with an increase in alveolar number during growth, or 3) physiologic accommodation to the effects of NO2. These data do not support the concept that acute lung injury is a progenitor of chronic lung disease. (Supp. by Amer. Lung Assn.)
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Lam, C., Kattan, M., Collins, A. et al. 1679 PHYSIOLOGIC SEQUELAE OF NO2-INDUCED BRONCHIOLITIS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 723 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01698
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01698